Monday's team against USA was probably England's strongest possible starting line-up - virtually the same as the team that demolished France and Scotland at the end of the last Six Nations - and it is clear that England's management see France as rather less of a threat than either of the North American teams.
Overall only five of Monday's starting line-up will be starting against France. Fiona Pocock, double try scorer in the USA game, also gets a complete rest while Emily Scarrett (who also scored two against USA, as well as a hat-trick in the Six Nations game with France) starts in the bench. Only hooker Amy Garnett remains from the forwards, and while Charlotte Barras starts again she moves from full-back to wing.
It is a sensible move. With USA out of the way the big game now will be against Canada on the 22nd. The "1st XV" destroyed France 52-7 a few months ago and it was clear from Monday that Europe's 4th best team haven't exactly improved much in recent months. They will be expected to raise their game for England, but even so it is sensible to rest key players now ahead of tougher games to come. With the World Cup ahead it is also important that the entire squad gets game time, and finally it also means that Appleby College will not have to invest in a wider scoreboard.
Canada also start against South Africa in the second game. Reports suggest that they have called up a number of Sevens specialists for this game and will be targeting South African fly-half Zandile Nojoko, who demonstrated some real turns of speed and excellent kicking when she scored 12 of her teams 17 points against France. If the home team can neutralise her then it is possible that the scoreboard officials will have to reach for the woodworking kit after all!
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