In front of 28,000 fans, the Red Roses ran in six tries from Maud Muir, Alex Matthews (2), Meg Jones, Marlie Packer and Amy Cokayne, with flyhalf Holly Aitchison perfect off the tee to extend their championship-winning record to 29 games.
Head coach John Mitchell, who joined the group halfway through their WXV1 triumph in New Zealand last autumn, hailed his side’s groundbreaking achievements. “The girls are highly driven and they deserved this,” said Mitchell. “What an atmosphere. We have been speaking all competition about an arm wrestle and we certainly got that.
“The French girls came at us, but we didn’t execute as well in the 22 during the second half. There is a belief and confidence around what we are doing and that comes from the environment we are creating. A lot of the girls are challenged. The standard is tough, but the girls have done an amazing job.”
England are less than 18 months away from a home World Cup where they’ll hope to avenge their 2022 final loss to New Zealand which was their last defeat, but Mitchell isn’t looking ahead, opting instead to focus on the present.
On the World Cup next year, he said: “One step at a time. We set off at the start of 2024 to stay the best. We threw a lot into this game physically and mentally, so it looked a bit flat towards the end.”
England winger Jess Breach added: “Le Crunch is what everyone wants to play in, especially with this hostile crowd. Where we are now is just phenomenal.”
Denne historien er fra April 28, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 28, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.
