England have gained 20 of their earlier 22 Six Nations matches in opposition to Wales, and given the sturdy group named by Mitchell, matching their common successful margin (over the past eight championship wins) of 46 factors appears to be like possible.
World participant of the 12 months Ellie Kildunne, who scored two tries in opposition to Wales in final year’s 46-10 victory, returns to the beginning XV to win her fiftieth cap.
The 25-year-old full-back is joined by wings Abby Dow and Jess Breach, with the trio able to chase down their 18 mixed tries in final 12 months’s championship.
Zoe Harrison will get a possibility to press ahead her case to be the beginning fly-half in a star-studded backline additionally containing common centres Meg Jones and Tatyana Heard.
High quality returns to the pack within the type of prop Sarah Bern, who was at her barnstorming finest off the bench in York, whereas 22-year-old Morwenna Talling and Abbie Ward type a balanced second-row partnership that brings work-rate and line-out nous.
“You could possibly subject two fully England completely different 23s and each may win the Six Nations, that’s the calibre we’re speaking about,” former Wales participant Philippa Tuttiett instructed BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly.
“There are some superstars all through that group, it’s an unimaginable group.”
To cap off the thrilling group choice, Olympian Abi Burton, who nearly lost her life in 2022, is about to make her England debut from the bench.
The 25-year-old again row spent 25 days in an induced coma after being identified with autoimmune encephalitis, which happens when the physique’s immune system mistakenly assaults the mind.
When Burton got here out of her coma she was unable to stroll and speak, and had misplaced greater than three stone, however she miraculously returned to rugby sevens in time for her second Olympics in Paris.
England centre Jones stated when Burton got here out of her coma she “manifested” enjoying for the Purple Roses and the again rower has impressed following her swap again to XVs with Trailfinders.
“Since I have been in poor health and are available again into enjoying rugby on the Paris Olympics and coming again into XVs, I really feel like I’m thriving as an individual on and off the pitch,” Burton instructed BBC Sport.
“My household at the moment are lastly seeing me totally play rugby like I’ll by no means play once more, each single sport, and so they love seeing that enjoyment on face.
“Will probably be a extremely particular second for them simply seeing me completely satisfied and having fun with myself.”
