The Red Roses are rolling out a fresh back three for their Women's Six Nations clash against Italy on Saturday, as head coach John Mitchell continues to tinker with his lineup for the fourth straight game. Emma Sing returns to full-back, with star player Ellie Kildunne shifting to the wing, while Mia Venner earns her third cap on the opposite flank—forming a dynamic, new-look combination to face Italy in Parma.
Kildunne, who notched two tries in her first Six Nations start on the wing against Scotland last month, brings her electrifying pace to the edge. Sing, with six tries in 15 Red Roses appearances, adds a steadying presence at the back. Venner, a Gloucester-Hartpury teammate of Sing's, rounds out the trio, offering fresh energy and attacking flair.
The pack sees enforced changes, with Sadia Kabeya sidelined by shoulder and chest muscle injuries from the win over Wales, and number eight Alex Matthews ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a shoulder issue. Their absences mean six of the pack that started September's Rugby World Cup final victory over Canada are now unavailable due to injury or pregnancy—a significant reshuffle that tests England's depth.
Bristol teenager Demelza Short, who made her Test debut in the second row against Scotland, steps into the blindside flanker role. Meanwhile, Trailfinders' 22-year-old Australian-raised back row Haidee Head is poised for a Red Roses debut off the bench. Short's clubmate Delaney Burns continues in the second row, while props Kelsey Clifford and Maud Muir start in the front row as Mitchell rotates his options.
At fly-half, Zoe Harrison returns to the starting lineup, replacing Holly Aitchison in what's becoming a regular rotation at the position.
Italy, meanwhile, come into this match with mixed form—losing their first two games to France and Ireland but bouncing back with a commanding 41-14 win over Scotland before the mid-tournament rest week. They've narrowed the gap against England in recent Six Nations meetings, with losing margins shrinking from 74 points in 2022 to 33 points in 2025. Still, even with home advantage and England missing several first-choice stars, it would take a monumental upset to derail the Red Roses' 36-game winning streak as they zero in on a final-round showdown with France.
England team to face Italy: 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