ENGLAND’S World Cup warm-up game against France on Saturday will be played under NRLW rules as Stuart Barrow’s squad look to prepare for the tournament in the best possible way.
It was announced earlier this year that the Women’s World Cup would adopt NRLW rules rather than international rules, meaning games will last 70 minutes rather than 80 alongside a host of other smaller rule amendments.
By playing Saturday’s game under similar circumstances Barrow is confident it will give everyone involved a chance to get used to the changes.
“We’re playing the game under the World Cup rules, so that’s NRLW rules too,” confirmed Barrow.
“It’ll be a 70-minute game, and other changes like no six agains and 50/30s rather than 40/20s and things like that, so it’ll be a dress rehearsal for what we’ll face in the World Cup.
“It will be something new for the girls to learn from and get used to, and it will also allow us, as coaching staff, to understand how that 10-minute difference will change things for us in terms of how we use our substitutions work and how the game differs.
“It allows us to mimic the World Cup as much as we can.
“Ten minutes doesn’t sound like a lot, but five minutes knocked off each half will have an effect on what we’d be looking to do. Playing the game this way will take away some of the unknown when we do get to the World Cup, so it will be really beneficial for us.”
But that is not the only way the trip could aid World Cup preparations
“The result will still be important to us because it’s an international we want to go out there and win and put on a good performance, but there will be a lot of other important things we can take from it,” added Barrow.
“When we kick off it’s still going to be around 33 or 34 degrees, so it gives us chance to see how people handle that. It will also let us see how those players new to the camp handle international travel and being around that environment.
“We’ve lost a few players as well ahead of this selection so it gives us chance to look at different people in different positions and see what versatility we have available. So it will be a great way to prepare for the World Cup.”
Barrow has named his 19-player squad that will fly out to France on Thursday for the game, with six players in line to make a potential debut.
Wigan’s Mary Coleman, Mia-Jayne Atherton, Ellise Derbyshire and Megan Williams could all feature for the first time in Toulouse, as could Leeds pair Ella Donnelly and Evie Cousins.
Each of the Women’s Super League’s top four clubs are represented in the 19-player squad. Nine are from leaders Wigan, with early Woman of Steel contenders Jenna Foubister, Anna Davies and Eva Hunter all included, while five Leeds players have earned call-ups, with captain Jodie Cunningham one of four St Helens players named. Tamzin Renouf is the only representative from a new-look York Valkyrie.
England squad: Mia-Jayne Atherton (Wigan Warriors), Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos), Ruby Bruce (Leeds Rhinos), Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors), Evie Cousins (Leeds Rhinos), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies (Wigan Warriors), Ellise Derbyshire (Wigan Warriors), Ella Donnelly (Leeds Rhinos), Jenna Foubister (Wigan Warriors), Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth (St Helens), Eva Hunter (Wigan Warriors), Katie Mottershead (St Helens), Lucy Murray (Leeds Rhinos), Tamzin Renouf (York Valkyrie), Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Megan Williams (Wigan Warriors), Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors).