Feaunati recalled as England prepare to face Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium
Maddie Feaunati returns to England's starting lineup as the Red Roses prepare to take on New Zealand's Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, 26 September.
Feaunati was on the bench for England's draw against Canada last weekend, a match that halted England's 39-match winning run with a 26-26 scoreline. The fixture in Sydney is expected to draw more than 50,000 fans and pitches England against their closest challengers at the top of the world rankings. Three of England's starters were part of the side that beat Canada in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final one year ago on Sunday.
Feaunati has been named at number eight, with Alex Matthews shifting to blind-side flanker and Abi Burton moved to the replacements. Those positional changes form part of a reshuffle intended to add dynamism to England's back row.
England have altered their front row for the meeting, handing starting prop berths to Mackenzie Carson and Sarah Bern while Hannah Botterman and Maud Muir are among the front-row options on the bench. Bryony Field keeps the starting hooker role ahead of May Campbell. Amy Cokayne and Connie Powell are both missing through injury, and Lark Atkin Davies has only recently given birth.
The backline is unchanged with Helena Rowland at inside centre and Jess Breach, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Ellie Kildunne named in the back three. Natasha Hunt, Tatyana Heard and Emma Sing are listed as the specialist backs among the replacements.
England; Kildunne; Breach, Jones (capt), Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Harrison, L Packer; Carson, Field, Bern, Talling, Ives Campion, Matthews, Kabeya, Feaunati Replacements: Campbell, Botterman, Muir, Burton, Packer, Hunt, Heard, Sing
New Zealand were the last team to beat the Red Roses, upsetting the tournament favourites in the final of the previous Women's Rugby World Cup in November 2022, and England have won the teams' three meetings since — most recently running out 49-31 winners in October 2024. The Black Ferns have won all seven Tests they have played this year under new coach Whitney Hansen. "Our players are built different, we're made for these moments," said Hansen, who is the daughter of former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. "We've continued to grow each week and we're excited to put our rugby identity to the test against England, who are currently number one in the world."
Among Hansen's selections are wing Ayesha Leti-I'iga, who scored two tries in her team's World Cup final win over England, and teenage full-back Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who was one of the stars of the 2025 tournament. New Zealand: Sorensen-McGee; Paul, Brunt, Du Plessis, Leti-I'iga; H King, Joseph; Viliko, Ponsonby, Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Roos, Bayfield, Mikaele-Tu'u, E-P King, Olsen-Baker Replacements: Lolohea, Robinson, Taumata, Vaipulu, Sae, Turner, McGregor, Saili
Saturday, 26 September, 15:00 BST Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app, with accompanying live text commentary