Not since Martin Johnson hoisted the Webb Ellis Cup into the Sydney sky in 2003 has an English rugby union team been as tantalisingly close to World Cup glory in the southern hemisphere. If the Red Roses can join a truly exclusive club it would be a similarly symbolic moment and unquestionably place them among the finest women’s sides of all time.
Before all those debates can begin, though, there is still a game to be won. In September the head coach, Simon Middleton, acknowledged there could be no excuses in New Zealand for a squad who have benefited from full-time contracts for a longer period than any of their rivals. For all the Black Ferns’ rapid improvement, England have now won 30 Tests on the spin. Hence Middleton’s bullish tone on a sunny day in Bagshot a little over seven weeks ago: “We’ve got to win it. This is the best prepared squad with the best strength in depth we’ve ever had.”
