Staniford will join an elite band of players who have had the honour of pulling on the England jersey 50 plus times, including Tamara Taylor, Margaret Alphonsi, Katy McLean, Amy Turner and Rochelle Clark who are all named in the 22 for this weekend’s game.

The Wasps wing became England’s youngest ever international player back in 2005 when she made her debut against Wales at the age of just 17. She has since gone on to compete in two Rugby World Cups in the XVs game and the 2009 inaugural Rugby World Cup 7s. She is also currently co-captain of the England Sevens team.

“Sunday will be very special, winning my 50th cap,” said the 24-year-old, who also works as a teacher in Buckinghamshire. “I am sure it will be a memory that will stick with me for quite a long time, and I hope we can make sure we come away from Paris with a victory as that is the most important thing.”

Staniford has been England’s try machine this season, running in five touch downs in England’s Six Nations victories against Scotland, Italy and Wales and she’ll be hoping to get on the scoreboard again this Sunday.

“It’s great to be on the score board a lot but really it just shows that everyone around me is doing their jobs and although it’s a cliché I am just in the right place at the right time,” added Staniford. “Hopefully that run can continue this weekend but we know this is going to be our toughest game so far.

“Playing France in France is always unpredictable. They are strong and their supporters are fantastic so they will be rallied on by that. Certainly they are a very different team when they are playing at home. They have this ability to upset and they can capitalise massively and really fuel the stakes. We have to make sure we keep them at bay.

“For us, we enjoy playing expansive rugby, offloading and playing a fast paced game but we are always looking at areas that we can improve on. Nothing is ever perfect and we are always striving to get better. Every game is different so we need to make sure we are as best prepared as we possibly can be in all areas, especially on Sunday.”

France versus England will be available to watch live on Sky Sport HD2, the Red Button.

England

15        Natasha         Hunt   (Lichfield)

14        Kay     Wilson            (Bristol)

13        Emily  Scarratt          (Lichfield)

12        Rachael         Burford           (Richmond)

11        Michaela        Staniford        (Wasps)

10        Katy    McLean (c)    (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

9          La Toya          Mason            (Wasps)

1          Laura  Keates            (Worcester)

2          Victoria           Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

3          Sophie           Hemming       (Bristol)

4          Rowena         Burnfield       (Richmond)

5          Tamara           Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

6          Marlie Packer            (Bristol)

7          Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens) VC          

8          Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)

Replacements:

16        Amy    Turner            (Richmond)

17        Rochelle        Clark   (Worcester)

18        Rebecca Essex (Richmond)

19        Isabelle Noel Smith (Bristol)

20        Georgina       Rozario          (Lichfield)

21        Ceri     Large  (Worcester)

22        Kimberley      Oliver  (Bristol)

England’s Six Nations Fixtures:

February 5th 2012, Scotland v England, Lasswade, Edinburgh, WON 47-0

February 12th 2012, Italy v England, Recco, Nr Genoa, WON 43-3

February 25th, 2012, England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, WON 33-0

March 11th, 2012, France v England, Stade Charlety, Paris, KO 1245pm GMT

Live on Sky Sport HD2 Red Button.

March 17th 2012 England v Ireland, Esher RFC, KO 2pm.

Initial feedback from Provincial Unions currently inviting player registrations suggests player numbers are set for a strong year.

Counties Manukau Rugby Chief Executive Andrew Maddock said many clubs and schools in the region were already reporting significant interest from volunteers and players at all levels.

“Clubs and schools are registering very strong numbers and many schools and clubs are expected to field a number of additional teams this year.

“Throughout our region there is a huge level of excitement in rugby and it’s great to see it flow onto increased participation. Undoubtedly the enthusiasm we saw for RWC 2011 matches, no matter who was playing and the All Blacks win are big reasons,” Maddock said.

The annual window for player registrations traditionally runs from February to April. Last year 145,689 players signed up to play rugby. Over the past five years player numbers increased three per cent.

Sonny Bill Williams new Teen Rugby Ambassador

New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) General Manager Community and Provincial Union Rugby Brent Anderson said they were focused on supporting Provincial Unions to retain players in 2012, and to grow participation at all levels, particularly among teenagers.

“Encouraging teenagers to stay in the game is one of our key challenges this year.  That’s why it’s great having Sonny Bill Williams on board as our Teen Rugby Ambassador.”

Teenagers will soon receive a text from Sonny Bill Williams reminding them to register. Other initiatives include Random Rugby Facebook and competitions with prizes including Barkers outfitting and adidas clothing.

“We’re busy with lots of other activities as well such as The Great Rugby Road Trip. All these initiatives coupled with a fantastic start to the Investec Super Rugby season gives us confidence that rugby will remain the sport of choice for New Zealanders,” Anderson said.

Small Blacks TV back on air

For young rugby fans, Small Blacks TV, a finalist for the Aotearoa Film & Television Awards best kids’ TV programme, returns to TV2 this Sunday (11 March at 7.30am) for another bigger, brighter and better season.  Regular Small Blacks TV stars Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith and Dan Carter are back and they’re joined this year by Israel Dagg who will present a new segment call Kura Commentary.

Hosted by Nua Finau the half hour children’s lifestyle show features All Blacks like they’ve never been seen before.

Kahui challenges kids to a race through an obstacle course every week in Kaks vs Kids, Conrad “Snakey” Smith is a reporter on the spot on Small Blacks News presented by New Zealand actor Robbie Magasiva, and Carter teaches rugby skills in DC Skills.

Young players who have previously registered to play rugby can also look forward to receiving a postcard and text message from Richie McCaw.

Kahui and Williams were also at Manurewa High School this afternoon playing Rippa Rugby and encouraging young people to register.

Registrations close in March and April.  To find out more, those interested in playing rugby or volunteering should contact their school, Provincial Union or local club at http://allblacks.com/clubfinder.

Ospreys prop Paul James comes into the front row in place of his regional colleague Adam Jones, who has a calf injury.
Cardiff Blues lock Bradley Davies starts in place of another Osprey, lock Alun Wyn Jones, with Jones moving to the bench.

Ryan Jones joins the back row in place of squad captain Sam Warburton, who is suspended, with Toby Faletau shifting from No8 to open-side flanker to accommodate the Ospreys flanker and fill the berth vacated by Warburton.

On the bench prop Ryan Bevington (Ospreys) provides front row cover in place of James and Sales Sharks back row Andy Powell is also added due to the promotion of Jones.

“We are sticking with the majority of the side which has put together a string of performances for us so far in this tournament, the one change which wasn’t forced, in the second row, is based on the fact that Alun Wyn ran himself into the ground when we faced 14 men against France last week,”  said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“We face Australia back home at the Millennium Stadium in just over a month’s time and we are single-minded in our assertion that we want that home-coming to be a celebration of us achieving the status of one of the top three teams in the world.

“We have come a long way and put together a string of performances that the nation can be proud of so far in New Zealand and we need to ensure that the history books reflect what we know we are capable of – and it is only by beating the Wallabies on Friday night that we feel this will be achieved.”
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins (c), Huw Bennett, Paul James, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau, Ryan Jones,
Replacements: Lloyd Burns, Ryan Bevington, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Lloyd Williams, Stephen Jones, Scott Williams.

Tommy Bowe comes onto the right wing in place of Fergus McFadden. Captain Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy are named as the centre pairing in place of Paddy Wallace and Keith Earls, who retains his place in the side and moves to the left wing. Conor Murray is named at scrumhalf in place of Isaac Boss.

Hooker Rory Best and prop Mike Ross return to the starting front row with Paul O’Connell coming into the second row in place of Leo Cullen.  The final change sees Stephen Ferris named in the back row instead of Donnacha Ryan who moves into the replacements.

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Italy, 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool C, Otago Stadium, Sunday, October 2, kick-off 8:30pm local time/8:30am Irish time):

15 – Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 – Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 – Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 – Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 – Sean Cronin (Leinster)
17 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 – Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
22 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

The stage is set – Robinson

Scotland have made seven changes in their starting team for Saturday’s vital Rugby World Cup Pool B match against England in Auckland.

The match at Eden Park will be the 129th occasion the countries have met stretching back 140 years to the very first rugby international played at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh in 1871. History is thus made this weekend as it will be the first time the auld enemy has been faced on neutral soil.

Scotland were victorious when the first encounter took place; they know they have to win this weekend by eight points and deprive England of a bonus point to give themselves the best chance of qualifying for next month’s knockout stages.

Head coach Andy Robinson said: “The stage is set for what I am sure will be an occasion worthy of everything this fixture means to both countries and their supporters. The atmosphere in Wellington last weekend was exceptional but I believe at a sell-out Eden Park on Saturday it will be even better.

“What this weekend is about once again though is doing everything we can to win a Test match and qualify for the knockout matches.”

The changes rung by Robinson following the agonising 12-13 setback to Argentina last weekend in Wellington see Joe Ansbro – who scored a try in Scotland’s opening Pool B match against Romania earlier this month and also crossed the whitewash to register the decisive score in the victory over Ireland in the EMC Test last month – replace Nick De Luca at outside centre.

Sean Lamont moves from the wing to inside centre instead of Graeme Morrison with Simon Danielli, scorer of a second-half try brace against Romania, chosen on the wing. Mike Blair is selected at scrum-half to win his 75th cap, winning that berth from Rory Lawson.

In the pack, Euan Murray is reintroduced at tight-head for Geoff Cross, captain Al Kellock returns in the second-row for Jim Hamilton and Richie Vernon is at No 8 for the injured Kelly Brown.

Brown suffered concussion in the closing stages of the game against the Pumas.

Scotland team doctor James Robson said today: “Happily Kelly has made a very quick recovery from the initial event but we recognise it was a concussion episode and therefore we have been treating him according to the IRB protocol.

“Under these guidelines Kelly is ineligible for selection for this weekend’s game against England.”

Robson explained that the protocol involves a graduated return to play moving from full recovery without any symptoms of concussion through to resuming contact training.

“Under the guidelines you can return to play one week later but given this is a six-day turnaround Kelly cannot play within that timescale.”

Andy Robinson added: “I wish to congratulate Chris Paterson who sets a new landmark on Saturday, which will be his 15th Rugby World Cup cap for Scotland – another record (surpassing the previous top mark held by Doddie Weir) in his distinguished career.”

Scotland team to play England at Eden Park, Auckland in Rugby World Cup Pool B on Saturday 1 October, kick-off 8.30pm NZ time

15 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 108 caps, 22 tries, 90 conversions, 168 penalties, 3 drop-goals, 803 points
14 Max Evans (Castres) 23 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
13 Joe Ansbro (London Irish) 8 caps, 2 tries 10 points

12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 59 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
11 Simon Danielli (Ulster) 31 caps, 8 tries, 40points

10 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps, 2 conversions, 2 penalties, 2 drop-goals, 16 points
9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) VICE CAPTAIN 74 caps, 7 tries, 35 points

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 59 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 52 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 40 caps, 2 tries, 10 points

4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 15 caps
5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN 35 caps, 1 try, 5 points

6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 22 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
8 Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks) 14 caps

Substitutes

16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
18 Nathan Hines (Clermont Auvergne) 76 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
19 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 10 caps
20 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
21 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 65 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions,52 penalties, 16 drop-goals, 254 points
22 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh) 28 caps, 1 try, 5 points

Rob Kearney (bruised knee), Keith Earls (bruised leg) and Sean O’Brien (bruised arm) all sat out the session as a precaution to give another 24 hours rest to allow their injuries to settle, but all three are expected to return to training tomorrow.

Tommy Bowe (calf) and Paul O’Connell (hamstring) both took part in some light training and it is hoped that they will both be able to step up their training levels at tomorrow’s session.

Gordon D’Arcy has also continued his recovery programme from a hamstring strain and took a full part in the session today without any reaction.

The No 8 linked up with the squad in Auckland tonight and will train with them for the first time in New Zealand tomorrow.

Waldrom flew out as temporary cover for Nick Easter on Wednesday and although the Harlequins forward is recovering from a sore back it has been decided to add the Leicester Tigers back row and make the party back up to 30.

England Team Manager Martin Johnson said: “Nick is making good progress as is Matt Stevens but with Thomas now out here it makes sense to get him into the squad officially so he can join in with training. We also owe it to Leicester to make a decision so that they can plan accordingly without him.”

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry and his Assistant Coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have today announced the All Blacks team for their third match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup against France at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday September 24.

Starting XV:

1.         Tony Woodcock (78)

2.         Keven Mealamu (87)

3.         Owen Franks (26)

4.         Brad Thorn (54)

5.         Sam Whitelock (20)

6.         Jerome Kaino (43)

7.         Richie McCaw – captain (99)

8.         Adam Thomson (23)

9.         Piri Weepu (51)

10.       Daniel Carter (84)

11.       Richard Kahui (14)

12.       Ma’a Nonu (62)

13.       Conrad Smith (50)

14.       Cory Jane (28)

15.       Israel Dagg (8)

Reserves:

16.       Andrew Hore (57)

17.       Ben Franks (12)

18.       Ali Williams (68)

19.       Anthony Boric (22)

20.       Andy Ellis (22)

21.       Colin Slade (7)

22.       Sonny Bill Williams (9)

Number of Test caps in brackets

The starting XV features four changes to the team which beat Japan 83 – 7 in Hamilton last week: Richie McCaw returns to captain the side in his 100th Test after a minor calf strain forced him to miss the Japan Test; Israel Dagg has recovered from his abdominal strain and been named at fullback; Piri Weepu is at halfback with Andy Ellis on the bench; and playmaker Daniel Carter has also recovered from his stiff back to take his place in the familiar number 10 jersey.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said: “While there is obviously intense interest in this game because of past Rugby World Cups, the focus for the team is simple. We will have to match the physicality of the French, execute our key roles well and deal with anything unexpected which the French may throw at us.” 

Henry added: “The French are a very good side and they often play their very best rugby against the All Blacks.  They play with huge passion, lift themselves emotionally and, as always, they can never be underestimated.”

Saturday’s match will be the 50th Test between the two countries, with the All Blacks winning 36 matches, France 12, with one draw. The All Blacks and France have played each other four times at the Rugby World Cup (for two wins apiece) but this is the first time they have met in Pool Play.  The All Blacks beat France in the 1987 Final and in the 3rd /4th playoff match in 2003 with France scoring victories in 1999 and 2007.

The Sale Sharks wing will win his 54th cap after being ruled out of the first two Rugby World Cup games with a back problem.

From the side which defeated Georgia 41-10 last Sunday, three 2003 Rugby World Cup winners also return, with Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon) and Steve Thompson (London Wasps) restored at inside centre, fly half and hooker respectively

In the pack, London Irish loosehead prop Alex Corbisiero will make his first start of the tournament, with Leicester Tigers pair Louis Deacon and Tom Croft also returning.

Captain Lewis Moody (Bath Rugby) will continue at open-side flanker, with Ricoh Black Rams’ James Haskell playing his second successive game at No 8. Hooker Lee Mears and prop David Wilson, both of Bath Rugby, will hope to make their first appearances of the tournament from the bench.

England

15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
12 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby)
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
10 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2 Steve Thompson (London Wasps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7 Lewis Moody (Bath Rugby, capt)
8 James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams)
Replacements
16 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
18 Simon Shaw (Unattached)
19 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) 
20 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
21 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
22 Delon Armitage (London Irish)

Waldrom, part of the extended Rugby World Cup Preliminary Squad, will arrive in  New Zealand on Wednesday (September 21). He is not an official replacement for Andrew Sheridan.

England Team Manager Martin Johnson said: “Nick Easter is still suffering from a sore back so we will be bringing Thomas out as temporary cover. We’ve obviously spoken to Leicester and Thomas will be flying later today.”