England’s Red Roses sent a thunderous message to the rugby world with a commanding 40-6 victory over France in Mont-de-Marsan, sealing their preparations for the much-anticipated 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup on home soil. The win, England’s 27th in a row, not only stretched their remarkable unbeaten run but also marked their largest margin of victory over France in the past 30 encounters—a feat that has tongues wagging ahead of the global tournament’s kickoff in just under two weeks.
It’s been 1,001 days since England’s women last tasted defeat, a heartbreaking loss to New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final. Since then, they have been nothing short of dominant, dispatching opponents with a blend of raw forward power and tactical precision. Friday night’s encounter in the south of France was billed as a stern test—the final dress rehearsal before England’s campaign begins against the United States at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on August 22. If this was meant to be a reality check, the Red Roses passed with flying colors.
France, ranked fourth in the world and widely considered a potential semi-final opponent for England, were missing key scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus due to suspension. Nevertheless, Les Bleues were expected to push the Red Roses, especially after their epic 43-42 Six Nations clash in April. Instead, England’s physicality and relentless set-piece dominance proved insurmountable. "What a psychological blow to Les Bleues that could be," BBC commentator Nick Heath remarked during the broadcast. "You got the sense that was a demoralising defeat for the home side. John Mitchell's side have truly dispatched this France team."
The tone was set early. Just four minutes in, Morwenna Talling crashed over from a rolling maul after second-row partner Abbie Ward secured clean line-out ball. Hooker Amy Cockayne followed suit in the 15th minute, finishing off another powerful drive. Fly-half Zoe Harrison, who retained her starting role amid 11 changes from the side that thrashed Spain 97-7, slotted the conversion. Harrison’s performance was a highlight, her pinpoint and lengthy kicks consistently pinning France deep and providing the platform for England’s forwards to shine.
France, under mounting pressure, conceded a flurry of penalties, culminating in a yellow card for lock Manae Feleu. Morgane Bourgeois briefly steadied the ship for the hosts with a penalty, but England’s prop Maud Muir soon powered over for a third try, again converted by Harrison. By halftime, England led 19-3, their forward might on full display and their defensive discipline holding firm.
“It wasn’t all perfect, but you always felt England were in total control,” said Rachael Burford, a member of England’s 2014 World Cup-winning side, speaking to the BBC. “England had to be patient, they used their kicking game at times. But coming out on top against a good French side—they were really physically challenged today—it puts them in a good position for the start of their World Cup campaign.”
The second half saw France attempt to claw their way back, with Bourgeois adding another penalty after Teani Feleu’s dynamic break. But England’s pack simply would not be denied. Scrum-half Natasha Hunt’s quick thinking at a penalty set the stage for centre Megan Jones to score the only try by a back in the match, again converted by Harrison. It was a moment that highlighted England’s ability to strike from multiple platforms, even if their backs didn’t see as much scoring action as their forwards.
As the clock ticked down, England’s bench made its presence felt. Replacement hooker Lark Atkin-Davies crossed twice in the dying minutes, both times after catch-and-drive moves that typified the Red Roses’ approach. Harrison, cool as ever, converted both, bringing her personal haul to 10 points for the night.
England’s six tries came from a variety of sources—Talling, Cockayne, Muir, Jones, and Atkin-Davies (twice)—demonstrating the squad’s depth and the effectiveness of their rolling maul. Notably, world player of the year Ellie Kildunne returned to the back line after missing the Spain game, showing flashes of the form that has made her one of rugby’s brightest stars, even if she didn’t add to her tally of 14 tries in her last 10 Tests.
Yet, not everything is settled for head coach John Mitchell. With injuries and suspensions still a concern, the final squad for the World Cup opener is far from set in stone. Wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and versatile playmaker Holly Aitchison are both nursing knocks, while veteran centre Emily Scarratt is recovering from a head injury sustained before what would be her fifth World Cup. Open-side Sadia Kabeya impressed with dynamic play throughout, but whether Red Roses legend Marlie Packer, suspended after a red card against Spain, returns to the back row remains to be seen.
England’s strategy was clear: dominate up front, kick for territory, and trust the forwards to do the heavy lifting. Only one try came from the backs, but with the likes of Kildunne, Jones, and potentially Aitchison and Scarratt to call upon, there’s every expectation that England will add more variety to their attack as the tournament progresses. “During the last World Cup England were on a long winning run and reliant on tries scored via power, they will need to find other routes in August and September,” observed one analyst, referencing the painful memories of falling short in the 2022 final.
For France, the absence of Bourdon Sansus was keenly felt, and while half-backs Carla Arbez and Alexandra Chambon tried to spark the attack with some dangerous breaks, England’s defense held firm. The French will look to regroup, knowing that another meeting with England could well be on the cards should both sides progress deep into the tournament.
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, England’s fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. The Red Roses have not lost in nearly three years, and with the final scheduled for September 27 at Twickenham, hopes are high that the team will be there, aiming to extend their streak to a staggering 1,050 days. For now, though, the focus remains on healing up, finalizing selections, and keeping the momentum rolling.
With their final warm-up complete and a statement win under their belts, England’s Red Roses look every bit the team to beat as the world’s best prepare to descend on their home turf. The stage is set, the stakes are high, and the countdown is well and truly on.
