Mitchell backs England to beat France in Women's Six Nations decider
England enter Sunday’s women’s six nations decider against France chasing an eighth straight title and carrying a 37-game winning run into the match. The visitors arrive with the tournament’s strongest challenge on both sides of the ball, so the final in effect decides whether England keep control of the competition or France finally break through.
John Mitchell kept the message simple when asked whether defence would decide it: “It will be, but we’ll just score more.” That is the margin England have leaned on all tournament, even while playing without Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward and Alex Matthews because of retirements, pregnancy and injury.
Kabeya returns for England
Sadia Kabeya is back from injury, giving England another option as they try to protect a streak built over years of final-day pressure. Marlie Packer will start on the bench, and she has already pointed to the speed of decision-making the Red Roses will need against France: “I think we need to be a bit better at see, do. We are thinking. As soon as you think, the other team has a foot on top of you.”
Packer also said England cannot afford a repeat of the defensive lapses seen against Wales and Italy. Against Italy, they conceded the most points they had ever conceded in the Six Nations against a team other than France, a warning sign before facing a side that has been good enough to keep the title race alive into the last match.
France bring numbers
France have spent the tournament putting up the kind of figures that can disrupt England’s usual rhythm. They lead the competition in carries, offloads and defenders beaten, and they also have the fewest missed tackles, the most dominant contacts and an 88.4% tackle success rate.
Anaïs Grando has added four tries in four games, while Pauline Bourdon Sansus has remained an integral part of the French setup for years. Those numbers go with the kind of pressure France have applied for six straight seasons, when they finished as runners-up to England in the Women’s Six Nations.
The final also carries the edge of last year’s decider, which was settled by a single point. England have scored the most points in the tournament and Zoe Harrison has made 23 of 24 kicks successfully, but France have the profile to make every possession count. Ruby Tui called France’s displays a “roll of the dice,” and this one could decide whether England’s run extends to eight titles or France turn a familiar second place into something more.
