by A spectacular launch in London last week was testament to the progress and significance of the Women’s Six Nations, but the question ahead of the 2024 edition remains the same – how do you stop England’s winning machine? Although the competition is often called a duopoly, the truth is that you have to go back to 2018 to find the last time the Red Roses were not in full spring bloom before the end of the championship.
Could that change this year? England begin their first full campaign under John Mitchell determined to continue the evolution that began at WXV1 in the autumn, when the Red Roses, according to their new head coach, “made a statement” by getting revenge on world champions New Zealand in their own. backyard. In the camp, the talk is not only about winning this tournament again but about increasing the gap and creating an all-court style that will allow them to beat their opponents in any way they want.
The rest can only hope for some teething problems. Mitchell has laid out his plans for various senior figures to rotate through the first few rounds of the tournament ahead of a likely grand slam decider in Bordeaux on the final weekend and has made some interesting selection calls. These include the impressive conversion of Emily Scarratt to inside center on her return from a neck injury, due to a desire to make the most of her playmaking ability and have extra gas in the lanes outside. The absence of Sarah Bern, perhaps the best individual player in the world, also leaves a hole at tight end to fill.
It’s now a 12-game run for England against France, as they once again shape up as their closest foes. Eight one-score games tell their own story about France’s near misses – a psychological advantage is felt.
But France are confident they can step up and challenge the Six Nations queens, even with Caroline Drouin expected to miss the tournament. Their autumn adventure to New Zealand did not go so well on the whole – one win, two defeats – but that one win was against the Black Ferns. When they get it right, France is anyone’s game.
“Last year we showed we weren’t far from England,” said captain Manae Feleu. “I don’t think there’s much chasing. It is focusing more on ourselves. In recent years, England have been better than us at playing to their strengths and we have to be better at that.”
It could be a fierce battle behind the top two, with Wales, Italy, Scotland and Ireland all in the mix for third place and, possibly, a scare in the France and England. Ioan Cunningham’s Wales will take to the Principality grounds on Super Saturday at the end of April, showing how much they have grown over the last few years and where they can still go.
Their Gloucester-Hartpury players, including new star Nel Metcalfe, will give them confidence in their club’s lackluster season so far and, in flyhalf Lleucu George, will provide one of the brightest players in the sport. “I think she can be one of the top 10s in the world,” Cunningham said at the launch. “She has all the tools in the toolbox and her confidence and belief is growing.”
The same could be said of Scotland, who beat Italy to the WXV2 title with both of them making it three wins apiece in South Africa. Captain Rachel Malcolm is one of the best leaders in the game but he had grown weary reflecting on the run of agonizing victories; there are brighter times to come if they came back with a trophy and after a six game winning streak.
Jade Konkel-Roberts’ pure ball-carrying could be a challenge, and the schedule is brutal with only England and France coming to Edinburgh and the rest of their fixtures on the road, but Scotland will hope press on.
Likewise, Italy has progressed on and off the field, with 24 professional contracts and two new home teams giving players better opportunities. An unpredictable backline draws the eye but their defensive development into the strongest third unit in the competition last year was most impressive.
Ireland is something of an enigma again. Former England assistant coach Scott Bemand has plenty of talent to work with, especially with a couple of seventies stars returning this campaign, but it’s all very simple off the pitch. Hooker Cliodhna Moloney remains in international exile for matters unrelated to her continued impressive performances for Exeter, although she has been in contact with Bemand and may be on the verge of a recall, and a club colleague announced, Nichola Fryday, retired unexpectedly last summer.
The launch day interviews with the coaches and captains in the gift shop at the Marble Arch venue were an uncomfortable reminder of how recently the best women’s rugby players in the world were considered a sideshow. But the independent window gave women’s rugby the attention it needed, and thankfully gone are the days of being confined to a corner and the men taking center stage – even if there is still some awareness of concerns.
