LONDON — England’s standing because the dominant pressure in ladies’s rugby was additional cemented on Saturday at Twickenham as they secured their fourth Grand Slam in a row with a 43-42 win over France. It was the Six Nations final result nearly anyone and all people predicted pre-tournament however France gave them an almighty scare.
Had France’s dealing with been a bit extra pinpoint within the closing phases, then English hearts would have been smashed to items. These in Twickenham who would have come for a celebration would have witnessed a funeral. Regardless of nerves shredded, England secured their seventh Six Nations title on the bounce by the narrowest of margins.
The expectations round this Pink Roses group are sky excessive. Regardless of each groups heading to Twickenham contesting a Grand Slam, England had been overwhelming favourites to finish the clear sweep. They’d merely forgotten the way to lose. The event organisers could as nicely have carved England’s title on the trophy earlier than the primary deal with of the event. However this narrative was so almost ripped up by a spirited and splendidly bold French staff.
Pink Roses head coach John Mitchell challenged his staff to place collectively an entire efficiency in opposition to France, and this fell quick, however nonetheless they ended up with the win and the Grand Slam. That is the barometer of success this group maintain themselves in opposition to. They are going for immortality, somewhat than domination.
In fact that is all being performed out with England’s house World Cup mendacity in wait on the horizon later this 12 months. Every part is balanced in opposition to that, together with the crushing weight of expectation this group carry as the game’s dominant pressure. They’ve suffered one defeat in 56 matches — that was the Rugby World Cup remaining in November 2022. Pink Roses head coach John Mitchell took cost in Could 2023 and stays undefeated with England presently on a 25-match profitable run. However this complete journey has the date Sept. 27, 2025 ringed because the hopeful finish level as they search to emulate the 1994 and 2014 immortals in profitable the game’s largest prize.
If final 12 months’s Six Nations was about enhancing the pace and accuracy of the staff’s passing, this 12 months’s focus was on positional versatility and high-quality tuning their greatest XV for the World Cup later this 12 months. Take Maddie Feaunati as a living proof: Saturday’s match in opposition to France was her fifteenth cap, however her first begin at openside — she’d beforehand had begins at No.6 and No.8. Holly Aitchison was first-choice No.10 heading into this 12 months’s competitors nevertheless it was Zoe Harrison who began three of their 5 matches at fly-half. In Mitchell’s personal phrases, he is aware of what Aitchison can do, however he must study extra about Harrison and Helena Rowland’s capability to deal with Check-match strain at No.10.
Mitchell used an ethos of “one staff working as two” for the event — groups had been shuffled match to match, 34 gamers had been used, however the outcomes remained the identical. Forward of France, England had crushed Italy 38-5, Wales 67-12, Eire 49-5 and Scotland 59-7 — providing a complete distinction of 213-29. It was a brutal showcase of how far forward of the remainder of the pack they’re. Such a gulf even noticed recommendations this week from World Cup-winning No.10 Katy Daley-McLean (and BBC commentator Sara Orchard) on the way to enhance competitors within the Six Nations by introducing a two-tier construction.
However such ideas can wait. First, the excellent news. There have been occasions the place England regarded unstoppable in opposition to France. Their assault was ruthless, carving open France within the blink of an eye fixed and there have been, as typical, slews of positives. Megan Jones was excellent at exterior centre, Emma Sing confirmed a few early nerves standing in for the injured Ellie Kildunne at fullback however was largely assured and proved she will be able to step in at a second’s discover for one of many world’s greatest gamers if required.
Their driving lineout secured one first-half attempt to teed up one other whereas their capability to return away from France’s 22 was just about flawless. Their 5 first-half tries got here from Abby Dow, Sing (two), Lark Atkin-Davies and MacDonald, who was most popular to Jess Breach. It was a name from Mitchell which broke up the so-called “holy trinity” back-three England possess. The second half noticed Dow rating simply earlier than the hour mark to provide England a 15-point benefit and from there, England nearly held out. Aldcroft was excellent at blindside and has repaid Mitchell’s religion ten-fold because the participant who will captain England into the World Cup later this 12 months.
However this wasn’t flawless. England will have a look at the tries they shipped. France’s first after 5 minutes was a results of Les Bleues opening up England’s defence by a flurry of offloads, whereas their second was an opportunistic effort after Natasha Hunt’s cross left Robinson dropping it in her personal in-goal space for Pauline Bourdon Sansus to pounce. The third was off a robust maul on England’s 22, which gave them house to go broad. There have been three missed tackles on Joanna Grisez within the second-half and the way through which Kelly Arbey danced down England’s wing for his or her fourth was alarming. France grabbed a fifth by Morgane Bourgeois and a sixth from the sensible Grisez to supply a much more tense end than England ought to have allowed. The Pink Roses’ defence wants finetuning earlier than their pre-World Cup warm-up matches.
Ever since England suffered that heartbreaking defeat to New Zealand in 2022, the journey has been about acceptance, rebirth and redemption. Their assault is way extra fluid than three years in the past, they usually’ve gone by a number of transitional phases and brutal choice calls — no extra so than for Marlie Packer who was captain final 12 months, however not even within the matchday squad in the present day. That is all obtained them to this stage the place they host their very own World Cup in August and might be anticipated to win the entire thing. Nothing much less will do for this group however they can not afford to be as sloppy defensively when the worldwide gathering ticks round.
The picture of the excellent Aldcroft holding up the trophy on this nonetheless spring night presents additional affirmation of progress, and the Pink Roses’ domination. However this group don’t need this to be the second the place they peaked. They are going to hope that comes later this 12 months on Sept. 27 the place Aldcroft is standing on this similar patch of grass lifting the game’s largest prize.
