Red Roses gear-up for Grand Slam decider

The much-changed Red Roses squad tackling this Women's Six Nations face their biggest test yet on Sunday as they take on France in Bordeaux in the Grand Slam decider.

​A combination of injuries and pregnancies has forced change upon head coach John Mitchell but, so far at least, the World Champions have risen to the task.

​However, France also have four wins from four and England will have to deal with the passionate atmosphere that Les Bleues fans will inevitably bring to the Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole.

​Claudia Moloney-MacDonald is not worried about the extra pressure, though, and insists the Red Roses will be ready for anything the French might throw at them.

​She said: “I think actually, in a really positive way, it shows that they're watching the game, that they're paying attention.

“They're interested in what's going on and there's also an element of respect in that way as well, that we're entertaining them and they're paying attention.​

“I guess there will be an element of the unknown to it for some of the girls in the squad. But to be honest, they've absolutely attacked every opportunity they've had coming into the team and into this environment, and they've just got so much confidence.​

“Yes, this one's going to be hostile, but a lot of the girls still were involved at Murrayfield this year, or Allianz Stadium this year, where we've had some really big crowds. ​

“But to be honest, the way that every girl that's come in and is fresh into the group, the way they've attacked their opportunity, I don't think any of us have any reservations.”

If England complete the Grand Slam, they will be the first team to win the Six Nations after winning the World Cup. ​

While already a significant achievement, it would be even more impressive given the significant squad upheaval, shifting players into unusual positions.

No one has had to adapt faster than Abi Burton, who, in the space of a few weeks, shifted from a No.8 with no involvement in the lineout to a second row and lineout caller.

The Trailfinders back row has taken to the new role like a duck to water, and while she starts on the flank this weekend, her  versatility can only be a good thing.

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Burton said: “When it was posed to me, they said, ‘oh Burty, would you feel comfortable going in the row?’ I was like, well, yeah, of course, I'll do anything for this team and anything for my country.

“The opportunity that it's posed to me is that I can now cover so many different positions on the pitch and also do it to a really good standard.

“I feel like I'm in a position now where I feel really comfortable in the line-out, comfortable out of the line-out and know what I can bring to this team regardless of what number's on the back of my shirt.

“I've gone from not really jumping at all to now I'm one of our jumpers, but then also a calling option as well. So the fact that I'm now able to do that, I think it's just adding another string to my bow, which hopefully puts me in good stead moving forward beyond this campaign.”

There are signs from elsewhere in the Six Nations that other sides are beginning to catch up on the top two. Wales earned a try bonus point against the Red Roses while Italy racked up five tries against England last time out.

Moloney-Macdonald said: “I think that other teams have been improving for a couple of years now. Throughout the World Cup as well, we could have easily had some slightly different names in that top four.

“As they improve, we start to build identity in that tournament, get people on board, get people used to seeing the women's game played at the highest levels, amongst the highest competitors and seeing a product that they absolutely love and that's competitive.

“That's going to keep driving everything forward. It drives the fan base. It drives the quality. It drives the investment. I don't think this is the start, but we're certainly partway through a journey to having a really competitive sport.

“Wales is probably the standout one for me. They obviously had a pretty disappointing World Cup, and you could arguably say that about this Six Nations as well.

“They have had a few disappointing results as standalone numbers, but when you look at how they're actually playing, how they're challenging teams, how they're competing.

“We're seeing now a more competitive Wales than we probably knew a couple of years ago. It feels like they're really turning the corner and on the up.”