Hannah Botterman fit to face France in semi-final after fearing her World Cup was over

Hannah Botterman has admitted she feared her Rugby World Cup was over after sustaining a back injury against Australia in England’s final pool match.

Botterman, 26, has recovered to be named in England’s semi-final starting XV but was seen crying in pain as she walked off the pitch in the second half against the Wallaroos and subsequently sat out the quarter-final victory over Scotland.

Fast-forward a week and the loosehead will feature in the front row amid four changes to England’s starting XV to face France on Saturday, including the return of world player of the year, Ellie Kildunne, at full-back.

When asked, however, if she felt her tournament might have been over after being substituted in the second half in Brighton, Botterman said: “Yes. Back’s never nice to do, but it was a bit more painful than anything else I’ve had.

“That night as well, and the morning after I was a bit like … [noise of mild panic] but we’ve got fantastic physios. I definitely feel in a better spot. I warmed up at the weekend [when she was a non-playing reserve against Scotland]. I was a bit gutted because I warmed up and felt like I could have played but probably it was the best thing to not. I had a good week, rest and recovering, and then obviously fired into this week. All good, ready to go.

“[The recovery] happened all quite quickly. Probably a couple of days where I wasn’t sure. I got a scan to rule anything a bit more serious out, check some things. We were happy with what it was. Just cracked on from there really. I’ve been pretty safe for the last week or so.”

Ellie Kildunne sat out the quarter-final victory over Scotland but will return at full-back on Saturday. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images/Reuters

Kildunne also missed the quarter-final as she went through concussion protocols but she comes straight back into the team and Helena Rowland, who played at full-back last weekend, drops to the bench.

The England head coach, John Mitchell, said there was no hesitation around bringing Kildunne back into the starting team.

“She’s progressed right through her entire HIA [head injury assessment] protocols and the medical and strength and conditioning have done a really good job,” Mitchell said. “You always wait for maybe a return because you don’t know what these things do but she’s hit all those markers and prepared well.

“She’s intuitive, she can break a game can’t she? She’s not a person you hold to structure. You have got to have an element of structure but the rest is her freedom of decision and she just happens to be an amazing athlete. That stride of hers, when she gets into a one-on-one or creates a half a metre of space, she’s very difficult to handle.”

The other two changes involve Abbie Ward coming into the second row and Zoe Harrison back at fly-half with Rosie Galligan and Holly Aitchison dropping to the bench as a result.

Elsewhere, Abby Dow and Jess Breach complete the three-quarters with Meg Jones and Tatyana Heard forming the centre partnership.

The captain, Zoe Aldcroft, starts at blindside flanker with Sadia Kabeya at openside and Alex Matthews at No 8. Morwenna Talling starts again in the second row after being named player of the match against Scotland.

Whoever wins the semi-final will face either Canada or New Zealand, who face off in the other semi-final on Friday evening.