2 weeks ago
"We've sent a connection to everyone astir really we want to play."
England's first Women's Six Nations run nether John Mitchell culminated pinch a Grand Slam-clinching triumph astatine title rivals France.
While their grounds shows 5 wins from 5 matches, pinch 270 points for and conscionable 41 against, it is not conscionable statistical power that has pleased nan caller caput coach.
The Red Roses person shown an expertise to operation up their styles depending connected their opponents - and Mitchell believes location is still much to come.
England turned connected nan style past week pinch a 14-try thrashing of Ireland astatine Twickenham, but connected Saturday their forwards showed a ruthless broadside successful beforehand of a dispute Bordeaux crowd.
The Red Roses scored 5 first-half tries to rustle distant a squad they had only beaten erstwhile by much than 1 people successful nan past 4 Six Nations.
"The girls are highly driven and they deserved this," Mitchell told BBC One.
"We person been speaking each title astir an limb wrestle and we surely sewage that.
"The modular is tough, but nan girls person done an astonishing job."
This was nan Red Roses' 3rd Grand Slam successful a row, but nan increasing power of Mitchell connected England's onslaught has been evident passim this tournament.
The New Zealander is looking to move nan squad distant from their much forward-oriented style nether Simon Middleton, who led nan broadside to Grand Slams successful 2022 and 2023 and nan World Cup final, and towards a much balanced approach.
The Red Roses scored 14 tries against Ireland past weekend, pinch full-back Ellie Kildunne and winger Abby Dow some completing hat-tricks arsenic Mitchell's desire to unleash his talented backs clicked successful ruthless style.
However, astatine a packed Stade Chaban-Delmas centre Megan Jones was nan only backmost to touch down arsenic nan forwards not only fronted up to a monolithic French battalion but grabbed 5 retired of nan visitors' six tries.
"When I interviewed for nan occupation nan test was that arsenic bully arsenic we were, location was a divorcement betwixt nan guardant battalion and backs - and I deliberation we person merged them rather nicely," Mitchell told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.
"I person challenged nan players successful nan measurement they deliberation astir nan crippled and they are increasing successful that abstraction arsenic well. I deliberation it is simply a bully environment."
On nan environment, skipper Marlie Packer told BBC One: "We person been building arsenic a group connected and disconnected nan pitch.
"We are good and genuinely into a John Mitchell era - we will support increasing arsenic a group."
England will big New Zealand and France successful September, pinch Twickenham expected to shape astatine slightest 1 of those games, earlier they take sides their WXV1 title successful Canada.
And contempt improvements successful their style of play, it is still "one step" astatine a clip for Mitchell arsenic he gets his squad fresh for a location World Cup successful 2025.
One area of betterment mightiness beryllium England's second-half display, arsenic they grounded to outscore France, who were reduced to 14 players for nan mostly of nan 2nd play aft Assia Khalfaoui was sent off.
"We’ve group a bully benchmark successful this tourney successful position of sending a connection to everyone astir really we want to play and attack nan game," Mitchell added.
"It is simply a tourney that I deliberation a batch of group underestimate. It takes a batch retired of you physically and mentally.
"We threw a batch into nan crippled physically and mentally truthful it looked a spot level towards nan end.
"We group disconnected astatine nan commencement of 2024 to enactment nan best."
