2011 end-of-year women's rugby union tests explained

The 2011 end of year women's rugby tests was a series of women's rugby union matches. New Zealand toured the Northern Hemisphere, according to a three-year international test agreement signed between RFU and NZRU in August 2011: England would host three tests in the autumn of 2011 and 2012 before heading to New Zealand for three further matches in June 2013, just a year before the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.^{[1] [2]}

Before competing with the world champions New Zealand, England played against France twice: the first game wasn't an uncapped match, while the second was a full international test.^[3] France also contested a game with Italy.^{[4] [5]}

Scotland travelled to Amsterdam to take on the Netherlands after finishing last at this year's Six Nations.^{[6] [7]}

That was the largest round of autumn women's rugby internationals ever seen in the game at this time of year, especially in Europe.^[8]

France vs Italy

FRANCE: FB 15 Clémence Rousseau RW 14 Läurelin Fourcade OC 13 IC 12 Sandrine Agricole LW 11 Chloé Pelle FH 10 SH 9 Marie-Alice Yahé (C) N8 8 OF 7 Amandine Chatelier BF 6 Laure Rodriguez RL 5 LL 4 Elodie Mert TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 CE 20 FH 21 SH 22 Coach: Christian Galonnier

ITALY: FB 15 Manuela Furlan RW 14 OC 13 Maria Grazia Cioffi IC 12 LW 11 Sara Barattin FH 10 Veronica Schiavon (C) SH 9 N8 8 Flavia Severin OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Sara Pettinelli TP 3 HK 2 Debora Ballarini LP 1 Replacements: PR 16 LK 17 FL 18 FL 19 FH 20 CE 21 CE 22 Coach: Andrea Di Giandomenico

Assistant referees:
n/a
n/a
Assessor:
n/a

France vs England (unofficial)

FRANCE: FB 15 Jessy Trémoulière RW 14 OC 13 Laura Di Muzio IC 12 LW 11 Dioni Aguerre FH 10 Aurélie Bailon SH 9 Jennifer Troncy (C) N8 8 Audrey Forlani OF 7 Manon André BF 6 RL 5 Assa Koïta LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Gaëlle Mignot LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 WG 20 CE 21 SH 22 Coach: Christian Galonnier

ENGLAND: FB 15 Kay Wilson RW 14 Katherine Merchant OC 13 Michaela Staniford IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Ceri Large SH 9 N8 8 Sarah Hunter (C) OF 7 Hannah Gallagher BF 6 RL 5 Rowena Burnfiled LL 4 Harriet Millar-Mills TP 3 Rosemarie Crowley HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 CE 22 Emily Scarratt Coach: Gary Street

Assistant referees:
Hugo Joly (France)
Frédéric Saunier (France)
Assessor:
n/a

France vs England

FRANCE: FB 15 Jessy Trémoulière RW 14 Läurelin Fourcade OC 13 Marjorie Mayans IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Aurélie Bailon SH 9 Marie-Alice Yahé (C) N8 8 Claire Canal OF 7 BF 6 Amandine Chatelier RL 5 Cyrielle Bouisset LL 4 TP 3 Christelle Chobet HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 CE 21 WG 22 Coach: Christian Galonnier

ENGLAND: FB 15 Kay Wilson RW 14 Katherine Merchant OC 13 IC 12 Emily Scarratt LW 11 Michaela Staniford FH 10 Kimberley Oliver SH 9 N8 8 Sarah Hunter (C) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Tamara Taylor TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Rochelle Clark Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 Coach: Gary Street

Assistant referees:
n/a
n/a
Assessor:
n/a

Netherlands vs Scotland

NETHERLANDS: FB 15 Elisabeth Geertsema RW 14 Alexia Mavroudis OC 13 Lyske Vand der Brug IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Anita Clarke SH 9 Giselle Kleinen N8 8 Shereza Pool OF 7 Yasmin Gunner BF 6 RL 5 Asia Udding LL 4 TP 3 Sylke Haverkorn HK 2 LP 1 Xandra Benthem de Grave (C) Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 CE 20 WG 21 FB 22 Irith Lely Coach: Yvonne Bouman

SCOTLAND: FB 15 Stephanie Johnston RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 Laura Steven LW 11 Sarah Dixon FH 10 Lisa Scott-Ritchie SH 9 Sarah Sexton N8 8 Lindsay Wheeler OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Anna Swan LL 4 TP 3 Tracy Balmer (C) HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 FL 20 CE 21 WG 22 Coach: Karen Findlay

Assistant referees:
Gert Visser (Netherlands)
Darron Wadey (Netherlands)
Assessor:
Thomas Muldoon (Netherlands)

England vs New Zealand (1st match)

ENGLAND: FB 15 RW 14 Katherine Merchant OC 13 Emily Scarratt IC 12 LW 11 Michaela Staniford FH 10 Katy McLean (C) SH 9 N8 8 Sarah Hunter OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Tamara Taylor LL 4 Rowena Burnfield TP 3 Sophie Hemming HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 FL 18 FL 19 SH 20 CE 21 FB 22 Coach: Gary Street

NEW ZEALAND: FB 15 Victoria Grant (C) RW 14 Shakira Baker OC 13 Kelly Brazier IC 12 Amiria Rule LW 11 Renee Wickliffe FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Casey Robertson OF 7 Justine Lavea BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Vita Robinson TP 3 Melodie Bosman HK 2 Fiao'o Fa'amausili LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Karina Penetito PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 CE 21 FB 22 Coach: Grant Hansen

Assistant referees:
Clare Daniels (England)
Darryl Chapman (England)
Assessor:
Bob Ockenden (England)

England vs New Zealand (2nd match)

ENGLAND: FB 15 Kay Wilson RW 14 OC 13 Rachael Burford IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Katy McLean (C) SH 9 N8 8 Alexandra Matthews OF 7 Marlie Packer BF 6 RL 5 Tamara Taylor LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Claire Purdy Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 La Toya Mason CE 21 WG 22 Coach: Gary Street

NEW ZEALAND: FB 15 Kelly Brazier RW 14 Katarina Whata-Simpkins OC 13 Shakira Baker IC 12 LW 11 Renee Wickliffe FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Casey Robertson (C) OF 7 Justine Lavea BF 6 RL 5 Kelani Matapo LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Karina Penetito LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 CE 21 FB 22 Coach: Grant Hansen

Assistant referees:
Paul Kimber (England)
Ken Morgan (England)
Assessor:
David Warren (England)

England vs New Zealand (3rd match)

ENGLAND: FB 15 Emily Scarratt RW 14 Katherine Merchant OC 13 Rachael Burford IC 12 LW 11 Kay Wilson FH 10 Katy McLean (C) SH 9 N8 8 Sarah Hunter OF 7 Margaret Alphonsi BF 6 RL 5 Tamara Taylor LL 4 TP 3 Sophie Hemming HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 21 22 Georgina Roberts Coach: Gary Street

NEW ZEALAND: FB 15 RW 14 Victoria Grant (C) OC 13 IC 12 Teresa Te Tamaki LW 11 Renee Wickliffe FH 10 Kelly Brazier SH 9 N8 8 Casey Robertson OF 7 Justine Lavea BF 6 RL 5 Eloise Blackwell LL 4 TP 3 Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox HK 2 Karina Penetito LP 1 Kathleen Wilton Replacements: PR 16 Doris Taufateau HK 17 Muteremoana Aiatu LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 WG 22 Katarina Whata-Simpkins Coach: Grant Hansen

Assistant referees:
Ed Turnill (England)
Peter Crouch (England)
Assessor:
Geoff Blackburn (England)

Notes and References

1. Web site: RFU & NZRU sign three-year women's international test agreement. 5 January 2012. 2 August 2012. https://archive.today/20120913031337/http://www.rfu.com/News/2011/August/News%20Articles/020811_EnglandW_NZtests.aspx. 13 September 2012. dead. dmy-all.
2. Web site: Exciting new era for Black Ferns. 5 January 2012. 3 August 2011.
3. Web site: England Women squad announced for France matches. 5 January 2012. 11 October 2011. https://archive.today/20120911012506/http://www.rfu.com/News/2011/October/NewsArticles/111011_England_W_France_squad.aspx. 11 September 2012. dead. dmy-all.
4. Web site: La France pour la tournée d'automne. 5 January 2012. French. 4 October 2011.
5. Web site: Italdonne: il XV per la sfida alla Francia. 5 January 2012. Italian. 1 November 2011.
6. Web site: Scotland Women v Netherlands Women - Update. 5 January 2012. 3 November 2011.
7. Web site: RUGBYdag in Amsterdam. 5 January 2012. Dutch. 27 October 2011.
8. Web site: Largest ever round of autumn internationals kicks off. 5 January 2012. John Birch. 29 October 2011.