England head coach John Mitchell believes a nail-biting victory to finish Grand Slam glory was the perfect check forward of their bid for World Cup glory on dwelling soil later this 12 months.
The Crimson Roses claimed a seventh successive Guinness Ladies’s Six Nations title and a historic fourth consecutive Grand Slam victory by beating France 43-42 on the Allianz Stadium, the place they have been left scrambling late on to increase their unbeaten report.
England scored 5 tries within the opening 23 minutes to carry a 24-point benefit however let their commanding benefit slip within the second half, with France closing on a shock victory after two late tries till the Crimson Roses held on for the fifty fifth win in 56 Exams.
“This is ideal for us,” Mitchell mentioned. “After a really good start we could have put them away but they got energy through the middle and that’s what French sides do. Once they get into you they feel success.
“I believed we would must win the sport three or 4 occasions however I believe we needed to win it 9 occasions. We would carried out sufficient to finish the purpose.
“All these video games do assist us. We get them sometimes. However you even have to know that the Crimson Roses are distinctive in the meanwhile and have been for some time. Groups are likely to carry out towards us.
England are unbeaten within the Ladies’s Six Nations since 2018
“That will continue to happen in 2025 and that will help us raise our game. And we have to raise our game, which is really clear.”
England had solely conceded 5 tries within the opening 4 matches of their Six Nations marketing campaign however yielded six towards France, who additionally grew to become the primary aspect to attain within the ultimate 20 minutes towards the Crimson Roses this season.
“I wasn’t happy with the defence,” Mitchell added. “They got through us in the middle too easily.
“We adjusted at half-time and the ladies did a superb job in that space within the second half. However the edge defence was not the usual of the Crimson Roses.”
France threatened their first away victory over England since 2015
England might be favourites to win the World Cup for the primary time since 2014, having completed runners-up in 5 of the final six editions and having received each Take a look at within the Ladies’s Six Nations since 2018.
Mitchell usually rotated his XV all through the marketing campaign, making 9 modifications for his or her top-of-the-table conflict with France, with the pinnacle coach e
“After today, 95 per cent of the girls who are likely to go to the World Cup will have an experience of Allianz Stadium, before this game that wouldn’t have been the case,” Mitchell defined.
“That may be a scenario we have deliberate for, to ensure the broader group have had an expertise right here.
“We’ve matured enormously in that area and if we hadn’t practised those things going into a home World Cup, when that reality happens you aren’t ready for it. I think our girls are definitely ready for what’s to come and whatever jobs they’re given.”
What’s subsequent?
England have been drawn with Australia, USA and Samoa for the 2025 Ladies’s Rugby World Cup, held on dwelling soil for the second time.
The Crimson Roses will play within the opening recreation on August 22 towards the USA on the Stadium of Gentle in Sunderland, with their remaining two pool matches being hosted at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton and Brighton’s Amex Stadium.
British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities
Watch the Lions tour of Australia reside on Sky Sports activities in 2025
Sky Sports activities will solely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Exams towards the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven solely reside.
