Resilient England finally get test they needed

The Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam will be played at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on November 1st, and France needs a score to win.

That was not a part of the script.

In the Grand Slam decider, England had scored 33 tries in four straight wins, beating their rivals.

Les Bleues won the match by being saved by a second-half save despite being in the lead at half-time against Italy in Parma.

The Red Roses’ collective opinion was that they would win their fourth Grand Slam.

A thrilling 43-42 victory earned the Six Nations its seventh straight title.

The “complete performance” England head coach John Mitchell reportedly demanded of his players, but it might not have been perfect.

Before the 25-minute mark, Mitchell’s side had a 31-7 lead, but their dominance was overdue as their visitors outscored their hosts 21-12 in the second half, scoring six tries in each of the 80 minutes.

Mitchell was pleased that his team had been put to the test before the August-beginning home rugby world cup.

Mitchell told BBC Sport, “I prefer to receive this kind of feedback any day of the week.”

We won four Grand Slams in a row, which is a success, and we now have a chance to celebrate and prepare for a World Cup.

“The French are energized by their success, but I was aware that we would need to win three or four games.”

England lost to France in the Six Nations in 2018 and, in any other game, to New Zealand in the World Cup final in 2022.

The Red Roses are currently on a 25-game winning streak and are hoping to end that record-breaking 30-test winning streak in the World Cup final.

Mitchell opposes a pattern that he doesn’t want to see repeated.

We occasionally get those close games, Mitchell continued.

The Red Roses are a special team in the world, but they will compete with us.

Mitchell made a 34-player debut against Ellie Kildunne’s minor hamstring injury, and he was able to build a wider squad by relying on the likes of full-back Emma Sing.

Despite preventing a full 80-minute performance, Mitchell has created incredible player depth, consistent selection will always affect team cohesion.

Both Marlie Packer and Emily Scarratt, who won the 2014 World Cup, both missed out on the matchday squad at Allianz Stadium, demonstrating this.

The New Zealander criticized the World Cup for allowing the same group to play eight games.

Because of the competition we face, we are not required to do that.

We leave their jobs early, they say. Some girls may only see one World Cup game, but that’s my job. In that field, we have already made significant progress. We are prepared for the future.

In Bristol will England and France face off in the semi-finals of this year’s World Cup if they win the pool top of the group.

Maggie Alphonsi, a former England flanker who won the 2014 World Cup, concurs with Mitchell that a challenging test against Les Bleues will be a blessing for the Red Roses in the event of the showpiece tournament.

Alphonsi told BBC Sport, “The Six Nations needed that jeopardy.” England should be proud of the way they persevered to win the test, which was a legitimate match.

The Red Roses have lost to the Black Ferns in the previous two World Cup finals, and this year’s draw could set them free to raise the issue once more.

Mitchell’s team has defeated the world champions three times to increase their standing as the competition’s favorites since losing to New Zealand in 2022.

Canada, who are second only to England in the world, has significantly improved, and they will face a strong test at WXV1 in October despite losing.

The ability to simply get over the line when things are important will benefit Mitchell’s side as nations continue to advance.

“Would England have been able to get away with playing New Zealand?” Brian Moore, a former England hooker, told BBC Sport.

They must ask “that’s the question they have,” they said. England must win, and that is what matters.

At the World Cup final venue, England captain Zoe Aldcroft practiced lifting a trophy.