Katy Mclean will captain England on Saturday

Fly-half Mclean, who has 62 caps, takes over the captaincy reigns from Lichfield No. 8 Sarah Hunter for the first time in 12 months. Hunter is one of several players, including star names such as Emily Scarratt, Katherine Merchant, Danielle Waterman and Heather Fisher, who have all been ruled out of this two match series, which also sees England play Canada on November 13, because of injury.

Mclean will lead a relatively experienced England side which sees the return of Saracen flanker Margaret Alphonsi in the starting line-up. Alphonsi has been sidelined since March 2012 with an injury but she teams up with Wasps’ Marlie Packer and Richmond’s Rebecca Essex to form an exciting backrow partnership.

England have experience too in the front row with Rochelle Clark, who is set to earn her 86^th cap, Emma Croker and Sophie Hemming all starting. Clark has also been named as vice-captain.

In the backs, there is a new wing combination with Ruth Laybourn and Claire Allan starting whilst Rachael Burford and Amber Reed form a tried and tested centre partnership. Bristol’s Kay Wilson will start at fullback whilst her club and country teammate, prop Sasha Acheson, could be set to win her first cap.

England Head Coach Gary Street said: “We are heading into this Series with a handful of injuries but we have got an experienced pack and a lot of pace in our backline. Playing France is going to be a tough and physical game but I am also very excited about our flanker combination of Marlie Packer and Maggie Alphonsi. We’ve had some good results without Maggie but undoubtedly she adds quality through her experience and knowledge.

“Katy last captained England a year ago in our successful Autumn International Series against New Zealand and she brings a wealth of experience and quality both on and off the pitch.”

A young England team last played France in the 2013 Six Nations and were on the wrong end of a 30-20 defeat whilst France also broke England’s unbeaten record at Twickenham that day. Although this England team is a very different looking side to the one beaten nine months ago Street is expecting this clash to be a thriller at the home of England Rugby.

Street added: “This is going to be a seriously tough test for us. France got a good win over us last season and they have just defeated Canada at the weekend but a tough test is exactly what we want as we continue to build towards the Rugby World Cup next season and playing at Twickenham is certainly going to add to the occasion of this Test match.”

England Team v France

15 Kay Wilson (Bristol)

14 Claire        Allan   (Richmond)

13 Amber       Reed  (Bristol)

12 Rachael   Burford           (Thurrock)

11 Ruth          Laybourn       (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

10 Katy           Mclean           (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) (c)

9 La Toya       Mason            (Wasps)

1 Rochelle     Clark   (Worcester) (VC)

2 Emma         Croker            (Richmond)

3 Sophie        Hemming       (Bristol)

4 Tamara       Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

5 Emily           Braund           (Lichfield)

6 Marlie          Packer            (Wasps)

7 Margaret     Alphonsi (Saracens)

8 Rebecca Essex     (Richmond)

Replacements:

16 Victoria     Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

17 Claire        Purdy (Wasps)

18 Sasha Acheson (Bristol)

19 Hannah    Gallagher      (Saracens)

20 Harrier Millar-Mills (Lichfield)

21 Natasha   Hunt   (Lichfield)

22 Ceri           Large  (Worcester)

23 Michaela  Staniford        (Wasps)

England Autumn International Series:

• Nov 9, England v France, Twickenham Stadium, KO 5.05pm, live on Sky Sports 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

Free entry to Twickenham Stadium following England Men’s QBE International.

• Nov 13, England v Canada, The Twickenham Stoop, KO 7pm., live on www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.co.uk (0844 847 2492) and www.quins.co.uk (0208 410 6000). Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for Under 16s.