The wise coaches say you learn more from your losses than your wins.
That may well be the watchword for the Red Roses as they step closer to a new World Cup campaign.
Many of the younger members of the squad have not yet experienced a loss in an English shirt. But those who have will think back first and foremost to that day in 2017 when they saw a half-time lead dissolve into a decisive loss. And that was the last RWC final in Belfast, no less.
Since then there have been two more reverses: one by a point in the last minute of the 6 Nations drama against France in 2018 (17-18); the other to the Black Ferns in 2019 at the climax of the Super Series in Chula Vista (13-28).
With hindsight we can see that the squad sent out to California was sufficiently weakened by injury for Clara Nielson (then Bristol) and Chloe Edwards (Quins) both to win a cap in the first round against the USA.
Incidentally, France beat the Black Ferns 25-16 to provide the shock upset and the first of four consecutive wins over the world champions!
One surprise is to discover that 14 of the 15 English starters in their defeat are now in New Zealand. Only Emily Scott is missing from roll-call. That is an indication of the advance they have made since, thanks to the programme put in place by the RFU.
The Other Close calls
These have come exclusively from the French. Here’s a straight run-through the winning sequence:
RESULTS MARGIN
France 10 England 20 10
England 17 France 15 2
England 25 France 23 2
France 10 England 33 23
England 10 France 6 4
France 15 England 17 2
France 12 England 24 12
The three 2-pointers alone tell us how knife-edge that record of 25 wins on the trot has been.
The victories include some unforgettable incidents: the lights-out at Lille, just after a Zoe Harrison penalty allowed the Red Roses to creep ahead 15-17. And the game ended only two minutes after the minimum 60 needed for a result to stand.
Then Simon Middleton’s dramatic move to send on his entire bench together at Twickenham to save what looked like certain defeat. Just like Harrison, Emily Scarratt put over a winning penalty in the nick of time.
One concerning point: the England backs have only rarely managed to affect the score to the team’s advantage. Abby Dow scored two of her very best tries to help turn the game in Lille. Jess Breach scored a dazzler to help England reach their top total of 33.
All too often it has been the forwards who have had to bear the responsibility for the win.
Three factors may hold the French back in their Round 2 clash with England:
- The psychological burden of not once reaching an RWC final. 3rd SIX times!
- Their recent run of form, a distance below their best.
- The losses against England looking like a bogey they cannot counter.
But reality suggests that the teams will meet twice; the second time, in a straight knock-out, would be the decisive moment.
And that is just one drama among many others to unfold over the coming weeks.
