If the top of the pyramid is defending their Rugby World Cup title in 2029 then this Women’s Six Nations has formed the base from which England can build. The world champions won their eighth straight Six Nations and proved they can succeed even when they have to stretch their squad to the maximum.
Blooding new talent was always the plan for the head coach, John Mitchell, but not in the manner it happened. The team knew they would be without some of the pillars of their side because of retirement or pregnancy, but the sheer volume of injuries is not something they could have foreseen. Hannah Botterman, Alex Matthews and Morwenna Talling were ruled out for either all or large chunks of the tournament with Sadia Kabeya and Maddie Feaunati also missing the odd game.
