Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Young England stars told they must ‘nail basics’ to overcome France

Action from the Six Nations Women's Summer Series between Wales and England at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma, Italy, Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 (Photo by Ben Brady / Inpho)

England U20 Women No.8 Steph Else has urged her teammates to concentrate on their “discipline and just nailing our basics” as they attempt to secure a rare age-grade victory against France in Parma on Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Else, the Premiership Women’s Rugby Young Player of the Season, was part of the team that lost 74-0 to Les Bleuettes in Rouen in April.

That is the biggest defeat ever suffered by an England women’s team and the Gloucester-Hartpury star admitted this week that it had left the squad in “quite a lot of pain”.

Video Spacer

Abbie Ward: Bump in the Road | trailer

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 1:02
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 1:02
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Abbie Ward: Bump in the Road | trailer

    Bump in the Road explores the challenges faced by professional female athletes and all working mothers, featuring England lock, Abbie Ward. Watch the full documentary on RugbyPass TV

    Watch now

    However, Else, who captained England to their 55-24 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series victory against Wales on Tuesday, believes the side has improved since then.

    And she is confident they have what it takes to secure a second victory in this fixture’s history, in northern Italy.

    “I think we’re starting to kick on a bit,” she told RugbyPass. “The first game (of the Summer Series against Ireland), I don’t think we hit third gear.

    “And I think now we’re starting to hit those top gears, and I think it’s really showing in our game play and the results that we’re getting as well.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Pressed on what England need to do to beat France, Else added: “It’s [about] nailing our basics, I think.

    “Sometimes we almost let ourselves down with our discipline. I think at the start of the game, that’s how Wales got in to start with.

    “But then when we sorted that out, cleared up and maybe kept our hands out of the ruck or stuff like that, we then started to kick on and the score kept reflecting how we wanted to play.

    “But yeah, I think it’s just discipline and just nailing our basics.”

    Related

    Else was happy with the team’s performance against Wales and believes there has been more attacking synergy between the forwards and backs during their two matches in Italy.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “We definitely weren’t hitting the standards that we wanted to in the game against the Army (a 99-5 victory) or the first couple of games of the season,” Else said. “Now it’s really showing what we can do as a team and how well we can gel together.

    “I think [against Wales] we showed a lot of link play between backs and forwards, and I think that’s been our main struggle throughout the season, is gelling between those backs and forwards.”

    More broadly, Else puts the reason England lag behind France at age-grade level down to the amount of time the players spend training together.

    Many of the players in LJ Lewis’ England squad are already regular first-team members with PWR clubs, and also feature in British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) Super Rugby alongside their studies and international commitments.

    Else, for example, played 19 league and cup matches for Gloucester-Hartpury during the 2023-24 season on top of appearing in BUCS Super Rugby with Hartpury.

    “They have a lot more time together than we do,” she said. “I think with the time that we have, we’re a very good team.

    “But they get the chance to be together a lot more throughout the year. Whereas we’re with our PWR clubs, we’re with BUCS, and obviously we just don’t have the facilities to be together as much as we need to.

    “But I think we’re doing great with the time we’ve had together.”

    Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 tickets

    The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 is coming to England. Click here to buy tickets.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

    Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

    New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

    Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

    The Rise of Kenya | The Report

    New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

    The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    J
    JW 1 hour ago
    Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

    I wouldn’t think the risk is cash flow, as they have large cash reserves they said all through covid.


    I suspect the author has it completely wrong as it pertains to the pool as well, because I can’t see the contracts of players changing year to year like revenue does.


    I’d imagine there is an agreed principle to a ‘forecast’ figure of revenue for a cyclical period, and this is what 37% or whatever of is used for player salaries. So it would not change whatever that figure is until the next cycle. Cash flow, as you said, would be the main factor, but as they aren’t paid all it once, they’d not be hindered in this manor I don’t believe. Of all the references I’ve seen of a the player pool agreement, not once have I seen any detail on how the amount is determined.


    But yes, that would be a very reasoned look at the consequences, especially compared those I’ve seen in articles on this site. Even with turnonver north of $350 million a year, 20 is still a sizeable chunk. Like this RA’s broadcast deal, they might have smaller sponsorship for a short period to align with everything else, then look to develop the deal further heading into the Lions tour cycle? Perhaps trying to take a deal from low to high like that is unlikely to a long term investor, and NZR want to get a good shortterm deal now so they can capitalize on growth for the Lions (i’m assuming that series has consequences on more than just broadcast deals right).

    16 Go to comments
    J
    Janie Eish 2 hours ago
    Maro Itoje hits back at England critics over repeated claim

    MY  HERPES STORY AND HOW I WAS CUREDFor years, I struggled with the emotional and physical burden of the herpes virus, believing I would have to live with it forever. I tried countless treatments, medications, and therapies, but nothing seemed to bring lasting relief. It felt like a battle with no end in sight until I discovered a natural remedy that changed everything (herbs). Skeptical at first, I decided to give it a try, and to my surprise, I started noticing improvements in my overall well-being within two days of taking the medication. With consistency as prescribed by the herbal doctor, I felt healthier, more energized, and free from the symptoms that had once controlled my life. After completing the treatment, (14days) I visited my doctor for confirmation, and I was overjoyed with the results. I tested negative. I was cured from my HSV1&2This experience has given me back my confidence, peace of mind, and a renewed sense of hope. If you or someone you know is struggling with herpes or other health concerns like HPV, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, PCOS, or hepatitis, know that there are alternative options available and you will be cured. For those seeking a natural approach to wellness, I encourage you to explore this path with an open mind. You never know how life-changing it might be. Just if you want to reach out, you can contact: Email: dr.awaseherbalhome@ gmail. com WhatsApp: +2349074997110

    1 Go to comments
    TRENDING
    TRENDING 'He understands the Tigers DNA': Ex-CEO Simon Cohen's pick for head coach Ex-Leicester Tigers CEO points out obvious choice for next head coach
    Search