Women’s Rugby World Cup: England v Australia – Alex Matthews captain

Gloucester-Hartpury number eight Alex Matthews will lead England against Australia in their final Rugby World Cup pool match on Saturday, in the continued absence of regular captain Zoe Aldcroft.

Aldcroft suffered a knee injury in the tournament-opening win over the United States which has ruled her out until the knockout stages at least.

England’s quarter-final place is already assured but head coach John Mitchell has picked a near first-choice side, with 13 changes from the rotated side that thrashed Samoa last weekend.

Wing Jess Breach is one of those retained and wins her 50th cap ahead of Claudia Moloney-MacDonald.

Elsewhere, Morwenna Talling, more usually a second row, is included at flanker, with former skipper Marlie Packer not in the matchday squad.

Fly-half Holly Aitchison is poised to make her first appearance of the tournament off the bench after recovering from an ankle injury.

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Galligan, Ward, Talling, Kabeya, Matthews

Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Bern, Ives Campion, Feaunati, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland