'The group is so resilient': Red Roses overcome outside noise to keep Six Nations crown

Relief was plastered over the face of England players at full-time. They had secured their eighth Guinness Women’s Six Nations title in a row. A fifth Grand Slam.

All tournament the Red Roses have been dogged with questions about their squad depth. A leaky defence that gave up more points than ever before at a Championship. It was hardly a tournament to set the world alight.

But their eighth choice second row partnership, new-look attack and new teenage stars found a way. In Bordeaux that way came in the form of braces for Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach, while Sarah Bern also got on the score sheet.

“It’s been a mad couple of weeks,” Meg Jones told BBC Sport at full-time. “We’ve adapted so well as a team. We’ve faced so much adversity. The group is so resilient.

“We asked for a good defensive set because everyone was doubting it. We fronted up and showed what England is about. I’m super proud of the girls – a special, special group.

“The calibre of players we have we shouldn’t have been doubted – we didn’t. Maybe we let outside noise creep in. We wanted to raise the floor and we did that in abundance.”

Even the Red Roses’ head coach, John Mitchell, who is usually so thoughtful about the words he says, seemed almost lost for them. With tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

“That was a great performance, that was tough and it took a lot at the start,” John Mitchell said. “I think we have evolved our game. When we created connection at the back, we are unstoppable and that try at half-time was a world-class try.

“It was great to win a World Cup at home but what we have navigated through this tournament and the youth that is coming through, we then have our mates at home and becoming mums and going through rehab, these girls are so brave, unbelievably driven and hold their values right until the end.

“I have to take my hat off to the staff and the coaching staff, I want to be grateful to the people who do all of the work behind the team, to navigate through so much change but that has made us such a better coaching unit.”

At full-time France’s captain, Manae Feleu, looked disappointed. Her team had given everything, scored first and really pushed the Red Roses in the finale to the 2026 Championship.

There was no avenging of a Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat. Instead it was another loss to England and another long wait to end a losing streak to the world’s top-ranked side.

“I am really proud of the girls and I am really proud of the group, we still have a lot to work on,” Manae Feleu, France captain, said. “I want to congratulate England, they are world champions and there is a reason for that.”