Preview: England’s November Tests

England have a chance to put a disappointing 2013 behind them in the coming weeks by ending it on a high with important tests against France and Canada.

Both games will offer Gary Street??s team significant challenges with less than a year to go to the World Cup and just a few months out from the 6 Nations, and news last week that England would face Canada in France next summer at the game??s showpiece tournament, puts perhaps extra significance on that clash at The Stoop.

There are a number of key questions England will want to answer in these two games, the first of which is how a disjointed year with split squads between the 15s and Sevens game will have affected their ability to gel quickly.

While England??s 15s squad were as strong as they could be in New Zealand this summer, in truth, with many of their players joining straight from a disappointing Sevens World Cup in Moscow, and the tour coming at the end of a long season for the country??s top players, this is the first time a fresh fully strength England senior squad will play together in almost a year.

There are though some significant absentees in these games. ?˜England??s backrow is shorn of the incumbent skipper Sarah Hunter and also Heather Fisher and Alex Matthews (though the return of Maggie Alphonsi softens the blow) while in the backs Emily Scarratt and Kat Merchant are both big losses while the unfortunate Danielle Waterman misses out again through injury. ?˜And of course England are also without Alice Richardson and Jo Watmore, who are both out of the squad for disciplinary reasons. ?˜Those backline losses mean England have lost some serious attacking weapons out wide, but the host nation do have impressive strength in depth and they will need to call on it with two games with two tests in five days. ?˜?˜France at Twickenham this Saturday has a whiff of a revenge mission about it ?? though England??s players are far too professional to say that. France stripped England earlier this year of their unbeaten run at Twickenham with number 8 Safi N??diaye in particular having a standout game on a frustrating day for the home side. ?˜

N??diaye is back this weekend, though France are also without key players including Caroline Ladagnous and Aurelie Bailon as well as a number of other players involved in a Sevens camp.

A strong French side beat Canada last weekend but a much changed line up lost to the same opposition last night. ?˜

Certainly the French backs that are missing for this weekend will probably be a relief to England given their own absences in this department, and as a result it would not be much of a surprise if the wide expanses of Twickenham were neglected in favour of a tighter forward-led game, where both sides will be strong.

Players to watch for England include Bristol centre Amber Reed, who has certainly made the most of her chances this season, ?˜uncapped young prop Sasha Acheson and Ruth Laybourn, who has pace to burn.

Canada will offer a different test next Wednesday night. Under new coach Francois Ratier, Canada have adopted a very quick pacey style of rugby, but they have lost none of their physicality.

They will be confident with a week??s rest under their belt from two tough tests against France, and pleased to have won the second test. They will be fully rested and fielding their strongest outfit at The Stoop, while England will surely make changes with a four-day turnaround. That in itself could make this clash tighter than many expect.?˜

Players to watch for Canada include flier Bianca Farella, who scored two great tries in the first test last against France, and duo Magali Harvey and Ghislaine Landry, two leading Sevens players who are very dangerous in attack. ?˜Up front Kelly Russell rarely takes a backward step while Maria Samson is a hard running, physical lock.

, Twickenham Stadium, KO?˜5.05pm, live on Sky Sports 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

?˜The Twickenham Stoop, KO?˜7pm., live onwww.rfu.com/englandwomenlive?˜and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. Tickets are available via?˜www.ticketmaster.co.uk?˜(0844 847 2492)?˜and?˜www.quins.co.uk?˜(0208 410 6000). Tickets are priced at ??10 for adults and ??5 for Under 16s.