My Red Roses Dream Team Vs The Rest of The World

My England Women's Rugby Dream Team vs The Rest of The World.
Expecting a debate after my WXV 1 Team of the Tournament video • WXV 1 Team of the Tour... .
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WHO AM I?
If we haven't met before - Hi! I'm Kat, former England Rugby International, and now I'm a pundit, corporate speaker, and rugby coach. I also run an online fitness business 💪
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WXV 1 Team of the Tournament: • WXV 1 Team of the Tour...
Tags: women's rugby, women's six nations, rugby highlights, rugby union, rugby, WXV, WXV1

[@rogermassey8844]

It would make for a great match! A fit Sophie de Goede would be an automtic choice. For England Marlie Packer looks tired and less impactful. It may be unfair to a great servant of England, but will she be indispensable for the World Cup?

[@KatMerchant]

Sophie De Goede would absolutely make the team!

[@geoffpalmer6424]

I agree about Marlie Packer, I woud go for Talling or Feaunati, younger. fitter. Packer is not the player she was 2 years ago.

[@gurufitness1984]

Abby is in for Poppy based purely on lineout steals, and Holly is in for Zoe, as her distribution at times seems to be from another planet. Finally Claudia replaces Jess as for me she is more of a complete player and on the opposing side, De Goode replaces Olsen. This is an enthusiastic amateur perspective, not a World Cup-winning expert's opinion.

[@robstarr9270]

Agree on all points

[@KatMerchant]

I think your opinion is very valid! Really good arguments for all. I had only picked World 15 based on those fit but absolutely would pick De Goode.

[@andrewwatkinson1548]

Pretty much agree Cat. I’ve been musing about Marlie for a while and whilst she may have red rose blood coursing through her veins I think she makes too many mistakes. So chuffed you picked Meg, she is by far my favourite player, talented, ruthless, funny and not a selfish bone in her body and would make a great captain.

[@KatMerchant]

Love the idea as Meg as captain- such a selfless player

[@chrishayward4649]

Apart from Abby for Poppy (tough call) I think Kat, you've nailed an amazing starting 15. What gives the Red Roses the edge over any other team and even a world 15 is the strength off the bench (using your 15 starters - gives us the likes of Bern, Lark-Davies, Carson, Talling, Feunarti, Powell, Ward, L.Packer, Galligan, Rowland, Wyrwas, Scarratt, Aitchinson, Westcombe-Evans, Sing in reserve). That's a side that could win a 6 nations.

[@KatMerchant]

Yeah when you put it that way- the bench really shows the strength and depth eng have

[@rarbuthnotc]

Great choices - I am particularly glad you highlighted Gabby Vernier, although you didn't mention her brutal tackle skills! Also Agathe Sochat - like many front row forwards much of what she does is hidden. I am disappointed that you didn't put bench choices in (but you mentioned that!). So many of these sort of team ideas lose out by not having the super eight (who came up with that 🤔). All round great podcast! PS I would have Abby Ward - but certainly see why you want Poppy in. Again - on the bench!

[@KatMerchant]

Yeah I kept it punchey. Vernier punches above her weight so much defensively and carves up in attack to!

[@lost_boy]

Couple of front-row changes for me: I would choose Lark Atkin-Davis as the England hooker over Cokayne, and for the world I'd put the Black Fern's Amy Rule at Tighthead. I agree with the rest of your choices, great selection, Kat!

[@KatMerchant]

I'm a big fan of lark so can't really argue!

[@nickc4033]

Agree on the front row Can see the logic of Cleall in 2nd row, but that sacrifices a lineout jumper, so I would probably stay with Abbie Ward, and keep Cleall as versatile bench-cover Might go for Maddie Feaunati over Kabeya at 6 Glad you've picked Harrison over Aitcheson - safer option and coming back strong from her ACL injury Centres (with Scaz onthe bench) looks the best combination My only concern in the back three is around Kildunne's defence - great going forward, but does sometimes slip off tackles... Just need to ensure she scores more than she lets past! 😉

[@KatMerchant]

Ward is fantastic in the LO for sure. If not Kildunne, who would you pick at 15?

[@ol.berry01]

The ultimate England vs World XV (Babas, could happen) match! Personally I'd swap Maud Muir for Bern, MM is possibly the better impact player off the bench where as Bern is an absolute wrecking ball and just keeps her legs pumping! World XV I'd have Neve Jones at hooker instead, but it's a really close call. 2nd row... I've always thought Poppy Cleall plays better at Lock than backrow, but Ward is just a force of nature alongside Aldcroft. Backrow, can't argue with that England line up. Rachel Malcolm would just edge the 6 shirt over Wafer in my line up. Half-backs: solid. Centre pairing for England is easily their strongest it's been for a few years. Would be interesting to see if Phoebe Murray gets more opportunities in the 6N. My World XV would definitely favour Alev Kelter in the 12 shirt. There's no argument with the England back 3 at present. Can I be greedy and have Marine Menager on the wing instead of centre? Here's a hypothetical for you Kat, Ilona Maher switches to the 15s game. Would you put her in the backrow, centres or maybe even on the wing?

[@KatMerchant]

Ilona I think would be back row maybe centre- not out and out gas of a wnger

[@DavidWakefield2024]

I really think Feaunati has to be a starter. She’s bigger and more physical than Kabeya, and carries. I’m okay with you picking Cleal, but not at 5. Possibly at 8 with Matthews at 6. Scarily, i think England would win. I also think our replacement front row and second row would get in ahead of the world 15 equivalent! Definitely Sarah Bern anyway! 1) Botterman 2) Cockayne 3) Muir 4) Aldcroft 5) Ward 6) Matthews 7) Feaunati 8) Cleal 9) Hunt 10) Aitchinson 11) McDonald 12) Heard 13) Jones 14) Dow 15) Kildunne I’m so so with Breach. Great finisher. But McDonald is 100% quicker. I feel our team is aging a touch, and later in the gam we get badly exposed on the drift defence. So we need the pace of Jones / McDonald (think how we had huge leads v France and New Zealand and conceded late tries)

[@KatMerchant]

Jones definitely seems to add another gear pace wise!

[@robstarr9270]

Botts, Cokayne, Bern for me. I know Sarah is only recently back from injury and hasn’t been at her absolute best, but when she is she’s the best 3 in the world. Rogers obviously is the 1, but as much as I love Menin as a Chiefs fan I’d probably go with Australia’s Karpani at 3. More explosive in open field. Can’t agree with Cleal I’m afraid - used to rate her highly but watching her for Sarries these last couple of years she seems to lean into the dark arts too much for my taste. Ward never lets us down at set piece or around the park. Kabeya definitely straight back in, but again as much as I love Marlie lately she seems to concede more penalties than she wins so that’s a concern. She is talismanic and brings energy and leadership, but is that enough now? Matthews picks herself and Maddie at 6 with Kabeya at 7 feels nicely balanced. Agree with those saying Sophie de Goede needs to be in that back row, alongside Wafer. Olsen-Baker has earned her spot, although Evie Gallagher deserves a mention and the Aussie 8 has been great lately too. Both 9s are spot on but I’d prefer Aitchison & Demant as the 10s. Heard, Jones & Vernier yes, but Kelter at 13. As a Chiefs fan again I’ll always pick a fit Claud over Jess, but the other 2 are obviously correct. Have to go with Bermudez ahead of Leti I’inga I think and possibly Joyce ahead of Holmes What an incredible match it would be though with any of those options

[@KatMerchant]

Would love to see this match! I can't wait for Claudia to be back injury free

[@w0033944]

Re: Marlie, I think it's age.

[@pljms]

England have such strength in depth that I think it would be possible to pick two starting 15s of equal merit. The positions I would find it very difficult to pick one player over another are all in the backs; Natasha Hunt or Lucy Packer at 9, Holly Aitchison or Zoe Harrison at 10 and Helena Rowland or Meg Jones at 13. Yes, particularly at outside centre when you also have Emily Scarratt to consider, probably England's greatest ever player!

[@Moamanly]

Enjoy your work Kat. Couple of corrections since you asked! ;-) Verse is never correct for Versus and Kaipo Olsen-Baker's first name is easy once you get the hang of Māori vowel sounds. Ai is always pronounced like the word "aye" (I) so 'kai' rhymes with 'sky'.

[@KatMerchant]

Thank you :)

[@judeandrew696]

England: 1.Botterman, 2.Cockayne, 3.Bern, 4.Aldcroft, 5.Galligan, 6.Talling, 7.Kabeya, 8. Matthews, 9.Macdonald, 10.Aitchison, 11.Breach, 12.Rowland, 13.Jones, 14.Dow, 15.Kildunne I would have just substituted Claudia Macdonald for Jess Breach on the wing and played Lucy Packer at 9 but Breach has really improved her passing and tackling of late and probably deserves to keep her place.

[@KatMerchant]

Strong team!

[@martinboycott-brown1994]

No mention of Sarah Bern? Pretty remarkable running game for a prop! I would definitely have Abbie Ward, and also Sophie de Goede for "The Rest". I get the Harrison versus Aitchison debate and I suppose it depends on what kind of game you want to play. Aitchison seems to stand flatter to the line and has a very quick pass, so if you want a running game, perhaps she is better for that. Harrison certainly has a thunderous boot, so perhaps better for that type of game. Also no mention of Helena Rowland, who is both speedy and elusive. Too many choices really. I'm glad I don't have to make the selections.

[@KatMerchant]

Ha ha I think you hit the nail on the head- too many good choices to pick from! Bern would be on the bench. She's incredible. think Muir is a started though.

[@mikephillips4414]

There's only 2 line out jumpers in your England side , would swap Marlie packer for Maddie Feaunati at 6, Sarah Beckett in for Poppy Cleall same sort of player big physical just think Sarah has the bigger engine ,as for the back 3 Breach is an out and out finisher not great in defence , so would probably go for Mia Venner on the wing

[@lost_boy]

I feel that Breach more than makes up for not being the best tackler with her next-level work rate!

[@mikephillips4414]

@@lost_boy Kildune isent the best in defence so a bit more help from the wingers is needed Dow is good but Breach is solf in defence

[@StevenJackson-re6qm]

@@mikephillips4414Emma Sing!

[@mikephillips4414]

@@StevenJackson-re6qm Singers is good would like to see her pass/offload more she play a bit blinkered with line insight

[@ShahKhattaq]

Kat's choice is huge- Alex is my hero...and i met Kat and she is an elite player that welcomes fans...outstanding...even though i'm boring...wow!

[@mikebarnard7957]

Love Kat's analyses. Really knowledgeable, and her presentation is superb She was also an outstanding winger in her days with the Red Roses. Does Kat coach ?

[@StevenJackson-re6qm]

Agree Zoe H at 10, but not Poppy at 5 and I’m afraid I think Marlie is really struggling. You said “ignore injuries” yet not for Claudia M…. nah!

[@KatMerchant]

Hard to take starting shirt of the back 3 currently on form but I agree Claudia is an exceptional player

[@problemchimp4231]

Muir, Aldcroft & Mathews essential

[@KatMerchant]

Absolutely

[@simonhenderson241]

I'd have Bern over Muir, Ward over Cleall and Feaunati over M Packer. In the backs, the only change I'd make would be L Packer over Hunt (faster service and just as good in defence). I'm glad that Poppy Cleall is in your mix though; I'm not sure why she's been overlooked recently by the England coaches; she's good enough for the bench at least.

[@domstafford1894]

Honestly I think England would win that match 8 times out of 10, they're just that good right now. In the long term I'd love to see other teams step up to their level, but I also hope they win that home world cup next year, because they deserve it. And that's me talking as an Ireland fan.

[@neill392]

Sophie de Goede?

[@KatMerchant]

Very valid- I hadn't thought about injured rest of the world team

[@chrish4976]

New subscriber here! Out of interest, if they were available for England selection, how many of Kat's Rest of the World team would get into the Red Roses team? And who would they replace?

[@KatMerchant]

Hey! Welcome :) I did my WXV 1 team of the tournament last week- check it out and let me know what you think

[@jeremylacey7047]

I would be interested in your red roses team of all time players

[@KatMerchant]

This might just have be another video!

[@il3812]

Has the time come when Marley Packer and Emily Scarrat should retire from internationals. They are two of the greatest players ever to play for England, and clearly love it still. For me both Rocky Clark and Sarah Hunter, both great players, went on playing too long, although I'm sure both were wonderful teammates for younger players in the dressing room. On the other hand, Katy Daley-McLean and Nollie Waterman went, when still at the top of their game. So for me Maddie Feaunati for Packer, Helena Rowland before Tatyana Heard, and (just) Leanne Infante for Mo Hunt . Completely agree to the return of Poppy Cleal. It's a mystery why she was dropped. Big fan of Jess Breach (her place questioned above) for her split second decision-making, (when to run and when to pass) and the timing and accuracy of her pass.

[@BrianCarter-k8g]

Leti-I'iga vastly overated, quick and powerful over 20 yards bu even Zoe Aldcroft can run her down over 45, let alone all the England centres and back 3. Even Jaz Joyce a better pick.

[@maguffyn]

Beckett instead of Cleall. Packer is only getting picked for her leadership. De Goede at 8. McDonald just isn’t in the same league as the back 3, never mind BWE coming thru.

[@tjmunros]

So, no Welsh 😢

[@KatMerchant]

Wales have massively underperformed so difficult to pick

[@tjmunros]

@@KatMerchant yes, strange now that they have contracts and we’re in WXV1 last year. I thought at least one (no names) looked unfit. They just didn’t look like they were going to win all their games and bounce back.

[@AndrewUnderwood-pl1ur]

Katelyn Vahaakolo cannot tackle, Abby Dow skinned her, I would play Cyrielle Banet. In 2021 stopped Portia Woodman!

[@tollyt7465]

Abby Dow has skinned everyone, or handed them off, including Portia Woodman.

[@KatMerchant]

Dow can beat pretty much anyone on the wing! Banet is a good shout though- real danger player

[@stephenmerrett2547]

Jess Breach has poor awareness and technique in defence, so would go for MacDonald.