We look ahead to the three test series between New Zealand and England and bring you the team news for the first test.

A year out from the World Cup, these tests first of all offer a great opportunity for the top two women’s rugby test nations to find out exactly where they are and exactly where they need to get to.

A headline stat for this tour is that England haven’t beaten New Zealand in New Zealand since 2001; but in reality that means little, given they’ve played just one series there since in 2005 when they played two tests and lost both.

New Zealand remarkably haven’t played a single home test since 2007 when they hosted two tests against Australia, so this tour has extra significance, asides from the fact that it is the 1000th women’s rugby international game.

The two sides have met six times since New Zealand won the 2010 World Cup Final – England have won five and drawn one, which might suggest that Gary Street’s side have all of the momentum going into this series, but it is perhaps not that simple.

There’s no doubt that New Zealand have been stung and somewhat surprised by England’s dominance of the past two series, and Brian Evans has not had the kind of preparation he craves with his side with no other test games played between the end of the last series and this. He may have looked enviously on at the rapid progress and globetrotting New Zealand women’s Sevens side, but on home soil, the Black Ferns are going to be a different proposition this time around.

The return of Victoria Grant is important for the leadership qualities and experience she brings to a backline that at times looked naïve in the last series, and in Kelly Brazier and Portia Woodman, Evans is gaining two players who were among the best in the world at Sevens level throughout the past six months. Woodman in particular will be fascinating to follow, as if she can transfer any element of her progress at Sevens level, England will find her hard to handle out wide.

There is also an element of a point to prove for these Black Ferns, both to their own union who have been letting them down with a lack of real test preparation (England have played the major role in funding these series since 2010 though we understand there is a much stronger programme in place next season for the Black Ferns), the New Zealand public who so rarely get to see them play, and to themselves after the bitter disappointment of the past six games.

England for their part are not as prepared as they would like either despite their greater time together and much better test schedule. The team that finished third in the Six Nations will look quite different from the team we see play over the coming weeks, with the reintroduction of large batch of players who have been involved in Sevens duty in recent months.

The loss through injury of the likes of Heather Fisher, Jo Watmore, Nolli Waterman and Alice Richardson are all blows as is the continued absence of Maggie Alphonsi, but England certainly have strength in depth. It will be a big series for back row Marlie Packer, who has shown over the past season that she has more than enough ability to fill the boots of England’s absent flankers.

The disappointment among the players who are in New Zealand almost straight from Moscow, if channelled well, could offer extra motivation, as if playing New Zealand in New Zealand isn’t enough already and England will feel very confident that with three games in a week – their excellent conditioning levels could play a major part in the series.

Team News (first test, Saturday, July 13th)

England

England will be led by Lichfield No. 8 Sarah Hunter and she will captain a side that includes six players in the starting line-up who can all boast over 50 caps between them.

In the pack Rochelle Clark, with 78 caps and two Rugby World Cup finals under her belt, spearheads a physical front-row unit with Sophie Hemming starting at tight-head prop and Emma Croker at hooker. Marlie Packer returns from England’s Sevens programme and is back in the backrow alongside Hunter and Alexandra Matthews.

Katy Mclean has been handed the vice-captaincy armband and will start at fly-half alongside La Toya Mason at scrum-half whilst the likes of Emily Scarratt, Katherine Merchant and Rachael Burford are also back in XVs action following last month’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.

England: Emily Scarratt, Katherine Merchant, Amber Reed, Rachael Burford, Kay Wilson, Katy McLean, La Toya Mason, Rochelle Clark, Emma Croker, Sophie Hemming, Tamara Taylor, Jo McGilchrist, Alex Matthews, Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter (C)

Replacements: Victoria Fleetwood, Laura Keates, Kate Newton, Emily Braund, Isabelle Noel-Smith, Natasha Hunt, Ceri Large, Michaela Staniford

New Zealand

Portia Woodman is the only new cap in the starting XV for New Zealand as she continues her meteoric rise in the game.

Fellow Sevens teammates Renee Wickliffe and Kelly Brazier have also been named in the starting XV with Selica Winiata, also a Sevens gold medallist, set to come off the bench.

Coming back from a long injury break, 2010 Rugby World Cup captain Victoria Grant makes her first return to the Black Ferns in a year, starting at fullback.

New Zealand: Victoria Grant, Portia Woodman, Claire Richardson, Amiria Rule, Renee Wickliffe, Kelly Brazier, Kendra Cocksedge, Ruth McKay, Fiao’o Faamausili, Melodie Bosman, Rawinia Everitt, Vita Dryden, Aroha Savage, Justine Lavea, Casey Robertson



Replacements. Karina Stowers, Kathleen Wilton, Stephanie Te Ohaere, Jackie Patea, Charmaine McMenami, Emma Jensen, Chelsea Alley, Selica Winiata