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Now the anthems. A smattering of blue in the stands. There’ll be enough cheer if France start scoring.
Interesting to note the mismatch in terms of experience in that 10-12 channel. Almost everywhere else on the park, England have players with more games under their belt.
But between them, Holly Aitchison and Tatyana Heard have a mere 32 caps. Compare that with Jessy Tremouliere and Gabrielle Vernier who have over 100. Could be an intersting battle ground in midfield.
Now Middleton speaks:
I don’t think we could have trained any better this week. We’re good to go.
We’ve played them the past three four years and we’ve had some tight wins. We’ve just got to make sure we create opportunities.
[He laughs when asked about the driving maul] It’s part of our armoury. We’ve got to make sure we get in good positions and on the front foot. We’ve got the strategy group who know exactly what they want to do.
Now a stirring tribute to Simon Middleton, or “Midds” as the players call him, being shown on the Beeb.
Eights years at the helm. It’s hard to imagine how the RFU replace him.
The Beeb is currently showing some highlights from France’s campaign. “A team in transition,” says Sonia McLuaghlin.
It’ll be the final match for Jessy Tremouliere, a sparkling talent at 10 and the last of a golden generation.
Today’s winning captain will lift a brand new trophy. Thoughts on this one? I like it. Sleek. Classy. I’m a fan.
Less than 30 mins to go. Just confirmed by the BBC. 56,000 fans in Twickenham today. That’s a record for any women’s rugby match.
“It means the world to me,” says Maggie Alphonsi. “I never thought I see it happen.”
It’s hard not to oversell this. It really is just a wonderful occasion. Here’s the players’ view as they made their way to the stadium. What a feeling! Can you just imagine what’s going through heads?
“I think my heart is going to be absolutely pumping. It is the adrenaline it will bring and obviously most of the crowd will be behind England so I think that is something we really have to take confidence in and put on a good performance because that is what they are coming to see. We want to make it a good event so it can happen again and again in the future.”
So says England’s coach, Simon Middleton, who will leave his post after today’s game.
You can read more from a man who has always carried himself with integrity and grace in Sarah Rendell’s preview:
This was more than an hour before kick-off.
Le petit général revient!
There’s something about French scrumhalves. Everything revolves around the puppet master with 9 on their back and it’s great to see Pauline Bourdon return to the starting XV. Keeping her quiet will be key for England this afternoon.
France: Boulard; Banet, M Menager, Vernier, Llorens; Tremouliere, Bourdon; Brosseau, Sochat, Bernadou, Feleu, Forlani (c), Berthomieu, Hermet, Escudero.
Replacements: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, Khalfaoui, R Menager, Gros, Chambon, Arbez, Filopon.
England name formidable team
Marlie Packer leads a squad that has no weak point. Prop Hanna Botterman has overcame an injury scare and will bolster the scrum while Helean Rowland shifts to outside centre, a position that should suit her game just fine.
There’s pace to burn out wide and great zeal in the back row. Keep an eye on the rising star that is Sadia Kabeya. Poppy Cleall should cause damage off the bench as well.
England: Kildunne; Dow, MacDonald, Rowland, Heard; Aitchison, L Packer; Botterman, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Beckett, Kabeya, M Packer (c), Matthews.
Replacements: Powell, Carson, Muir, Cleal, Talling, Hunt, Reed, Breach.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
In a parallel universe we wouldn’t be celebrating the size of the crowd. Over on another timeline it’s taken as a given that one of England’s most successful teams and a standard-bearer in their sport would play a title decider in front of 53,000 fans at the Home of RugbyTM.
But in this world, where female athletes have for so long fought for recognition and an equal footing, where they’ve had to battle discriminatory laws, sexist attitudes, suboptimal training facilities, insulting salary packages and lukewarm government support, the fact that these Red Roses take on France for the Six Nations crown in front of a record crowd for a women’s rugby match is something to celebrate.
Sing it from the roof tops! Tell your friends and family! Join the revolution! This is a landmark moment in a sport that has had a few over the past 18 months or so.
But when that opening whistle sounds, the focus will instantly shift from 56,000 to 15. This is an England team still hurting from the heartache of the World Cup final defeat against New Zealand and they’ll want to underline their supremacy on this side of the equator. A fourth grand slam win in five years will do just that.
France won’t be pushovers. Apart from one rusty performance in the opening round agains Italy, they’ve been imperious, swatting aside Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They’ve got their sights set on a grand slam win themselves.
This is a game that could echo through time and space but that also depends on the quality on the pitch. Thankfully these are two supremely gifted outfits and I’ve got little doubt that they’ll rise to the occassion.
In case it wasn’t clear, I’m absolutely buzzing for this.
If you are too, and you’d like to get in touch, please drop me a line either on Twitter or my email. It should be an absolute belter!
Kick-off at 1pm BST.
English (US)