Preview: France v Red Roses

25 Apr 2024 | 7 min |

Everything you need to know ahead of the Red Roses' Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France

John Mitchell's Red Roses travel to Bordeaux in search of a sixth successive Guinness Women's Six Nations title and a third successive Grand Slam after winning all four games in their 2024 campaign so far.

A 0-48 victory over Italy in Parma staged the perfect opening for the Red Roses before they hosts Wales at Bristol's Ashton Gate Stadium. They finished the game 46-10 winners to claim their spot at the top of the Guinness Women's Six Nations table, before travelling to Edinburgh and securing another eight-try, 0-46 victory.

When?	Saturday 27 April
Where?	Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Kick off	16:45 BST
Where can I watch?	BBC ONE

Last week's Twickenham showdown saw the Red Roses return to the home of England Rugby for their standalone fixture against Ireland in front of 48,778 fans. Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne each scored hat-tricks as their side cruised to an 88-10 victory.

VIEWS FROM CAMP

John Mitchell: "Every competition you go into you always look forward to presenting the opportunity to get something out of it. France are a good side so it’s exciting to be in this position.

"France have a particular way they want to get access into the game and and they always pride themselves on set piece, as we do, hence the reason we've gone for this team mix. We have some advantages ourselves in terms of mobility and that's critical to the way we play.

"France have been chipping away quite thoroughly, they’ve got their way and they put away Wales last weekend rather easily. They’ll be buoyed by the fact they’re at home but we’re looking forward to embracing and walking into that challenge.

BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: England Head Coach, John Mitchell looks on during a Red Roses Training Session at Pennyhill Park on April 24, 2024 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

"We’re very specific in the way we play. It’s a game that is working and we think it’s the right way. We have got better as the competition has progressed, but who says there is a limit on this style that we produced last week? We have the ability to dial it up again this weekend so it certainly won't be stopping and it will continue to evolve.

"This group sets such high standards that we’ll never be satisfied. We’ll always want to be better."

Marlie Packer: "We know what the French crowd are going to bring and we’ll rise to the occasion. Twickenham was an amazing day for us but that's in the past. If we bring a brand of rugby like we did at Twickenham I think the crowd will start cheering our way.

"Everyone wants to be in that starting team, so naturally at the beginning of the week you get some disappointed players but as soon as the sessions begins everyone switches into their roles, and everyone has a role to play. It’s very special in this squad at the moment and we’re in a very good place."

BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: Marlie Packer looks on during a Red Roses Training Session at Pennyhill Park on April 24, 2024 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Alex Matthews: "I’m excited, it’s Test match rugby and that’s what we train hard for. What we want is that competition and that challenge. France always show up against us and bring another level. They have been growing throughout the campaign, but they will definitely show up and I think show something that we haven’t seen so far over the last few weeks. We have to be ready for all options and give it our best."

Louis Deacon: "We are blessed that we have huge depth in our squad and are able to go 15 on 15 all the time in training and it is so competitive. It’s tough, and sometimes it’s tougher than the game itself but that’s how we get our competitiveness. Players are chasing each other and chasing selection.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Louis Deacon , Forwards Coach looks on during a England Red Roses Training Session at Twickenham Stadium on April 18, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

"We’ve been able to raise our level of training far beyond what we’ve ever done before. I always thought we trained well previously but we’ve just taken it to a completely different level."

STATS

⁠England have won each of their last five Guinness Women's Six Nations matches against France, however, three of their five wins came by margins of just six points or fewer; this will be the third year in a row that these sides have met in the final round of the Championship with the Grand Slam on the line for both teams.
France have lost just three of their last 20 Guinness Women's Six Nations matches (W16 D1), including all four of their games in this year's Championship by double-digit margins, however, all three of their defeats during that period have come against England.
⁠England have won each of their last 28 Guinness Women's Six Nations matches, the longest run by any team in the men's or women's editions of the Championship - each of the Red Roses' four wins this year have come by margins of 36+ points.
England have won each of their last 13 Guinness Women's Six Nations away matches by an average margin of 46 points and have held their opponents scoreless in each of their last three away games in the Championship.
England have recorded more carry metres (4251), made more line breaks (57) and beaten more defenders (163) than any other side in this year's Guinness Women's Six Nations - in fact, the Red Roses' tally of 1549 metres carried, 24 line breaks and 63 defenders beaten last time out against Ireland all represent the highest tallies by any side in a Championship game this decade.