Women's Rugby World Cup: Zoe Aldcroft returns to captain Red Roses in Scotland quarter-final as England make four changes

Zoe Aldcroft will return to captain England for his or her Ladies’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final in opposition to Scotland on Sunday after lacking the ultimate two group video games by way of harm.

Aldcroft sustained a knee niggle within the 69-7 win over USA within the match opener on August 22 and subsequently sat out the 92-3 rout of Samoa in week two and final Saturday’s 47-7 victory over Australia that clinched high spot in Pool A.

Nonetheless, the 28-year-old is again at blindside flanker for the hosts and title favourites in one in every of 4 modifications made by head coach John Mitchell for the fixture at Bristol’s Ashton Gate (4pm kick-off).

Helena Rowland is at full-back instead of Ellie Kildunne, who was pressured off with a head harm within the second half in opposition to Australia and should now abide by concussion protocols.

Holly Aitchison makes her first begin of the match at fly-half with Zoe Harrison transferring to the bench.

Kelsey Clifford is rewarded for a brace of tries as a substitute final weekend with a begin at loosehead prop as a substitute of Hannah Botterman (again spasm).

Aldcroft’s return at No 6 means Morwenna Talling switches to the second row and Abbie Ward shifts to the replacements.

Dominant Pink Roses on brink of extra historical past

The Pink Roses are on a 30-match successful streak and can break their very own file for successive victories within the worldwide recreation in the event that they see off Scotland and attain the semi-finals.

England have received 25 matches in a row in opposition to Scotland since dropping to them within the 1999 Ladies’s European Championship, whereas their total file in opposition to their opponents is 32 victories in 34 video games.

The newest assembly got here within the 2025 Six Nations when the Pink Roses secured a 59-7 victory in Leicester – Abby Dow and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scoring two tries every.

Scotland have made the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the primary time since 2002 after ending second in Pool B following wins over Wales and Fiji and defeat to Canada.

Mitchell: England prepared for thrilling problem

England coach Mitchell mentioned: “The primary stage of the match is behind us, and now we enter a brand new stage of the competitors that has an finish level.

“We’re adapting nicely to completely different conditions, and whereas we recognise Scotland have improved, we’ll nonetheless consider we are able to construct stress on them. That is an thrilling problem that we’re prepared for.

“We belief our ladies to be constant, take possession of their roles, embrace the event, and earn the proper to a different week on this competitors.

“The keenness surrounding the match has been unimaginable, with assist rising throughout the nation. We all know Bristol might be no completely different, and the women are relishing the chance to rise to the event.”

Pink Roses squad to face Scotland

Beginning XV: 15 Helena Rowland, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Natasha Hunt; 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Morwenna Talling, 5 Rosie Galligan, 6 Zoe Aldcroft (captain), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Alex Matthews.

Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Abbie Ward, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Emma Sing.

England’s World Cup outcomes to date

Scotland’s World Cup outcomes to date

Ladies’s World Cup – remaining fixtures

Quarter-finals

September 13: New Zealand vs South Africa (Exeter) – 1pmSeptember 13: Canada vs Australia (Bristol) – 4pmSeptember 14: France vs Eire (Exeter) – 1pmSeptember 14: England vs Scotland (Bristol) – 4pm