Scores and latest news from the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022

Good morning and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of England v South Africa at the Waitaker Stadium in Auckland, where Marley Packer will lead the Red Roses for the first time.

Her first task as captain will be leading a much-changed England team against a winless South African side, a relatively inexperienced team that has been steadily rebuilding its women’s program since opting out of the 2017 World Cup.

It should be relatively easy – the Red Roses are already through to the knockout stages of the tournament after winning their opening two matches against Fiji and France.

But Simon Middleton’s side missed out on a bonus point in the final after a thrilling tie against their Six Nations rivals to finish fourth in the quarter-finals, one point behind Canada and five behind New Zealand.

Even if the Red Roses beat the Springboks comfortably and secure the bonus point, they are not guaranteed to finish as top seeds in the quarter-finals.

The Black Ferns put in perhaps their best performance of the year on Saturday, finishing the group stage unbeaten with a 57-0 thrashing of Scotland – they are all but assured of top seed for the last eight.

Middeton’s slew of changes, with almost every player given playing time before the knockout, was to be expected as he rests key personnel. Winger Jess Breach makes her debut in Round 23 and gets her first start on the wing, while Lucy Packer starts at scrum-half. Hannah Botterman, Connie Powell, Maud Muir make up the new front row, with Poppy Cleal replacing Hunter at No.8.

Among the big names to be left out is England captain Sarah Hunter, who had to wait for her 138th cap, which would have seen her become the most capped by either a male or female England team.

In her absence, Packer is the man to open the cans of a rugby player on the verge of breaking down, and who is often at her best when her Saracens team-mate Cleal is operating outside of her will no doubt fit the bill. “Marley is a world-class player, a very popular member of the group who is supportive on and off the pitch and plays a huge role in the management of the team,” Middleton said. “I know the whole group of players and staff are delighted to have her leading the team this week and she’s very proud of it as well.”

Before the match, we’ll bring you team news, live news and the latest post-match reaction.