LA CRUNCH!
H, THAT TACKLE. If ever there was a moment that epitomised the moniker given to fixtures between France and England, it was Rose Bernadou’s, er, crunching hit on Poppy Cleall in last year’s Six Nations. It was a tackle that emphasised the intense rivalry between the Red Roses and les Bleues – the two nations that have dominated the northern hemisphere scene for so long.
Over the past 20 years, England or France have won every Women’s Six Nations title bar two (Ireland were champions in 2013 and 2015 to break the stranglehold) – and more often than not they have sealed a Grand Slam too. Since 2002, England have 12 titles, including the last three, to France’s six.
At the end of this month, they meet in Bayonne on ‘Super Saturday’, with yet another championship title expected to be on the line. Over the page we look ahead to four key components to the showdown in the South of France…
WINNING MENTALITY
England are on a nine-match winning streak against France, their last defeat in Grenoble in 2018 by the margin
