England captain Packer fit for France decider

Marlie Packer left the field injured during England's round-four victory against Ireland

England captain Marlie Packer is fit for Saturday's Grand Slam decider against France in the final weekend of the 2023 Women's Six Nations.

Helena Rowland is at outside centre as Lagi Tuima drops out of the squad while Lucy Packer starts at scrum-half.

Prop Sarah Bern and hooker Lark Davies also return to the starting line-up.

Sarah Beckett - omitted from last year's World Cup squad - is retained in the second row after a player-of-the-match performance against Ireland and Poppy Cleall is included on the bench as she returns from injury.

• Told nobody would watch, now 53,000 are turning up

Crowd that defies expectations

England are seeking a fifth successive Women's Six Nations title and will be watched by a crowd of more than 53,000 in their first standalone Test at Twickenham.

That figure will surpass the record for a women's rugby crowd of 42,579, set at England's World Cup final loss to New Zealand at Eden Park in 2022.

Earlier in that World Cup, England claimed an 11th victory in a row against France with a tight 13-7 pool-stage win.

England head coach Simon Middleton - who will step down after Saturday's game - said of the ticket sales: "I'm not sure we were expecting it to be as big as what it is.

"Hopefully that's because the team and the competition have grabbed the imagination of the public."

Packer, 33, is included in the team despite spraining her ankle against Ireland while Middleton said Botterman initially appeared to have suffered "a significant knee injury".

"We got a second opinion and he was convinced it was an old injury that could very easily have been interpreted as a new injury," Middleton explained.

"She's been managed through the week, as has Marlie. A very painful injury originally but she's good."

Saracens back row Packer is certain she is ready for the toughest test of the Women's Six Nations.

"I've done a different training load this week from the rest of the squad but I've come through what I need to be at my best for this week," she said.

France's team for Saturday will be named on Thursday morning.

England: Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Heard, MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Botterman, Davies, Bern; Aldcroft, Beckett; Kabeya, M Packer (capt), Matthews.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Muir, Cleall, Talling, Hunt, Reed, Breach.

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