During the fortnight’s gap in the Six Nations programme the Red Roses’ analysts will be hard at work supplying the management with the finest of details about the players’ input.
They will help Simon Middleton, Scott Bemand and Louis Deacon come to important decisions about selections for the last two rounds – and the World Cup beyond.
The selectors’ own eyes don’t often deceive them, but with such a wealth of talent at their disposal it must be hard deciding between Player A and Player B, who are both outstanding. But when they learn that Player A arrived first at a breakdown on average 0.1 seconds faster than her rival, or ran 0.3 kilometres further over 80 minutes, there you have the evidence in cold decimal points.
That’s one reason why I’ve coined the term ‘Undroppables’, which my computer was unwilling to allow me. It can be given to very few members of the squad. Even pre-eminent players may have an equal or near-equal who reduces their absolute value to the team.
So who makes my Undroppables?
Sarah Bern
Over the past few seasons England’s front row has been a movable feast (in more senses than one), as the selectors hunted feverishly for props who could hold their own at the set-scrum, while performing like backs in open play.
Sarah Bern stands alone among world props in the open and is only rarely discomfited in the tight.
Her try-scoring ability is remarkable, her defensive output stern.
Abbie Ward
Even Abbie Ward might be excluded from this elite list, but locks, like many other positions, have suffered long absences through injury. England would be perfectly happy to enter the fray with any two of the following: Zoe Aldcroft (2022 Player of the Year), Cath O’Donnell (a long-term absentee), Poppy Cleall (2021 6N Player of the Tournament), Rosie Galligan or Harriet Millar-Mills.
But Ward combines skills rarely found in the second row. Apart from the basic requirements (line-out ball, scrummaging power) she has handling skills and quickness of thought rarely found in a 4 or 5 shirt.
And yes, I have passed over Aldcroft, who is many people’s most admired player at the moment. But this is a very exclusive club.
Poppy Cleall
Poppy Cleall may be the most feared, the most admired player in world rugby at present. Whatever blend of eight players the selectors close for their pack, her name tends to be there when it really matters, at No 4, No 6 or, best of all, No 8. She adds so many skills to her daunting physical presence.
Her understanding of the game is acute, reflected in her choice as captain on two occasions.
Emily Scarratt
At the start of the Black Ferns’ ill-fated tour of Europe Glenn Moore was pleased to call Portia Woodman the greatest player in the world. In reply we ask: has she captained her side? How many goal-kicks has she converted? How many try-scoring passes has she offered? Has she performed in both formats of the game (7s and 15s) with equal distinction? Is her field-kicking high-quality? Is she a natural leader?
I fear the answer is close to no. Emily Scarratt’s CV now ranks alongside the very best the game has known. As she approaches her 100th cap for her nation, she is the bedrock around whom the back-line prospers, calm and efficient, always likely to turn a game in her side’s favour.
And there, astonishingly, my list ends.
The Red Roses are lucky to possess such an abundance of talent at present. It can too easily get overlooked as critics emphasise the unfair advantage they have with their full-time status.
We could consider other names that fully deserve to be included in the Undroppables. Amy Cokayne?
Yes, an astonishing 60 caps by the age of 25, but she has the impressive Lark Davies to share the No 2 shirt with.
The pairings go on: Vickii Cornborough and Hannah Botterman; Alex Matthews and Sarah Beckett, Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland, Lydia Thompson and Jess Breach or Abby Dow, Sarah McKenna or Ellie Kildunne.
The selectors know how lucky they are to choose from strength. But now comes the agonising job of sorting out the great from the very good.
Tailpiece
And now Glenn Moore has been confirmed as the Back Ferns’ head coach (or at least not sacked yet), that should work greatly in England’s favour, come the World Cup. How happy and united will the Black Ferns camp be between now and October?
