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Sing returns as Red Roses rejig back three against Italy
TL;DR
England has made changes to their back three for the Women's Six Nations match against Italy, bringing in Emma Sing and moving Ellie Kildunne to the wing. The team faces additional challenges with injuries affecting key players in the pack.
Key points
- Emma Sing is starting at full-back against Italy
- Ellie Kildunne is moved to the wing
- Injuries are affecting key players in the pack
- Sadia Kabeya is nursing shoulder and chest injuries
- Alex Matthews is out for the remainder of the tournament
Mentioned in this story
Emma SingEllie KildunneMia VennerSadia KabeyaAlex Matthews
EnglandItaly
England have brought Emma Sing in at full-back and shifted Ellie Kildunne out to the wing as coach John Mitchell rejigs his back three for the fourth Women's Six Nations game in row.
Sing's Gloucester-Hartpury team-mate Mia Venner wins her third cap on the wing to complete a new-look combination to face Italy in Parma on Saturday.
Kildunne scored two tries against Scotland in her first Women's Six Nations start on the wing last month.
There are enforced changes in the pack with Sadia Kabeya still nursing shoulder and chest muscle injuries sustained in the win over Wales, and number eight Alex Matthews ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a shoulder injury.
Their absences mean that six of the pack that started September's Rugby World Cup final win over Canada are sidelined either by injury or pregnancy.
Kabeya's absence gives Bristol teenager Demelza Short, who made her Test debut in the second row against Scotland, a start at blindside flanker.
Haidee Head, Trailfinders' 22-year-old Australian-raised back row, is in line for a Red Roses debut off the bench.
Short's club team-mate Delaney Burns continues in the second row, with Mitchell rotating his props as Kelsey Clifford and Maud Muir start in the front row.
The alternation between fly-halves continues with Zoe Harrison coming back in to start in place of Holly Aitchison.
Italy lost their opening two matches of the tournament to France and Ireland, but were impressive in an emphatic 41-14 win against Scotland in their final match before the mid-tournament rest week.
Le Azzurre have got progressively closer to England over their most recent Women's Six Nations encounters, losing by a margin of 74, 63, 48 and 33 points respectively in their matches between 2022 and 2025.
However, it would be a mammoth shock if, even with home advantage and England lacking a raft of first-choice stars, they managed to derail an all-conquering Red Roses side on a run of 36 victories and zeroing in on a final-round showdown with France.
England: Sing; Venner, Jones (c), Rowland, Kildunne; Harrison, L Packer; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Burton, Burns, Short, M Packer, Feaunati
Replacements: Powell, Carson, Bern, Lutui, Head, Robinson, Aitchison, Moloney-MacDonald
Q&A
Who is Emma Sing and why is she starting against Italy?
Emma Sing is a full-back brought in by England to replace Ellie Kildunne, who has been moved to the wing for the match against Italy.
What injuries are affecting England's rugby team ahead of the match?
England is missing key players due to injuries, including Sadia Kabeya and Alex Matthews, impacting their lineup for the Women's Six Nations.
How many changes has England made to their back three for the Women's Six Nations?
England has made changes to their back three for the fourth consecutive Women's Six Nations game, including the introduction of Emma Sing.
