Women’s Six Nations: Marlie Packer and Hannah Botterman to start England’s finale against France
Captain Marlie Packer and prop Hannah Botterman have shaken off leg injuries to start Saturday’s Six Nations decider against France in a major boost to the Red Roses.
Saracens flanker Packer trudged out of England’s 48-0 win over Ireland in Cork with an ankle problem, while Botterman suffered a knee scare.
England will host France at Twickenham on Saturday in a Grand Slam decider, with a world record 53,000 tickets already sold.
Head coach Simon Middleton will step down after the Six Nations finale, adding an extra layer of poignancy to an already charged atmosphere in west London.
England will be significantly bolstered by the fitness of two vital pack performers in Packer and Botterman.
“Hannah Botterman picked up what appeared to be a significant injury in Ireland, and when we had it scanned that’s initially what showed up,” said Middleton.
“But then we got a second opinion from one of the specialists who knows her knee very well, and he was convinced it was an old injury.
“It could very easily have been interpreted as a new injury, but because he knows the history it could be seen differently.
“We ran some tests with the s and c and the medical staff, and she’s responded really well.
“That was why we went for the second opinion, and he said look just progress as normal on the short-term return to play and see how she responds, treat the person not the injury. And that’s what we did.
“She’s been managed through the week, as has MArile, but ticked every box we needed and that’s great.
“A very painful injury initially, you can imagine what’s going on through Botts’ head, even though it was a different knee from her other previous injury.”
New captain Packer turned her ankle in the convincing victory at Musgrave Park, but like Botterman, was able to avoid a serious injury.
“I just got my ankle caught in a maul, one of those things that happen sometimes,” said Packer.
“We just made sure that we did everything straight away, offload it, put it in a boot, made sure we got loads of ice on it, and it’s made me be available for selection this week.
“I had a scan, an X-Ray, and checked that everything structurally is okay.
“It’s the same as Botts’ as there’s some stuff from previously.
“So it’s just making sure we manage that, and I’ve just done a different training load this week from the rest of the squad.
“I was in instant pain, and everything goes through your head for one second.
“But then I was just more gutted to be coming off the pitch.
“You never want to be coming off the pitch, even when you’re being subbed, but injury is obviously worse.
“With more than 50,000 supporters coming to Twickenham and being captain, there were moments going through my head, but it’s been so positive this week.”
England team to face France at Twickenham on Saturday: E Kildunne; A Dow, H Rowland, T Heard, C MacDonald; H Aitchison L Packer; H Botterman, L Davies, S Bern; Z Aldcroft (vice-capt), S Beckett, S Kabeya, M Packer (capt), A Matthews. Replacements: C Powell, M Carson, M Muir, P Cleall, M Talling, N Hunt, A Reed, J Breach.
