England secured a convincing friendly win over Six Nations rivals France in Gloucester; Red Roses faces New Zealand at Twickenham next Saturday ahead of their WXV1 campaign in Canada later this month
Saturday 7 September 2024 18:24, UK
England began their countdown to a World Cup on home soil in impressive fashion as they beat France 38-19 at Kingsholm.
The world's number one-ranked team were never troubled by their closest Six Nations rivals, making it 14 successive wins against France.
Captain Marlie Packer and wing Jess Breach each two tries each, while centre Helena Rowland and scrum-half Lucy Packer also crossed, with Holly Aitchison kicking four conversions.
The Red Roses host New Zealand next Saturday in a second preparation game for their WXV1 campaign in Canada, before all roads will lead to next year's World Cup after the 2025 Six Nations.
France had their moments in front of a 7,500 crowd - notably through tries for hooker Agathe Sochat, number eight Romane Menager and replacement Pauline Bourdon Sansus, plus two Lina Tuy conversions - yet England always had an extra gear.
England had to absorb early pressure, but they took an 11th-minute lead after sharp attacking play from full-back Ellie Kildunne gave her forwards a platform, and Packer touched down.
Aitchison added the conversion, and Kildunne was heavily involved in England's second try just seven minutes later. She again proved difficult for the French defence to stop, before recycled possession found its way to Packer and her fellow flanker Maddie Feanati highlighted a first Test start by sending Breach over in the corner.
France were then architects of their own downfall, with Sochat being yellow-carded for kicking the ball at a ruck, and England immediately set up camp inside their opponents' 22 as Rowland crossed for try number three.
The visitors kept England out for the remainder of Sochat's spell off the pitch, yet the Red Roses' territorial dominance threatened another try before half-time. They went close, but a 19-0 interval advantage was just reward for a performance that bristled with attacking intent, even if the execution was occasionally lacking.
France were on the back foot again just three minutes after the break, though, as England drove a close-range lineout and Packer claimed her second try, with Aitchison's conversion opening up a 26-point lead.
Sochat then claimed an opportunist try that Tuy converted, but England were in no mood to take a collective foot off the pedal and Breach finished impressively as they moved past 30 points midway through the third quarter.
Menager and Bourdon Sansus scored late tries for France, but it was no more than consolation as England made it a case of job done before tackling the Black Ferns.
England captain Marlie Packer: "World champions versus world number one - it's going to be one hell of an encounter. We will really be going for the New Zealand game next week.
"If you had asked me this morning if we would put 38 points on a really good French team, I would be super-happy. We controlled the game where we wanted to. We got challenged in some areas like the breakdown, which is why we wanted really tough pre-season friendlies to see where we are at."
England head coach John Mitchell said: "It was good to get started. We always thought it was going to be a bit messy, first game, and it was, but we worked our way out of some difficult situations.
"We will get better at the breakdown, and we will execute better in the first third of the field. A lot of the stuff we have focused on definitely transferred today."
The Red Roses host New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday, before starting their WXV 1 title defence later that month in Canada. England are in the same group as the United States, New Zealand and Canada. Stream rugby union and more with NOW.
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