The Red Roses proved the sky is the limit but they will need to be keeping 15 players on the field come next year’s World Cup
England Women’s Six Nations campaign was formidable but it seems even more so when you look at their numbers: 270 points scored via 44 tries across five matches, with only 41 points conceded. The captain, Marlie Packer, said after the championship-sealing win over France on Saturday that there are no limits in regards to what the Red Roses can achieve, which must be a daunting prospect for any opposition they face.
Last year, England were criticised for not having a dynamic attack and the team would often rely on their maul to keep the scoreboard ticking over. But this tournament has seen their attack diversify, with tries coming from every area of the pitch. The back three were particularly imposing, and responsible for scoring 18 of England’s 44 tries.
Packer is not the only player who feels the sky is the limit for the Red Roses – it is a team-wide message which provides insight into how all concerned are not resting on their laurels. “I do think we have so much potential and we have so much depth,” said the prop Maud Muir after England’s grand slam win here. “There are so many other girls coming through, I’m just really excited to see where we go in the next year or so.”
But how do such a commanding side improve? Well, their tournament was perfect in terms of results, with England coming away with the maximum 25 points available to them to seal a third consecutive grand slam and a sixth consecutive title. However, their performances, while undeniablyimpressive, were not the complete product. The main area that the Red Roses need to sharpen is their discipline.
Sarah Beckett, the No 8, received a red card and subsequent three-game ban for her crocodile roll on Michela Sillari in England’s opener against Italy. The hooker Amy Cokayne, meanwhile, was shown a red card after two yellow card offences against Scotland and subsequently received a one-game ban. The team also had two other sin bins in the tournament.
