England head coach John Mitchell could not have been clearer about his team’s ambitions ahead of this year’s women’s Six Nations. “The potential of this site is enormous,” he told the Guardian. “We were a very good team, but we want to be an exceptional team.”The goal was not just to win games, but to surpass everything they had achieved before.
After the recent coup de grace in Bordeaux, this Mission is firmly on track. A sixth consecutive Six Nations title and a third consecutive Grand Slam may seem at first glance a banal story of the expected, but this one stands out for several reasons. First of all, it was their first under Mitchell, whose well-known brand of Kiwi us without frills is already bearing fruit. Secondly, it was imposed on French soil against a decent opposition that kept coming and causing persistent problems.
But above all, it is the range of opportunities available to England that really stands out. The best of the best have a game on all fields that can be adapted to all occasions. Red roses can injure opponents at close range and tear them wide. You can get into the lineup and hit hard even in midfield. The only real question concerned their direction of play under pressure and here was the timely proof that progress had also been made in this important area.
Think back to the last World Cup when you were ambushed by the Black Ferns during that epic Final in Auckland. England had put all their eggs in one heavy basket and, after being reduced to 14 players, had allowed New Zealand to sneak in and make their dreams come true. Eleven of this matchday 23 have been involved here, but there is a different atmosphere to what you want to do.
There is also a more serene feeling in the half-back, where Mo Hunt adds experience and restlessness, and a superior balance all around. This time, England did not have as many opportunities to use their chain of three rapids, but the central couple Tatyana Heard and Meg Jones completed the performance well in front of them. Jones is a rarity as a Welsh-speaking England international, but his attempted interception was invaluable in all languages.
Add Amy Cokayne’s throw, Morwenna Talling’s power and Alex Matthew’s relentless work speed and the net effect is that opponents cannot relax for a second, even if they manage, as France did for long periods, to keep the ball away from the super-fast Abbie Dow and Ellie Kildunne. In total, 44 tries in five games tell their own compelling story.
Perhaps most terrifying of all, England clearly still have a lot of improvement. The wonderful Sarah Bern, currently health issue, was on summary duty in Bordeaux, but will be back for the World Cup. The same goes for Claudia MacDonald. The fitness level is constantly improving and defensively there are still a few areas that need to be tightened up.