England must build on positive Six Nations start : Spencer

England Women's captain Catherine Spencer has congratulated her side on an impressive RBS 6 Nations opener against Italy, but she says England must build on that win.

The reigning RBS 6 Nations champions, hoping for an unprecedented fourth title this season, face Wales on Saturday at Taff Wells RFC in Cardiff, kick-off 1pm but Spencer knows that their home nations counterparts present a much bigger challenge this weekend.

The England and Bristol No. 8, whose side ran in an 11 try, 69-13 victory against Italy on Saturday, said: "The game against Italy was the ideal start to this year's tournament. We played some really good rugby and scored some fantastic tries.

"However, at the same time we are all aware that we have to improve on certain aspects of our game and reduce the number of errors that we made for the remaining matches.

"Wales are a bigger threat so we must look to build on our most recent performances. We may have only seven days to do this but at least the Italy game is very much fresh in our minds."

Wales will indeed prove to be a tougher challenge with England's opponents taking them to a close 12-6 defeat in the European Championships in May.

"We are under no illusions that we will have to go into the Wales game with a different mind set to the Italy game," added Spencer. "The England versus Wales fixture is always a tough one and I am sure it will be no different on Saturday.

"Wales have some top quality players, including some of my Bristol teammates, and we will need to ensure that these players are not given the space they'll want on Saturday."

England stick with the same starting line-up this Saturday with Head Coach Gary Street only making two changes on the bench. Wasps prop Clare Purdy replaces Lichfield's Rosemarie Crowley and Richmond's Alice Richardson replaces Saracens' Charlotte Barras. Barras is currently in San Diego with the England Women's Sevens team.

England

1 Rochelle Clark Blaydon Team Northumbria
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Sophie Hemming Bristol
4 Natalie Binstead Wasps
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Rebecca Essex Richmond
7 Lois Moulding Lichfield
8 Catherine Spencer (C) Bristol
9 Amy Turner Richmond
10 Katy McLean (VC) Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Fiona Pocock Richmond
12 Kimberley Oliver Bristol
13 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
14 Francesca Matthews Richmond
15 Victoria Massarella Saracens
Replacements:
16 Samantha Reeve Worcester
17 Clare Purdy Wasps
18 Gemma Sharples Worcester
19 Karen Jones Richmond
20 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
21 Christina Lee Bristol
22 Alice Richardson Richmond

England Women RBS 6 Nations Fixtures: