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There was a time when playing rugby in New Zealand had an added mystique, but for Red Roses captain Marlie Packer that aura has faded.
England face world champions Black Ferns in Vancouver this weekend in their second match of WXV 1, as England look to continue their title defense. They are unbeaten since the 2021 World Cup final against the Black Ferns in New Zealand, and with the Kiwis having lost at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, before a shock defeat to Ireland in their WXV opener 1, England enter this match as big favorites.
So although New Zealand have always been the strongest team in the women’s game, Packer urged her team to realize that, as things stand, they are clearly the better team.
“The more regularly we play them, we can get a good idea of how to beat them,” Packer said. “For me and the rest of the group, there’s not a lot of aura around them [anymore] that they are invincible.
“As a forward unit, we are as good as them, we are better than them. Our mindset changes. It is a state of mind within a team and a player. We have to think we are better than them 1-23 and 1-30 here in Vancouver.
“There is no better match than the Black Ferns against the Red Roses. They will want to right some wrongs from our game against them and the game against Ireland.
England made 10 changes to the team that beat the United States 61-21 last weekend, with Hannah Botterman among those joining the squad. She will start at free prop in a reshuffled front row, alongside Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir.
This will see the 25-year-old earn her 50th cap for England, with Packer paying tribute to her former Saracens teammate.
She said: “He’s an absolute character off the pitch. She lights up a room when she enters it. “She developed her game and grew. She’s a very young player but to reach 50 caps at 25 and the way she’s playing now, I take my hat off for the dedication she’s put in.
“She had some setbacks during her career and suffered some big injuries, but she took it all in her stride and really grew.”
England assistant coach Louis Deacon added: “Botts is an incredible player, she has everything in her game. Unfortunately she had a bit of a knock last week so wasn’t able to play this week last. This is an incredible achievement for her.
Aside from the front row, other changes to the pack see Packer return after being rested against the United States, taking over the captaincy from Alex Matthews, who continues at No.8. Morwenna Talling gets the nod again at blindside flanker, while Zoe Aldcroft replaces Rosie Galligan in the second row.
There are also plenty of changes to the back line, where Natasha Hunt and Holly Aitchison will take over in the half-backs. Tatyana Heard and Helena Rowland return in the centres, with Abby Dow the only change in the bottom three, alongside Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach.
