Rebecca Essex returns to the starting line-up

Street has made three changes to the starting line-up with Emma Croker, Rebecca Essex and Lauren Cattell coming off the bench to start. Croker replaces Victoria Fleetwood at hooker, Essex comes into the second-row in place of Rowena Burnfield and Lauren Cattell will start at fullback with Kay Wilson on the bench.

Lichfield No. 8 Sarah Hunter will once again captain England with scrum-half La Toya Mason named as vice-captain. Katy McLean, who is part of the England Sevens Rugby World Cup training squad, comes in on the bench as she looks to get some game time.

England head into Saturday’s match, which is being shown live on the BBC Red Button, looking to bounce back from their 25-0 defeat to Ireland. Street knows his side must win if they are going to keep any hopes alive of retaining their Six Nations crown.

Street said: “We have made a few changes for this match but we have retained 22 out of the 23 players who played against Ireland and they now have the opportunity to put right a poor performance nearly two weeks ago.

“Rebecca Essex has shown tremendous physicality since coming back from injury and Lauren Cattell, despite her young years has matured at fullback and will be looking forward to her first experience of playing at Twickenham. Emma Croker meanwhile is very experienced at hooker.

“We have worked hard this weekend on our physical preparations which will be key against a side like France and we know we have the capabilities to get our performance back on track.  Saturday will be a massive game in terms of the championship but we are just looking to put on a performance we can be proud of. We have never lost a game at Twickenham – we love playing there – and we plan to raise our game once again.”

Rugby fans can watch England Women’s match against France for free with free entry to the stadium following the conclusion of the men’s RBS 6 Nations match.

England

15        Lauren Cattell (Saracens)

14        Francesca Matthews (Richmond)

13        Abigail            Chamberlain (Richmond)

12        Amber            Reed  (Bristol)

11        Sally Tuson (Bristol)

10        Ceri     Large  (Worcester)

9          La Toya Mason (Wasps) (VC)       

1          Rochelle        Clark   (Worcester)

2          Emma Croker            (Richmond)

3          Sophie Hemming (Bristol)

4          Rebecca        Essex (Richmond)

5          Tamara           Taylor (Lichfield)     

6          Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps)

7          Hannah         Gallagher      (Saracens)

8          Sarah Hunter (C)     (Lichfield)

Replacements:                                

16        Victoria           Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

17        Laura  Keates            (Worcester)

18        Roz     Crowley         (Lichfield)

19        Rowena Burnfield (Richmond)

20        Harriet            Millar-Mills     (Lichfield)

21        Georgina Gulliver (Lichfield)

22        Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

23        Kay Wilson (Bristol)

England’s Six Nations Fixtures:

February 2, 2013 - Won England 76  Scotland 0

February 9, 2013 - Lost Ireland 25 England 0

February 23, 2013 - England v France - KO 720pm, Twickenham Stadium

Free entry to Twickenham Stadium following the men’s Six Nations match. Live on the BBC Red Button)

*March 9, 2013 - England v Italy - KO 1pm, Esher RFC – live on www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive. Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

March 17, 2013 - Wales v England - KO 230pm, Aberavon RFC