by When a new-faced Harrison made her England debut as a 19-year-old in 2017, it appeared the Red Roses had a potential long-term successor to Katy Daley-McLean.
Harrison spent the next few years learning from the 116-cap World Cup winner before finally taking the coveted jersey following her mentor’s retirement in 2020.
The heir to the number 10 shirt was ready and a series of impressive performances helped her to another World Cup final in 2022.
A few months after the devastating final defeat to New Zealand, Harrison tore her anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Saracens.
She returned for this year’s Six Nations and started the opening match against Italy, but struggled in the first half as England led only 10–0 at half-time.
Bristol Bears’ Holly Aitchison, who replaced at fly-half in Harrison’s absence, regained her starting place for the remainder of the campaign, with her 26-year-old rival focusing on getting back to her best.
“It was a really good challenge,” Harrison said.
“When I came back from a long-term injury, I knew I couldn’t just get back into a shirt, it was a good challenge to work my way back into the shirt.
“As far as my game goes, I haven’t been working on anything specific other than getting back into playing and getting my sharpness back.”
Now back up to speed and having impressed from the bench in their recent win over New Zealand at Twickenham, Saracens have been rewarded with a start against the United States.
Attack coach Lou Meadows described her impact as “tremendous” after working on her ability to “attack the line” with ball in hand.
“She has worked hard on connecting the back line,” Meadows added.
“She [Zoe and Holly] have a healthy competitive nature between them and drive each other on.
“It will give us an advantage because opponents are not sure who we are going with.”
