England vs France rugby LIVE: Result and reaction as England win Women’s Six Nations grand slam decider

What an atmosphere at Twickenham as the players arrive! It’s a glorious day, fitting of the ocassion.

A big talking point in this year’s Women’s Six Nations has been the lack competitiveness across the championship, with England and France making it to the final week on the back of four comfortable victories - as everyone expected.

“I’m not sure it can continue in the guise it is now where it’s always going to come down to the last game - England and France - because that’s not good for anybody,” said England coach Simon Middleton.

“We’ve been in this situation for a long time and we have to make these (other) games more competitive. It’s all dependent on how the unions get behind it. The rate of acceleration and closing the gap will all depend on funding.”

Former England captain Sarah Hunter, who retired from the sport after winning her 141st cap in the opening game against Scotland, expects the gap to close but does not see any radical changing of the guard coming soon.

“We’re really fortunate (to have been professional) over the last four or five years, and it’s going to be a push for the teams to catch us, because obviously we want to keep growing and don’t want teams to,” she said.

“I think over the next couple of years, the other countries will really try and narrow that, so that it doesn’t always become a two-horse race between England and France.”

Simon Middleton insists his resurgent Red Roses will not take their foot off the gas ahead of next weekend’s hotly-anticipated TikTok Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France at Twickenham.

England thumped Ireland 48-0 in Cork on Saturday as tries from Sarah Beckett, Tatyana Heard, Ellie Kildunne, Marlie Packer and Morwenna Talling teed up a tantalising showdown with the similarly unbeaten Les Bleus in London next weekend.

England have now swatted aside Scotland, Italy, Wales and Ireland and boss Middleton says they will stick to their tried and tested procedures ahead of next weekend’s title-deciding clash.

Marlie Packer on leading England out at Twickenham: “It is going to be a very special occasion. To lead the squad out for a Six Nations Grand Slam decider is going to be epic.

“Simon will leave a massive legacy. The group has massive respect for him, what he has done for us as a group and for the women’s game.

“When he told me he was leaving, I gave him a hug and said, ‘Right, let’s go and win this Six Nations, let’s send you off properly’.”

Simon Middleton: “The magnitude of the game this weekend is a huge distraction from potentially everything else.

“It has been a real privilege to be part of it, and we just desperately want to make sure we finish it in the right way on Saturday.

“What we want is more occasions like this one. The beauty about one of these occasions is it sends a massive message out about what is achievable, and it puts pressure on others to respond positively.”

Simon Middleton says “the right person will be the best person” to succeed him as England head coach, whether they are male or female.

Middleton steps down after the Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam showdown against France at Twickenham. During his time in charge, England have reached two World Cup finals, won five Six Nations titles and four Grand Slams.

Sarina Wiegman led England’s Lionesses to success at Women’s Euro 2022, and there are many in English rugby who would like to see a female appointment, post-Middleton.

“We have got some very good coaches/directors of rugby-style females in the game,” Middleton said.

“Giselle Mather (Ealing Trailfinders director of rugby) is one, Jo Yapp (Worcester women’s head coach) being one, Susie Appleby (Exeter Chiefs head coach) being another.

“A lot of it is relevant to the team you build around you and how you manage that team of staff. The right person will be the best person.”

“Everybody’s fit, remarkably,” said England’s head caoch when asked about his selections for today’s game.

“We obviously had a couple of injury concerns coming out of last week, Marlie [Packer] and Botts [Hannah Botterman] but both have responded really well.

“We’ve got those in and we’ve got Poppy [Cleall] back just at the right time really.

“Obviously, we’d have liked to have had her back as soon as we could do, there’s a little bit of rustiness being taken into account, and gametime and minutes, making sure that we get the most out of the loading that we can. It is great to have her back.”

Helena Rowland has replaced Lagi Tuima at outside centre in a decision for today’s crucial Women’s Six Nations fixture. It’s a move head coach Simon Middleton described as a ‘no-brainer’.

“Lagi has had a great tournament , she has done really well,” Middleton said. “But there are very few players in the game who can do what Helena has done.

“There is a bit of risk and reward about it. Helena only 25 minutes under her belt from last week, but she has been great in training. She gives us a different dimension, so that’s why went down that route.”

Starting line-ups

England XV: Hannah Botterman, Lark Davies, Sarah Bern; Zoe Aldcroft, Sarah Beckett; Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer (capt.), Alex Matthews; Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison; Claudia MacDonald, Tatyana Heard, Helena Rowland, Abby Dow; Ellie Kildunne.

Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Maud Muir, Poppy Cleall, Morwenna Talling; Natasha Hunt, Amber Reed, Jess Breach.

France XV: Yiliana Brosseau, Agathe Sochat, Rose Bernadou; Manae Feleu, Audrey Forlani (capt.); Axelle Berthoumie, Gaelle Hermet, Charlotte Escudero; Pauline Bourdon, Jessy Tremouliere; Melissande Llorens, Gabrielle Vernier, Marine Menager, Cyrielle Banet; Emilie Boulard.

Replacements: Elisa Riffonneau, Ambre Mwayembe, Assia Khalfaoui, Romane Menager, Emeline Gros; Alexandra Chambon, Carla Arbez, Maelle Filopon.

France team news: Pauline Bourdon has been passed fit to play for France after a dead leg caused the scrum half to be absent for the win over Wales. She partners Jessy Tremouliere, who will hope to sign off in style before retiring at the end of the tournament. Manae Felou and Rose Bernadou are promoted to the starting tight five, which also includes captain Audrey Forlani.

England team news: The Red Roses have been given a significant boost by the news that Marlie Packer and Hannah Botterman are both fit to start after being forced off against Ireland last weekend. Packer captains the side from openside flanker while Botterman retains her place at loosehead prop in a front row also containing Bristol pair Lark Davies and Sarah Bern. Helena Rowland makes her first start since suffering serious injury in the World Cup semi-final, with the versatile back deployed from the start at outside centre for the first time at international level.