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Kildunne on wing as England ring changes for Scotland Six Nations clash / Photo: © AFP/File
Kildunne on wing as England ring changes for Scotland Six Nations clash
Ellie Kildunne was named on the wing, rather than in her usual full-back position, as John Mitchell announced a much-changed side on Thursday for England's Women's Six Nations match away to Scotland.
It is the first time the 26-year-old has started on the wing in the Six Nations.
Zoe Harrison, the first-choice fly-half through England's victorious Women's Rugby World Cup campaign last year, regains the 10 shirt from Holly Aitchison following a 33-12 win over Ireland in their tournament opener at Twickenham last weekend.
Back-row forward Abi Burton is moved to lock, a position where even England's unrivalled strength in depth has been tested.
Zoe Stratford, the captain of the World Cup-winning side, and fellow locks Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan are all absent through pregnancy, while Morwenna Talling has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after suffering a leg injury.
Bristol's 19-year-old rising star Demelza Short will make her Test debut in the back row at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Emma Sing comes in at full-back, with Kildunne now free to roam on the left wing in a back division where outside centre Megan Jones leads England for the second time.
Elsewhere, prop Maud Muir wins her 50th cap for England as she starts at tighthead in place of Sarah Bern, now among replacements which includes 112-cap veteran Marlie Packer.
England are on a record winning run of 34 games and are chasing an eighth straight Six Nations title and fifth consecutive Grand Slam.
But Mitchell, a former coach of his native New Zealand's men's All Blacks, is having to refresh the side without several World Cup winners.
Alex Matthews, the No 8, will miss the Scotland match with a shoulder injury, while earlier on Thursday it was announced Hannah Botterman had joined those England players sidelined for the tournament after the prop was ruled out by an ankle injury.
"We've had to adapt to a number of changes with injuries to teammates who are hugely valued within the group, but that's part of the culture we're building," said Mitchell.
"It creates opportunities for others to step up and highlights the depth we're continuing to grow, both for now and the future."
G. Pires--JDB
