England are on the hunt for their seventh consecutive Women’s Six Nations title on Saturday but their toughest opponent yet in France stand in their way, who are also targeting their own grand slam success. France have been the runner-up to England in the past five Six Nations and the Red Roses have beaten their rivals in their last 14 meetings across all competitions. Twickenham will witness something special whoever wins.
The statistics stack up in England’s favour. John Mitchell’s side have been more clinical this tournament, scoring 213 points across their four victories and conceding only 29. France, meanwhile, have scored 141 and conceded 63.
But England would do well not to underestimate the French, who were thelast team to beat them in this competitionin 2018. Fast forward 33 straight wins and England remain just as determined to win, says the No 8 Alex Matthews.
“The energy this week has just upped a level,” says the 31-year-old, who was banned for the opening two games of this Six Nations. “There is a feelgood factor. We are all high-fiving after sessions. We want to play in big games, we want to be challenged. I loved the first40-50 minutes against Irelandbecause we were being thrown things, we had to problem solve. I am looking forward to that on Saturday for 80 minutes.”
The Red Roses face their sternest test of the tournament without one of their star players in Ellie Kildunne, who has beenruled out with a hamstring injury. Gloucester-Hartpury’s Emma Sing is in for Kildunne for her eighth cap in what could be seen as a Rugby World Cup audition. She has already played a game this Six Nations, in theopener against Italy, and scored a try. But this will be the hardest game of Sing’s international career to date.
Her club teammate Matthews gave insight into Sing as a player before the huge fixture. “Emma said she got the phone call from Mitch [Mitchell] and she was shaking. As long as we can help her calm her nerves and just play off her instincts she will perform like she has for Gloucester for the past three years. She is our key player at Gloucester. She won every award this year as well as the community awards voted for by fans. It says a lot about her. She has no fear under the ball. I am really chuffed to see her out there.
“She has been in tough positions in the squad as she has been competing against Ellie. You are there training and putting all the hard graft in so I am happy she is doing it at Twickenham. It’s such a big occasion to be a part of.”
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Matthews, whowon the World Cup in 2014, said Kildunne’s injury before a crucial match could be valuable experience for the Red Roses with the home World Cup taking place later this year.
“We have been in World Cups before [where key players have been injured]. Nolli [Danielle Waterman]got injured early in the 2017 semi-finaland we were like ‘hang on, we haven’t prepared for this’. Whereas, the depth we have now and the rotations we are going through I think it puts us in a good place to be prepared for anything.”
The Red Roses have been formidable this tournament but they have not yet produced a perfect performance and that is an area France can target. In round three, Ireland were on top of England throughout the first half of their match but only managed to put one try on the board during that time. England then raced away from them in the second 40. Similarly, in round one Italy halted England’s attack in the second half but once more could not strike enough times to put a dent on the scoreboard. If France are able to get momentum and be clinical, the trophy could be anyone’s.
England do have home advantage as the decider is being played at Twickenham with more than 35,000 supporters expected. Matthews’ career has seen the development of fans at England’s home stadium with the team playing before the men in years past. But now the Red Roses have a yearly standalone game.
“It’s a dream come true,” she says. “You used to run out for the warm-up just after the men and the crowd would be unreal. Then you’d run out to play and everyone would disappear other than your friends and family. It wasn’t demoralising but it was a reality check. But now getting off the bus you have people there who have come to watch you. It’s somewhere I never, ever thought the game would go in my lifetime.”