The Red Roses rose to the occasion in style, leaving the French women's team trailing in their wake as they stormed to a thumping 38-4 victory in Toulouse. Stuart Barrow's side was a well-oiled machine, firing on all cylinders as they delivered a masterclass performance that will have the international rugby community buzzing.
It wasn't an easy start for England, though – France took an early lead through a couple of converted penalties, and it looked like the hosts might just pull off a major upset. But the Red Roses had other ideas. They hit back with seven tries, cementing their reputation as one of the most formidable teams in women's rugby and maintaining their unbeaten record against France.
Debutant Ellise Derbyshire was a revelation, scoring on the wing and completing a stunning brace that left the French defence scrambling. Lucy Murray was also on fire, notching two tries to take her tally to an impressive 15 for the season so far. Ella Donnelly got in on the act too, scoring her first try for England, while Eva Hunter showed off her silky skills by weaving past multiple defenders and adding another score.
The second half was just as emphatic, with Jenna Foubister jinking over for a try and Ellise Derbyshire completing her brace. Izzy Rowe's kicking was spot on, converting five of her seven attempts to round out an impressive display.
This result will give the Red Roses an enormous confidence boost heading into what promises to be a thrilling year. With their sights set firmly on the women's World Cup – which kicks off in October and November across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea – this performance will have left everyone in no doubt that England is one of the teams to beat.
What struck you most about this performance was the way the Red Roses converted pressure into points with ease. They maintained a blistering pace throughout, never letting up even when they were ahead by a significant margin. And with new talent like Ellise Derbyshire making an instant impact alongside established stars like Eva Hunter, it's clear that this England team is only going to get stronger and more formidable as the season unfolds.