England injury crisis deepens ahead of Scotland clash with 10 players out for historic Murrayfield encounter

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Alex Matthews is the latest player to be ruled out with a shoulder issue. The 32-year old’s absence will be keenly felt by John Muir’s side who have had to name a makeshift pack for the match.

The second row will be made up of 22-year old LilliIves Campion, who earns her seventh cap, and converted back rower Abby Burton. There is also a debut at blindside flanker for Demelza Short while three of the replacements (Mia Venner, Flo Robinson and Haineala Lutui) have a combined four caps between them.

‘Big leaders out’ - England heading to Murrayfield with much changed squad

However, there is still plenty of experience and an abundance of quality in the 23-woman squad. Kabeya says that this is still very much a Red Roses squad and that they know they are more than capable of getting a result.

"One thing everyone always says about this team is that we have strength in depth and we've got a really good chance to go and show that now," the flanker told Sky Sports News. "It's unfortunate having so many injuries and having big leaders out, but we have players coming in who are stepping up.

"They've been playing well in Premiership Women's Rugby all season and our training has gone well. We are still a Red Roses squad but just with a few different names in there. We always talk about being one team and having depth and it's now a chance to show that fully."

‘Amazing to see that growth’ - World Cup winners looking forward to playing at Murrayfield

The match between Scotland and England is set to be played at Murrayfield in a historic day for the women’s team in front of over 30,000 spectators. That crowd marks the occasions as the biggest single day women’s sporting event in Scotland’s history.

"I've never played at Murrayfield," added Kabeya. "I remember watching from home the behind-closed-doors game there when it was snowing and freezing, thinking: 'Oh God, I'm glad I'm not there!'

"At that time I was nowhere near the England squad, so now I have a chance to go and play there myself. The way the women's game has gone over the past couple years, it's been amazing to see that growth.

"It will mean a lot for the Scottish girls, so it's going to be a very emotional day and an emotional game. It's a day that will go down in history, so I'm super excited to be a part of it."

England kicked off their 2026 Women’s Six Nations campaign with a 33-12 win over Ireland at Twickenham. That result continued an unbeaten run in this competition dating all the way back to the 2018 tournament.

Indeed, the Red Roses are currently on a 34 match winning streak, having not lost a test match since 2022. You have to go all the way back to 1999 for the last time that Scotland tasted victory against the Auld Enemy but with their world class squad greatly reduced and an incredible crowd descending on Murrayfield it looks like conditions could be primed for a famous upset.

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