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England teammates praise 'best loosehead in the world' Botterman
By Martyn Thomas at Ashton Gate, Bristol
For 40 minutes at Ashton Gate, France made England work as hard as they have needed to on their record 32-match winning run.
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Les Bleues dominated territory and possession in their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 semi-final while the Red Roses failed to click into gear, despite being given the perfect start by Ellie Kildunne and her sparkling new boots.
England struggled to find their attacking groove well into the second half in Bristol, yet there were two crucial areas where they held the upper hand from minute one: the breakdown and the scrum.
Central to their success in both facets was Hannah Botterman. The loosehead prop, returning to the side following a back injury that kept her out of the quarter-final, was imperious.
As England came under pressure in the first half, Botterman and Meg Jones appeared to be locked in a personal battle to see who could snaffle the most turnovers.
Botterman celebrated her third by raising three fingers to the crowd. Jones mimicked the gesture in the second half as she claimed a third of her own.
“I was giving her a bit of stick. I said it’s 3-2 at the moment and then she got subbed off and I got another one and then I looked over to the bench I said, it’s three-all now,” Jones told reporters after the 35-17 victory.
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“We’ll keep that tally going, I reckon,” was Botterman’s defiant response.
Following England’s opening 69-7 victory against the USA in Sunderland last month, Botterman stated her aim to be recognised as the world’s best loosehead.
Chatting to her coach and teammates on Saturday night, it’s clear that many feel that is a title she already holds.
“Botts is outstanding,” Jones said. “The energy she brings, I think she’s phenomenal. I bet you see that watching her because she’s always on the ball.
“She always [has] the speed and acceleration, the scrummaging is amazing set-piece wise. So yeah, she’s definitely up there.”
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Asked if Botterman had taken her game to a new level in the last year, Jones added: “100 per cent.
“She had a big focus on her performance and how she could do repeated efforts. So, she was looking at her body and how she could perform best in that way and get stronger, get faster and get fitter and she’s done that massively.”
For flanker Sadia Kabeya, there is little debate around Botterman’s place in the prop pantheon. “I think she’s been the best loosehead in the world for a while now,” she said.
“She’s too humble – which you might not put those two words with Botts but when it comes to that, she definitely is.
“And she’s great at scrummaging, at tackling, she’s a quadruple threat around the park, so I think definitely living up to that.”
For head coach John Mitchell, Botterman’s scrummaging was the most pleasing aspect of her performance in Bristol.
“As much as those jackals are pretty important timing-wise, I thought she scrummed very well,” Mitchell said. “I thought that she dealt with a French scrum that probably lacks consistent shape but is very powerful.
“So, I think she was technically very, very good today. She created a lot of the margins that we gained at scrum time through her shape.”
The woman herself feels the best she ever has done out on the pitch, but insists it is not up to her to make judgements about where she ranks.
“I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’m there,” Botterman conceded. “I’m just going to keep trying to put my best performances out there and the performances hopefully will look after themselves.
“It’s not down to me to decide whether that is the case. Everyone has opinions, everyone’s going to think different things but ultimately, I just want to put my best performances out there.
“Obviously, if Mitch is complimentary that’s always helpful, but it’s been a good tournament, and we’ve got a big week coming up.”
England certainly do face a defining week. If the Red Roses are to finish it as world champions then you feel Botterman will be at the centre of the action.
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