By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-06 19:10:32 | Updated at 2024-10-06 21:30:41
2 hours ago
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of England v New Zealand.
After winning their opening WXV1 match against the USA, the Red Roses will be looking to make it two from two in the tournament they won last year.
John Mitchell’s side are on an 18-match winning streak and face a stuttering Black Ferns outfit that were stunned by sixth-ranked Ireland in the competition last week.
As the reigning world champions, New Zealand will be desperate to pick themselves up after that shock result and avoid a third consecutive defeat against the Red Roses, who have already beaten them twice in the past year.
That included a 24-12 win at Twickenham last month, prompting England captain Marlie Packer to claim that the Black Ferns, who won the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand, are not as invincible as once feared.
“I have played New Zealand quite a few times in my career and they seem to have an aura about that they don’t lose, when they drop the ball it goes backwards, everything seems to be on their side on a matchday,” Packer said.
“The more regular we get to play them, it is not that they win, we win. We can get a good feel of how to beat them or how we want to play against them, as we are not seen their rugby from a few years ago.”
It is a view echoed by scrumhalf Natasha Hunt, who returns to the starting nine shirt alongside fly-half Holly Aitchison in a much changed team that is arguably England’s strongest on paper. “New Zealand have always been very good at throwing the ball around but I think there’s a little bit of a danger about a New Zealand team that’s a little bit wounded,” said Hunt
“There is that ‘no fear’ element to it and they’ve probably just been given license to play.”
The chance to front up to the Black Ferns - the most successful team in the women’s game - will be another valuable opportunity for England, who are yet to beat them in a World Cup final. If they can come through this test and defend their WXV crown, Mitchell’s side will be the overwhelming favourites when England host women’s rugby’s showpiece next year.
