Bern on England debutant Lutui: 'She's very shy, but she's a great character'

Sarah Bern has long been a blockbuster name for England. The prop who runs into people like a centre and has the pace to match. Her ball carrying skills and ability to find space with unanticipated speed has taken many a defender by surprise.

However, the tighthead has not secured the starting number three shirt in England’s pack since facing Samoa in the pool stages of the 2025 Rugby World Cup. Throughout the Red Roses’ World Cup winning campaign Maud Muir was favoured by head coach John Mitchell with Bern on the bench.

However, Saturday’s record breaking Women’s Six Nations match against Ireland was an exception and the super charged forward did not miss the opportunity, being named in RugbyPass’ round one team of the round.

Bern scored twice in the first half, first powering her way over from a ruck right next to the upright inside the first 20 minutes and then ten minutes later through a Claudia Moloney-MacDonald offload in the left corner.

Despite the 33-12 final score, it wasn’t the slick performance from England many have come to expect but Bern was realistic when expressing her thoughts post-match about the position England are in.

“We’ve had a lot of different changes and combinations going on,” admitted the 28-year-old. “We’ve had a fair few pregnancies, which are amazing to see. And we’ve had new people step up into leadership roles. So it’s a very new team for us and a very new cycle. So, it’s always going to be a little bit clunky- we were never looking for perfection.

“We were looking for an outcome which we got, and the little bits that we need to fix up we will definitely be fixing up this week. Set piece was good for us at times. And definitely on the edges, there’s always a threat for us when we get the ball out there in space. You know, those girls can really eat up a lot of metres and we managed to do really well in defensive sets for a long period of time. A lot to build on but I think it’s a great start for us.”

In terms of their opposition, Ireland are a team growing in experience, despite not managing to click too well in front of over 77,000 fans at Allianz Stadium.

“Ireland are a very good side and have put out some outstanding performances. They’re a team who are always going to put a front up and I think they’ve got a lot to build on leading into the next World Cup cycle.

“Hopefully they’ll all grow and we’ll just see this tournament really thrive. However, I’m (already) looking forward to this tournament, especially because there’s so many new people, new faces, that always happens after the World Cup with retirements and injuries. So is it going to be exciting to see new talent and see what team thrives in that.”

Speaking of new faces, Lilli Ives Campion had a fantastic match in the England second row, at the age of only 22, she was in charge of the lineout and barely put a foot wrong.

“Lilli has definitely been growing in the background, maybe not someone who you’ve seen in an England shirt and that starting role, but she is definitely ready for it,” complimented Bern.

“She’s learnt off the likes of Zoe (Stratford), who is a fantastic leader. This tournament will be so great for her to see her grow into those roles and make those decision-making plans and be put into those situations.”

As England go marching on into round two with a bonus point win, one thing that will be a worry is England’s depth at lock with Morwenna Talling coming off with a long-term injury and three of England’s more experienced locks on maternity leave.

Haineala Lutui replaced Talling in the second half for her England debut, with Bern once again brimming with pride and praise for her 19-year-old team mate.

“Hali has been amazing. She’s such a great personality. She’s very shy, so I doubt any in the media will see it, but she’s a great, great character.

“She’s been fantastic in the PWR. I think she’s got the most dominant carries. So it’ll be great to see her step up into an English shirt and see if she can do the same here.

“We did have a joke after. I said, ‘Hali, did you enjoy it?’ She goes, ‘it’s just really fast’ and I said, ‘yes, don’t worry. Everyone feels like that!’

“It is a big jump up, but, that’s what she’s put her hand up for and I can’t wait to see her thrive.

“With 80 caps for me in the bank, it’s all about building players up. Definitely playing at Bristol and captaining the side this season, it’s been about growing players and making them feel brave and empowered to be the player that they want to be, not trying to copy anyone else or make themselves smaller to fit into a certain way.

“It’s always about trying to reassure players and make them feel confident. For me getting that self-belief and mindset in the right spot, being ruthless, never taking that foot off the pedal and stepping up from PWR to England.”