England’s Red Roses have won five consecutive Women’s Six Nations titles and are aiming for a fifth Grand Slam in six years, but they have made a fundamental change to their attacking play in 2024.
For what? Well, for all their European dominance, a Rugby World Cup crown beckoned them, and for head coach John Mitchell and attack coach Lou Meadows, much of that was down to predictability of attack and an over-reliance on lineout mauls.
Indeed, it is not since 2014 that the Red Roses have won the World Cup, losing to the New Zealand Black Ferns in the finals of 2017 and 2021 – the latter being a particularly painful defeat at the Eden Auckland Park by 14-0, England having been the better. the world’s dominant team ahead of the showpiece final.
Simply put, England’s mauls and lineout scrums are and have been far superior to those of the vast majority of opponents they face. As such, a quality loaded pack has been able to grind and destroy teams without the need for complex attacking play, or sometimes even thought of, in test matches.
When Mitchell replaced Simon Middleton this season, it was clear that their attack was a key area.
Talk to Aerial sports, Mitchell said, “We definitely have power and depth. We’re probably a little one-dimensional, and sometimes success can create a focus on results, and I think that doesn’t necessarily improve your performance.”
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Mitchell discussed his role with the Red Roses as the team aim for their sixth consecutive Six Nations title
Enter Meadows, a former teacher and most recently England Women’s U20 head coach before joining the senior squad in May.
Having represented Wasps and Saracens during her playing career, Meadows became the first female head coach of an England men’s aspiration team when she coached the England Counties U20s.
Just as Andy Farrell’s Ireland became a model for other teams in the men’s game to follow with their marvelous attacking patterns combining front and back, Meadows sought to implement something similar.
Indeed, the Red Roses have gone from a team almost totally obsessed with kicking corners for rolling maul opportunities, to a more balanced and strengthened attacking team with more strings to their bow.
Attack coach Meadows led a move away from short-range runs and a fixation on lineout mauls in favor of a passing game.
The statistics say so. So far, no team in the 2024 Women’s Six Nations has completed as many passes between five and ten meters as England. The Red Roses also completed more than double the number of passes from over 10 yards than every sidebar of France – with whom another exciting Grand Slam decider is staring firmly down the cards.
England still have a remarkably strong scrum. And they still have the best lineout and maul in women’s football. On top of that, they now have a functional offense that buzzes.
Fullback Ellie Kildunne plays some sensational rugby, ably supported by creative flyhalf Holly Aitchison – for whom passing is a central strength.
Ellie Kildunne played some magnificent rugby from the back for the Red Roses in 2024
Wings Jess Breach and Abby Dow remain strong finishers, while forwards such as guards Alex Matthews and Sadia Kabeya have been visibly involved in offensive plays in wide open spaces.
Despite receiving red cards in two matches (Poppy Cleall against Italy after 11 minutes, Amy Cokayne against Scotland after 55 minutes), England’s scores were emphatic: 48-0 against Italy, 46 -10 against Wales, 46-0 against Scotland. Their attack, combined with their power, tore teams apart.
The Red Roses will then host Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday on matchday four – the second standalone test of women’s rugby at this venue in history following last March’s clash with France. Nearly 45,000 tickets have already been sold.
Forwards such as flanker Sadia Kabeya were used as part of pass-filled attacks.
Holly Aitchison plays well in a facilitating role from fly-half
“The girls are extremely good at passing anyway, it was just about unleashing them in the right moments of the game,” Meadows said. The telegraph.
“If we continue to catch and carry, we become really predictable and easy to defend. Getting on board and clearing the outside channels or connecting with the attackers on a point line or offload – that continuity of attack is really difficult to defend.”
Talk to Aerial sports at Twickenham in February, Mitchell admitted he took on the role as head coach of the Red Roses to win a Rugby World Cup.
England and skipper Marlie Packer are seeking a sixth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title.
The 60-year-old New Zealander worked as defense coach of the England men’s team under Eddie Jones between 2018 and 2021, and as forwards coach under Clive Woodward between 1997 and 2000.
He was also head coach of the All Blacks between 2001 and 2003, and most recently worked as Japan’s defense coach between 2022 and 2023, before taking over as manager of the England women’s team.
“It’s really fun. It’s refreshing, it wakes you up every day. Being in the game for a while, you also have to try to find ways to learn and grow,” Mitchell said.
“Being a senior assistant coach for a while was really beneficial, but I always felt like I owed it to myself to have the chance to lead a program again, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is an opportunity exceptional.’
Mitchell will lead the Red Roses through to the 2024 Six Nations, finishing in France, and then into 2025 where England will host the Women’s World Cup.
“They’re a team that has a winning mentality, but it’s been 10 years since they won a World Cup. I really like this challenge and I’m going to give it a try.”
A powerful and unrivaled forward game combined with an advanced offensive shape and game plan? The Red Roses under Mitchell and Meadows seek rugby perfection.
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