Marlie Packer and Red Roses want Test rugby bar to ‘keep raising’

Marlie Packer is not interested in easy wins. The most-capped member of John Mitchell’s current Red Roses squad wants the side to be pushed, tested and forced to find another gear – and that is exactly what she believes is happening as the women’s game continues to grow.

After England’s 39-match winning run was halted by Canada in an emphatic 26-26 draw at Sandy Park in the WXV Global Series, the 36-year-old flanker insists there was plenty to take from the contest.

“We’re not happy with the draw, but we didn’t lose a match, and it was a really great game of rugby.

“If you’re a neutral watching that game, that’s the kind of rugby that you want to come and watch. You don’t know who’s going to win, there was end-to-end scoring and it was such a physical game.

“We’re in a test series against Canada. That’s our first game and now we’ve got two away legs, so when we come to play them in Canada in a few weeks’ time, we know what we’ve got to put right and what our mindset has got to be,’ she explained.

However, for now, Canada can wait.

The focus has switched to New Zealand, the Haka and a brand-new Allianz Stadium pitch – and Packer can barely wait to get going.

“The mood has been really good in camp. It’s focused and ready to go again.

“We can’t wait to get back to the Allianz Stadium. It’s the home of English rugby.

“The pitch is insane. It’s brand-new. No one’s played on it before and the Red Roses get the first run out on that. That’s pretty special in itself.

“Then we get to face New Zealand and the Haka and there are some players in our squad that have never faced the Haka, so little things like that are exciting.

“How many people do you know that get to face the Haka? We’re all looking forward to it in our own different ways, but collectively as a group, we want to go and put a performance and showcase what we’re about as the Red Roses,” added the experienced England international.

“From the first minute to the 80th minute, we want to do everything we can to get the result we want and enjoy the occasion.”

Packer has seen first-hand how much the women’s game has changed, and she wants that evolution to continue.

The Red Roses have set a high standard. Now, she wants everyone else chasing it.

“We want the bar to keep raising,” she said.

“The Red Roses are always pushing that bar higher and then it’s for the other teams that are under to raise their game. That’s exactly what’s happening and that’s what we want.

“The more the game goes professional and the more the unions put money into their women’s sides, we’re going to see better contests of rugby.

“We don’t want to turn up and have to have targets within games because we know we’re going to win. We want to be in a rugby contest. We want to constantly be better in ourselves.”

With Australia hosting the next Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029, Packer knows the global competition will continue to sharpen.

“Australia have got a World Cup in their own backyard, so they do want to improve and to be better.

“For us, it’s just making sure that we don’t worry too much about what other teams are doing, and we stay doing what we’re doing and that’s raising the bar and keep pushing for better for us as rugby players and female athletes as well.”

There has also been a new face in the Red Roses camp this week and it’s not exactly a low-profile one either.

Former France defence coach Shaun Edwards has linked up with John Mitchell’s England set-up on a short-term deal for the WXV Global Series.

The 59-year-old left his role with Fabien Galthie’s team over the summer after almost six years, during which France won the 2022 Men’s Six Nations Grand Slam and back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026.

“A couple of days ago, he came into camp, and we got told. I found out in a leaders’ meeting earlier on in the week,” said Packer about the arrival of Edwards, who will bring over four decades of professional rugby experience to the Red Roses.

“He’s come in, he’s straight talking, he knows his stuff and his CV is amazing. He’s got more Six Nations than quite a few of the girls to be fair to him,” she added with a laugh.

There has been plenty of excitement amongst the Red Roses squad too.

“Meg Jones was obviously buzzing! Quite a few of the girls were like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s our dad’s idol,’

“It’s not just cool for us as players; it is for the staff as well. To have someone of his calibre linking up with you and chucking ideas around training, it’s amazing for the whole programme.

“He told us a little story about why he wanted to be here and it’s really special. He was saying about his mum not ever having the opportunity to play and that she thought we were amazing, which was really cool to hear.

“Defensively he’s made us look at a couple of bits a bit differently and been adding some extras.

“I say it like tools to your toolbox, so you might not use them, but you’ve got a tool that if you do need it, you can take out your toolbox and use it,” she added.

“I guess, as a plumber, that’s how I look at things!”

For all the talk around Edwards’ arrival, Canada and the draw, Packer is adamant that none of it is distracting the Red Roses.

There is the Test series against Canada still to finish but first comes facing the Black Ferns at the Allianz Stadium.

“All the noise of new coaches in and a draw at the weekend, that’s not where we’re at,” Packer concluded.

“As a squad, we’re just concentrating on Saturday at Allianz Stadium against New Zealand.

“We’ve got a game to prepare for and turn up and play at the weekend and that’s what we’re going to do.”