There are two games on the minds of England’s Red Roses this weekend: the grand slam decider against France at Twickenham and the World Cup final, set to be played at the same venue five months later. While the focus must remain on the immediate challenge, it’s impossible to ignore how closely the two are linked. The Six Nations clash is a critical stepping stone on the road to reclaiming the world title last held in 2014.
England have been dominant in the Six Nations, winning six titles in a row and stringing together 33 straight victories in the tournament. This year’s campaign has seen them storm past Italy, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, racking up 213 points and conceding just 29. They’ve scored 33 tries across four games, a remarkable feat even by their high standards, yet the team maintains they still haven’t put together a truly complete performance.
The Red Roses have become one of the most successful teams in sport, with a run of 25 consecutive victories and 54 wins in their last 55 games. The sole loss came in the 2021 World Cup final against New Zealand, a dramatic and painful 34-31 defeat. That result remains a motivating force. There’s a sense that the team, so used to winning, wasn’t equipped to respond when momentum shifted against them. This is a key focus for their head coach, who emphasizes the need to prepare under pressure and cultivate resilience.
To that end, England’s training environment is designed to replicate adversity. Internal competition between the starting side and the bench creates a level of challenge that’s tough to match externally. Mistakes are allowed and even encouraged during practice, reinforcing the importance of learning how to respond to setbacks before they happen on the biggest stage.
This season is about more than just wins and trophies. It’s also about the growth of the women’s game. The upcoming World Cup in England has been presented as a defining moment for women’s rugby, both in terms of exposure and legacy. A £12m funding boost through a national initiative has been channeled into improving facilities and infrastructure at all levels of the sport.
Despite this momentum, ticket sales for the grand slam decider have been lower than hoped. Expectations were high for a historic sell-out crowd at Twickenham, but the stadium is expected to be only half full. Still, this reflects how far the women’s game has progressed such numbers would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Back in 1991, fewer than 4,000 spectators attended the first World Cup final. Now, a crowd under 60,000 feels underwhelming.
The final in five months is almost certain to be played in front of a full house. As interest in the women’s game soars, so do the stakes. England’s success is crucial not only for their own ambitions but for the continued rise of women’s rugby globally. The Red Roses are not just chasing titles; they are carrying the hopes of a sport on the brink of transformation.
