Centre Emily Scarratt will make her 100th start for England in their opening game against New Zealand at the newly-named Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
The 34-year-old becomes only the third England player to reach 100 starts after Sarah Hunter and Rochelle Clarke and was one of five players to make 15 changes to the starting line-up in last weekend’s 38-19 win over France in Gloucester.
The newly formed front row features Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Byrne all replacing Hannah Botterman, Amy Cocaine and Maude Muir.
Lock Abbey Ward returns from injury to replace Sale’s Morwenna Tarling, who has been named as a substitute.
Scarlet’s Loughborough Lightning team-mate Helena Rowland was named on the bench after scoring against France, the only substitute in the back line.
The clash with the world champions is the second warm-up fixture ahead of WXV later this month and the first since Twickenham’s naming rights were sold to Allianz.
Scarratt was moved from her usual outside centre position to inside centre by England manager John Mitchell for this year’s Six Nations Championship, but has struggled to settle into her new position since returning from neck surgery. At 34, she has not played a game in more than a year.
“It’s a fantastic achievement (to reach 100 starts) and we need people like that in our game. She’s an inspiration to the future and the present,” Mitchell said.
“She’s a good person, so she’ll continue to be active outside of the game. You can tell that her game still means a lot to her.
“Some players have a really hard time coming back when they’ve had a lot of accumulated injuries, but she’s had a few finishing goals (during her career) and that’s really important.
“I’m more interested in experience and passion. She has both.”
The Black Ferns were the last team to beat England, coming on a dramatic triumph in the 2022 World Cup final, but Mitchell’s side gained some measure of revenge by beating England in Auckland in last year’s WXV tournament.
Mitchell, who coached the All Blacks from 2001 to 2003, will also play against his home team.
“I have respect for them, but like all my opponents, I am competitive with them more than anyone else, regardless of whether they were born in New Zealand or have a New Zealand passport,” the 60-year-old added.
“You gave me the opportunity to be here today, and I will never forget it.”
Gloucester-Hartfury’s Georgia Brock is set to make her back-row debut from the bench.
Exeter Chiefs flanker Maddie Founaty made his first start for the Red Roses against France at Kingsholm Stadium and was included in the starting XI.
The 22-year-old joins captain Marley Packer and number eight Alex Matthews as a constant in the back row.
Inside centre Tatiana Hurd will partner 112-cap Scarratt in midfield, while the back three of Abbie Dowe, Jess Breech and Ellie Kildanne remain unchanged.
Since New Zealand’s last visit to Twickenham in December 2012, only scrum-halves Natasha Hunt, Packer and Scarratt have survived.
More than 40,000 fans are expected to crowd the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
