A record crowd for a Women’s Rugby World Cup opening match is expected with more than 40,000 tickets sold for the game at Stadium of Light.
England, who are favourites to win the tournament, are on a 27-game winning run, with their last defeat coming against New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final.
“We have been building nicely into the tournament and now we’re excited to get our campaign under way,” Mitchell said.
“Sunderland has been a great host city thus far and we know it’ll be a record crowd for a Women’s Rugby World Cup opening match which shows the appetite for rugby in this region and for the competition ahead.
“We want to embrace the occasion while understanding we have to earn the right to progress through the pool stage.”
Locks Abbie Ward and Morwenna Talling continue in the second row, with Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir making up the front row.
Vice-captain Megan Jones starts alongside established midfield partner Tatyana Heard, while Natasha Hunt and Zoe Harrison are again the preferred half-back combination.
Jessica Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne scored a combined 18 tries in last year’s Six Nations and form a lethal back three.
Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati and Emma Sing are set for their World Cup debuts from the bench.
