Packer should start for England in final - Merchant

Lucy Packer tin beryllium "the difference" for England if she is picked to commencement against Canada successful nan Women's Rugby World Cup final, says 2014 victor Kat Merchant.

The 25-year-old Harlequins scrum-half has featured successful each 5 games astatine this year's World Cup, but started successful conscionable 1 - nan record-breaking victory against Samoa.

Packer was besides brought connected arsenic a second-half replacement successful Saturday's semi-final triumph against France.

Despite her deficiency of minutes, Merchant said Packer has done capable to show she should beryllium successful nan starting 15 against Canada connected Saturday.

"It is astir apt not going to beryllium a celebrated sentiment but I deliberation Lucy Packer, for me, is nan difference," she told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

"She brings an unthinkable velocity of shot and if [John] Mitchell is being really brave, I deliberation she starts adjacent week."

Packer's inclusion would apt beryllium astatine nan disbursal of nan much knowledgeable Natasha Hunt, who was besides portion of that 2014 World Cup squad that tasted occurrence complete Canada successful nan showpiece.

Merchant, however, added Hunt could make a overmuch stronger effect from nan bench.

"Natasha Hunt coming disconnected nan bench, she carves up erstwhile she comes disconnected nan bench," she said.

"She brings an energy, she quick-taps, she does everything you request to successful nan dying seconds of nan game.

"Having Lucy Packer steering nan vessel from nan start, that calm but besides speedy velocity of shot could beryllium nan displacement we need. But, I deliberation it needed to beryllium this crippled and I would person started her for this game, but I don't deliberation he (Mitchell) will do it."

Commentator Claire Thomas agreed pinch that viewpoint, but later added that she would still commencement pinch Hunt owed to her big-game experience.

"I thought she looked awesome erstwhile she came on," said Thomas of Packer.

"It's not for illustration she's nan Lucy Packer of 3 years agone wherever she was thrown pinch hardly immoderate rugby nether her loop into a World Cup last - and connected torn perspective ligaments by nan way.

"If they put her successful nan operation adjacent week to commencement astatine number 9 - she is personification that has captained her club, personification that has played successful PWR semi-finals.

"She has sewage a batch of acquisition now and I deliberation she has a very akin toolkit to Mo Hunt truthful they tin do a very akin job."

Alongside doubling down connected playing Packer astatine number nine, Merchant believed some Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Holly Aitchison should travel into nan 15 for nan Red Roses successful spot of Jess Breach and Tatyana Heard, respectively.

Breach is England's starring try-scorer successful nan tourney pinch six tries but struggled successful nan last-four triumph complete France.

"I don't deliberation Jess Breach has played herself retired of [the number 14] but I conscionable deliberation Claudia is specified an out-and-out finisher," added Merchant.

"And defensively, this is wherever I'm thinking, because England had problems retired wide [against France] and if you are going defensive, Claudia and [Abby] Dow are your amended protect wingers."

Breach and vice-captain Meg Jones are nan only 2 players to person started each 5 of England's World Cup games. While Thomas didn't work together pinch nan determination to driblet Breach for nan final, she excessively expressed worries astir starting nan 27-year-old.

"I americium concerned astir nan truth that Alysha Corrigan knows Jess wrong and retired from their clip together astatine Saracens and she will perfectly backmost herself successful a one-on-one against her," said Thomas.

"Asia Hogan-Rochester has Jess Breach for gait and I do not opportunity that lightly and she is truthful afloat of assurance correct now."

While nan 2 disagreed connected who to commencement astatine 14, some Merchant and Thomas concurred pinch a move astatine 12, opting for Aitchison complete Heard.

Sale Sharks' Aitchison started astatine 12 successful nan 2022 World Cup last conclusion and was brought connected for Heard against France.

"I'm putting Holly successful astatine 12 because I deliberation they request thing different and Meg Jones stays astatine 13," added Merchant.

"I deliberation Heard has had a bully tourney and she is coagulated but I conscionable think, if England play arsenic they person done truthful far, Canada hit them, truthful they request to do thing different."

Thomas admitted: "I'm a small worried astir what is going to beryllium coming up Holly's transmission because Canada for illustration to travel done nan mediate but I work together pinch Kat, I don't deliberation nan onslaught is clicking yet and nan onslaught looks amended erstwhile Holly is connected nan field.

"I'm consenting to return nan flimsy driblet disconnected successful protect stableness successful nan midfield for what Holly mightiness do to England's points tally."