Player Comparisons: England weather late French resurgence to win Grand Slam

Another Red Roses game and another double-digit try count this Women’s Six Nations campaign, but for a change their opposition France accounted for a number of total tries scored and pushed England all the way in an 80-minute nail biter. Here’s how the players matched up.

Les Bleus repeatedly exposed England’s laissez-faire attitude to positioning and marking, a lesson that John Mitchell and his team should be thankful for with the World Cup on the horizon.

In the end the home side won 43-42 but with a last minute French resurgence, there will be lots for Mitchell and his team to dwell on over the summer.

So where did England shine as they took their seventh consecutive Six Nations title, and where did France trouble them most?

Front Row – advantage England

The Red Roses front row continued to wreak havoc on their opposition. Hannah Botterman acting like an openside flanker, Maud Muir running with the power of a freight train and Lark Atkin-Davies mixing pinpoint lineout throwing with try scoring.

France suffered for a period as Assia Khalfaoui was given a slightly questionable yellow, but held their own at scrum time.

Seeing both teams replace their entire front rows at the same time made for some interesting battles around the field.

Second Row – honours even

Red Roses pairing Abbie Ward and Morwenna Talling went about their business quietly. Not threatening much in attack, but ruthless in defence and carrying in heavy traffic when required.

France’s Manae Felou captained her side from the engine room and put her body on the line time and again while Madoussou Fall Raclot made a series of powerful runs that troubled English defensive lines.

Back Row – advantage England

Another game, another try for Zoe Aldcroft, who continues to lead from the front for England. She combined brilliantly with Alex Matthews at the breakdown and in the loose to constantly nip at French heels.

Maddie Feaunati, starting at seven, didn’t do much wrong, but lacked the vision of a true open-side so expect Sadia Kabeya to come back into the fold once the World Cup rolls around.

France’s Teani Feleu will wish she had more opportunity to impose herself on the game, but her relentless play, alongside Charlotte Escudero and Lea Champon, meant England could never relax and were consistently harried at the breakdown.

Half Backs – advantage France

With England scoring early, you’d be forgiven for expecting a one-sided game but a beautiful, flowing team try for France brought them back into the mix and it was their un-contracted fly-half Carla Arbez who capped it off, dancing through defenders to score.

The experience and nous of Pauline Bourdon-Sansus would give France their second try as she pounced on a fumble from Zoe Harrison, who slipped and seemed to just stare at the ball as Bourdon-Sansus dived on it.

The introduction of Lucy Packer quickened up England’s ball in the second half and Lina Queyroi, on for Arbez, gave a good reminder of the growing depth in the French squad.

Centres – advantage France

Marine Menager provided France’s third try, showing why she can double as a centre and a flanker with a powerful run to punch through the white wall and score.

Her partnership with Gabrielle Vernier repeatedly worked to Les Bleus’ advantage as both combined power and skill to open up the game whenever the ball came their way. A late Menager run came close to putting France within three points of England before she was tackled off the pitch.

Meg Jones had possibly her best game in an England shirt as she dictated play, made some lovely breaks and combined perfectly with Tatyana Heard to disrupt French ball at every opportunity.

Outside Backs – advantage England (just)

As the tournament has progressed England seem to have remembered they have one of the most dangerous players in the game on their right wing.

Abby Dow opened the scoring with a strong run and a powerful fend to find her way to the line. Emma Sing, in at full-back for the injured Ellie Kildunne, added a try of her own not long afterward. A second try for Sing and one for Claudia MacDonald closed out England’s scoring in the first half.

Joanna Grisez, appearing for only the second time this championship, was a buzzing presence and a threat when the ball reached her but didn’t receive enough service to truly make her mark, while full-back Morgane Bourgeois made the most of her opportunities to kick from the tee, converting every French opportunity, including on her own try late in the second half.

A lovely second half try for Kelly Arbey showed that England were lax in their positioning as she danced her way over the try line to dot down centrally and provide Bourgeois an easy conversion.

A second half injury for MacDonald will worry fans as she looked incredibly dangerous again, but a second try for Dow will have eased the pain.

Grisez added a second with barely a minute left on the clock and Bourgeois, of course, nailed the conversion. A knock on stole France’s last opportunity away from them, but amongst the disappointment they will have been uplifted with their effort.