The Red Roses – Strengths and (relative) Weaknesses

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Let’s work on the frustrating assumption that the 2021 World Cup will be postponed for a year. It isn’t inevitable; the host country has already seen large crowds back at rugby matches, but the rest of the world lags far behind in conquering Covid-19.

For the Red Roses any such delay impacts on the senior players most. Both Sarah Hunter and Katy Daley-Mclean will be tested to the full if they have to wait another twelve months to regain that trophy. It has been a similar story in the Sevens squad, where Heather Fisher has admitted the challenge she had to face with the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.

26 of the 28 contracted players have all shown their worth since Simon Middleton and his staff last made their choices. Lagi Tuima and Bryony Cleall have been out of action. In theory there should be room for two more, given the permitted size of RWC squads. But can the RFU afford them? Indeed, can they afford to maintain the original scales of pay they committed to?

One of the tantalising unknowns will be the position of the Sevens squad. If the two big events do indeed separate again by a year, it would be possible to include some of the most talented Fifteens players among them. I’ve mentioned Alex Matthews, Meg Jones and Ellie Kildunne in the past. It all depends on RFU policy. If it sees the optimum structure as offering two quite separate groups, then we can say goodbye to that outcome. It is also possible that current 7s players might wish to switch back full time to 15s, especially once the Olympics are over. Many have done so before them. Or is it unfair on the current players to see themselves displaced by eleventh-hour returners?

We can only guess how the fixture-list will pan out once play is resumed. All we know for sure is that the management has had to put its plans for the summer and autumn on hold. But if the RWC does eventually take place in 2022, there will be plenty of chances to make up for the loss of scheduled tests.

They would have the benefit of two seasons of the new-look Premier 15s plus two doses of 6 Nations. And the fixtures missed this year could be arranged for a later date. No doubt Spain would love to prove themselves against England again.

How the field divides up

In most parts of the field there is an enviable competition for places. The only obvious technical weakness lies at the set scrum. The forwards will need to have confidence in their ability to maintain maximum control at every scrum, in defence and attack, with and without the put-in. Over the past three seasons they have managed it only fitfully.

This is how the breakdown in positions looks as we move through a summer of inactivity:

The Backs

Full-back

A position that might have caused flutters of anxiety in the selectors’ minds in 2018. Nolli Waterman retired when still at the height of her powers and her likely heir, Ellie Kildunne, was promptly snatched away by the 7s squad after putting in some eye-catching performances. She burst on the scene in the autumn of 2017, having picked up the Player of the Tournament award at the European Under 18 Sevens Championship, then dazzled audiences with her displays in the 2018 6N. She could operate at full-back or in the centre.

One advantage of England’s massive player-pool is that a player with many years of experience could re-emerge to take control of the backfield. This was Sarah McKenna who might well have picked up the Player of the Match award in both the first two rounds of the 2019 campaign. She is pacy and elusive, possesses quick hands, runs clever lines and is a more expert kicker than Waterman.

Competing with her is Emily Scott who has a distinguished history in England’s 15s and 7s squads going back to 2013. She offers further options for the 10 and 12 shirts.

The management may have pencilled those names in their imaginary first-choice squad for the next World Cup, but they can keep Abby Dow’s name in mind. She has kicking skills not often found in wingers and has plenty of experience there with Wasps. And if the worst came to the worst, there’s a player called Scarratt to be drafted in.

Wing

This is a source of huge wealth at present. The selectors have been spared some awkward decisions by the occasional absence of one or other of four options, Lydia Thompson, Kelly Smith, Jess Breach and Dow. On rare occasions McKenna has had to fill in on the left. The three youngsters, Breach, Dow and Smith, all have powerful try/match ratios, led by Breach with an unlikely 22 in 13.

Who should play where? Breach and Smith have appeared mainly on the left, Thompson and Dow on the right; but all have worn both the 11 and the 14 shirt.
Lydia Thompson has the huge advantage of her past record, not least two tries in a World Cup final against the most formidable winger in women’s rugby, Portia Woodman, and another equally dramatic earlier the same year in Rotorua.

But coming up on the rails is Dow, who has proved her worth over the past three seasons, capping her performances with a starry showing in the 2020 Six Nations. With any luck, her studies will be behind her to allow her to spend more time on her rugby. But that is a very personal decision.

Centre

There has been much chopping and changing here over the past three seasons. The two first choices for the 2017 World Cup final, Rachael Burford and Emily Scarratt (Scarratt had to switch to full-back to cover Nolli Waterman’s injury) are still available, though Burford has lost her contract and would find the year’s delay a disadvantage. Behind them come a string of highly promising operators, led by Amber Reed (50+ caps) and Meg Jones who has a 7s contract at present. She made a devastating statement in her early England career with a try in the first minute of the 2017 WRWC in Dublin. She belies her diminutive stature with the power of her running and defence.

Zoe Harrison has been used there over the last two seasons, partly because she is a fine prospect, partly to groom her for outside-half once Daley-Mclean decides to hang up her boots. This move will have helped to widen her skill-set and she has scored fine tries in the process. Her kicking technique is amongst the best in the country.

Reed has been hampered by a string of injuries. She has the experience and all-round game to provide a powerful midfield pairing with Scarratt.

Since the demise of Burford Emily Scott has occasionally been selected at No 12. She has great versatility but it serves to work against her; more often than not she is consigned to the bench. She has represented her country at 10, 12 and 15.

As for Scarratt…

Then there are the less experienced Lagi Tuima, Millie Wood, Lucy Attwood and Tatyana Heard who have all been tried out in the last three years. Of them only Tuima has a current contract. She has been sorely handicapped by injury; a year’s delay to the RWC would be an advantage to her as she seeks maximum game time. Wood returned from the Sevens squad but hasn’t been able to force her way into the side yet. Attwood couldn’t convince the selectors in the handful of games she played in the 2018 Quilter series, but she plays well for Bristol, is a left-footed kicker and has experience in four backs positions (10, 12, 13 and 15). Heard debuted promisingly in the autumn 2018 series but has had to return to service with Gloucester-Hartpury.

Fly-half

Katy Daley-Mclean has dominated this position for so long that it might look like a black hole appearing when she decides to retire. Leading the cast amongst the walk-ons are Harrison, Scott and – looking further into the future, Ellie Green. But she will need to add pace to her youthful talents.

Both the first two have played sequences of matches in KD-M’s absence in recent years: Scott in the 2017 Six Nations, then Harrison since the 2018 Quilter internationals against Canada. There is no point in searching for a replica of the default version – sport doesn’t work like that. Both those leading contenders have strong claims to the position, but Harrison is the management’s preferred option. One of her greatest attributes is unflappability. She has a wide range of skills and KD-M-like vision to spot and exploit gaps in the opposition defence.

Scrum-half

England are well served here. When Mo Hunt returned from the Sevens squad, Leanne Riley knew she would have to perform at her best to remain first choice. Both are highly gifted athletes; they started their careers further away from the forwards, so are blessed with pace.

Hunt has the advantage in experience, appearing in the final of two consecutive World Cup finals. Riley has frequently been first pick in recent series. They share so many skills that it’s more useful to try to spot their differences. The first need in a quality No 9 is a fast, accurate pass. Here Riley shows the way, indeed it could be claimed that she has the best standing pass in the women’s game at present. She instinctively adopts a wide base for delivery, which helps to increase its length and pace.

Hunt still occasionally takes shuffle steps before releasing the ball, but has the edge in her all-round game, more willing to hoist a searching box kick, more willing to take a quick tap and get the opposition scrambling.

Both are alleged to be bossy on the field, an admirable quality in that position, however much their forwards may moan.

They occupy a position which must always be backed-up on the bench, so they may find themselves constantly see-sawing in and out of the starter position.
More surprising was the inclusion of Claudia Macdonald’s name of team-sheets. but if a third scrum-half was seen as necessary, she was the perfect choice. A very late starter in the game, she has shown great talent with her pace and eye for the gap. It’s an extra arrow in her quiver that she can play on the wing.

The Forwards

Prop

Three players of greatly differing experience are setting standards that force their rivals to aim high: Vickii Cornborough, Sarah Bern and Hannah Botterman. Cornborough has topped 50 caps, having supplanted the record-beating Rocky Clark for a starting place in the last RWC final.

Sarah Bern continues to astonish the rugby world through the range of her skills. Her two tries against Wales in the 2019 Six Nations combined the strengths of a true prop, barrelling past opponents at pace, with steps you expect to see from outside backs.

Hannah Botterman is a yet younger copy of the Bern default version. She is still learning the tricks of her scrummaging trade, so is not yet the finished article.

Cornborough and Botterman have appeared on both sides of the scrum (Cornborough not at tight-head for a long time); Bern only on the right.

As will be the case with all the other contenders, the prime call is for scrummaging ability. Though there are far fewer set-scrums than in the past, they can still be central to a team’s well-being.

That’s where we must consider the back-row additions to the props’ union, Shaunagh Brown and Bryony Cleall. Both are admirably strong aggressive forwards, but have much less know-how in the dark arts of the front row. Neither has yet proved her scrummaging skills against a wily operator, and a prolonged injury has further handicapped Cleall’s advance.

Two other props have been tried out in the last two years. Ellena Perry lost her contract when she switched back to Gloucester-Hartpury from Saracens, but is young and promising enough to return to favour. Detysha Harper enjoyed a debut cap this year; straight out of the Under 20s. She too has time on her side.
That leaves one leading outsider, Laura Keates who exceeds them all in her playing record. She figured in the 2014 World Cup-winning side, but suffered a lengthy injury break and hasn’t caught the selectors’ eye since her return for Worcester.

All the positive comments here are diluted by that overriding concern about scrum security.

Hooker

This is one more position where other nations can only look on with envy. So outstanding is Amy Cokayne that Vicky Fleetwood, starting hooker in the 2014 World Cup final, now sees her future in the back row. There, her speed and strength can supplement Marlie Packer’s talents.

Recent series have confirmed Lark Davies’ right to be Cokayne’s back-up. After leading Worcester staunchly through a difficult period, she moved to Loughborough. Her confidence has increased since she was entrusted with the starting position for the first two rounds of the 2019 6N.

The line-out throw of all three players has been exceptionally accurate over the years.

The management still turn to Heather Kerr whenever they need back-up. She might yet gain a place in the final choice for the RWC as she did in 2017.

Lock

One of the few positions where the playing numbers are thin – not the playing quality.

When one of England’s centurions, Tamara Taylor (115 caps), retired from international football a sizeable hole appeared in the second row. Abbie Scott was her young lieutenant for four years, eagerly picking up scraps from her deep understanding of the position. Scott has developed into one of the great locks and has captained her side on two occasions.

Next in line was Zoe Aldcroft who was called into the RWC squad in Ireland when Emily Braund had to withdraw. Sadly she too suffered a long-term injury which gave an opening to Catherine O’Donnell, another Northerner. She seized her opportunity with both hands, proving a dynamic partner for Scott in the 2019 Six Nations.

A year later Aldcroft was the outstanding lock of the series. So England has three skilled and hard-working operators in the engine-room. Unfortunately injuries have intervened all too often. Poppy Cleall has become the preferred fall-back option; there she can combine traditional front-five skills with her constructive (and destructive) back row qualities.

The biggest surprise the selectors have produced in quite a while was the naming of Morwenna Talling to join the training squad in January 2020. Only 17, she is seen as the next great hope in the second row, having put in some storming shows for Loughborough in full view of Sarah Hunter, her Lightning team-mate and England skipper. Promising as the youngster undoubtedly is, her addition to the squad doesn’t speak well for all the other contenders.

Back-row

More wealth here than is fair. The major unanswered question is: how long does the skipper intend going on playing? Sarah Hunter now claims 123 caps in a thirteen-year test career. She shows no sign of slowing down and her decisiveness is as sharp as ever. But if the RWC is indeed delayed for a year, that will take her to an age when there must be fears for her ability to retain the supreme fitness she displays.

Her successors to the No 8 shirt line up around the block. The current first choice is Poppy Cleall. Much in favour is the 21-year-old Sarah Beckett, who has spent most of her blossoming career as a Red Rose on the blind-side. Out of sight for the moment is one strong candidate, Alex Matthews. If future scheduling and national policy allow Sevens players to contribute to the RWC, then her name would surely appear. She has the highest credentials, appearing off the bench in the 2014 WRWC final at the age of 21, then again as a starter in 2017. She is a massively constructive and destructive back-row performer. Her lengthy exposure to 7s means she has added extra pace to her many qualities.

Recently returned from a two-year injury is Harriet Millar-Mills, another highly skilled performer who adds experience and endeavour to an English pack.
Every forward named thus far in this section has already worn the No 6 shirt. The open-side is less well stocked. Marlie Packer is the natural first choice, but after her? For that reason Vicky Fleetwood has been transferred from her original role as hooker, and on the side of the scrum she can exhibit her remarkable pace and her terrier-like tackling.

The selectors have plumped for Amelia Harper as their third-choice open-side. She has captained the Under 20s and plays alongside Hunter for Lightning.
A final name: Rownita Marston, the Bristol No 8. She made a single appearance in England colours last autumn, and will have to continue her advance in order to overtake more experienced players.

Summary

This run-through mentions 43 names. Some are much less likely to feature than others, but it shows the challenges facing the selection committee when it comes to the big decisions, starting with the next allocation of contracts.

It’s a sad fact that several of these admirable players will be left behind for the journey to New Zealand. There simply aren’t enough places available.
As things stand in the middle of the Covid-19 hiatus, the Red Roses look unbeatable by any nation bar the Black Ferns. If and when they next come to play their greatest opposition, they must be clear of mind and spirit. They have shown the ability to win tight matches several times recently – too often for the management’s peace of mind. But since their commanding performance against the Ferns away in July 2017 they have lost to them twice.

Above all, they have not yet beaten them in a World Cup final, so whatever a sport psychologist may say to them, that will be a tough obstacle to overcome, not least because the game will take place on New Zealand soil.

They certainly have the player-quality and strength in depth to beat them, but that was the case back in 2017 and they fell at the final hurdle.