u/MC897

3 fixtures every cherries fan must watch this weekend:

Liverpool vs Brentford - Liverpool at home last game for Mo Salah to walk out at the Kop, injured or not it's a big occasion for him and the team.

Man City vs Aston Villa - Guardiola's last game ever for City at home at the Etihad, Villa resting their team for the europa league final. City will win it.

Notts Forest vs Bournemouth - Must not lose match for us. A draw will do no matter what.

Here's the situation: If Liverpool win and Villa lose, Liverpool will jump Villa on GD into 4th, so Villa will finish 5th. The premier league got an extra champions league spot this year, and it will be passed down to 6th place, if Villa win the europa league final.

I know I'm hoping, but it's very feasible from here.

FT: France 28-43 England

Ratings:

1. Mackenzie Carson - 9/10 - Her best ever game for England. By a long way. 2 penalty turnovers, tackled for fun, carried for fun, got the better of both her opposite counterparts. Really impressed.
2. Amy Cokayne - 10/10 - My WOTM and a travesty she wasn't the WOTM on french tv broadcasters either. A 10/10 in every way. Well taken try, dominant in the scrum all 80 mins, all over the place in the loose, loads of tackles, 2 turnover penalties won, 100% darts, awesome at the maul
3. Sarah Bern - 7/10 - Got through alot of work, and obviously the scrum was good as well as the try but I thought in general she was ineffectual. I think she picked up a knock mid way through the second half which didn't get noted.
4. Lilli Ives Campion - 8.5/10 - Indispensable when fit. She's our no 1 lock now even though she's only 22. Stole 4 or 5 lineouts, clever cynical play and got through a truck load both in defence and attack. Her and talling are our new no 1 lock pairing going forward now.
5. Delany Burns - 7/10 - High work rate all over the pitch, solidified a very good scrum and was a good dovetail to allow Lilli to get on with her work.
6. Abi Burton - 8/10 - Another one who had her best game and was a growing influence on the team. Carried very hard leaving holes for everyone else to exploit, good at lineouts, and hit very hard in defence. Was everywhere.
7. Sadia Kabeya - 7.5/10 - We missed her against Italy. Lead the defence incredibly well, so abrasive, work rate off the charts, she's like Tom Curry but for the girls. Bit unlucky not to get a few turnovers as well.
8. Maddie Feaunati - 7/10 - 2 breaks through the french defence but I felt that was more jonny on the spot. Got through work but probably was carrying the injury slightly, but we did need her at 8 as we looked so much more balanced.
9. Lucy Packer - 8.5/10 - Her service from the ruck is exemplary and she martials the game well, controlling territory with Zoe and making sure england are running the show. Our new no 1 now officially at Scrum Half
10. Zoe Harrison - 9/10 - Hi Jonny, it's been a while. But seriously, her control of a game, kicking from hand, kicking at goal, she's this groups version of Jonny wilkinson. Probably the one player in a key game we can't do without. Magnificent goalkicking.
11. Claudia Maloney-McDonald - 6.5/10 - Didn't really get involved too much and missed a few tackles. I'll elaborate later.
12. Helena Rowland - 8/10 - Fair play, I was worried Feleu was going to bowl through her such is the size difference, but Feleu got nothing out of her in attack and she didn't go backwards. Kept it simple, kept the ball recycled and kept tempo.
13. Meg Jones - 8.5/10 - Led by example. Ferocious in defence, straightened up our attacks and tidies up alot of work to make england run like a well oiled machine.
14. Jess Breach - 9/10 - Struggled with Murie in the early exchanges but after that was influential. 2 cover scrag tackles which were try saving moves. 2 brilliantly well taken tackles and always a threat. Really good.
15. Ellie Kildunne - 8/10 - Covered the backfield well, bar one slip. 2 well taken scores, and although she slipped off the occasional tackle she got through a load of work and she was drawing and passing much better than normal.

Subs:

16. Liz Crake - 5/10 - Came on as the game ended.

17. Connie Powell - 5/10 - Came on as the game ended.

18. Maud Muir - 6.5/10 - Hard carries when she came on.

19. Demelza Short - 6/10 - Hard working if ineffectual or not seen.

20. Marlie Packer - 7/10 - Had a big influence when she came on and setup the game winning try.

21. Flo Robinson - 5/10 - Came on as the game ended.

22. Holly Aitchison - 5/10 - Came on as the game ended.

23. Emma Sing - 6.5/10 - Am I the only one who thought she got a turnover and was unfairly pinged at the end?

Thoughts:

Well, I wouldn't say I had concerns, but I thought if France were going to beat us this would be it. All the injuries, pregnancies, all the chat in the media. Can England do it with essentially in parts a D team. Well, would you look at that?

The defensive intensity was off the charts in a ferocious game and that France I want to add, were very good. PBS/Feaunati or Cokayne for my women's player of the tournament, all deserve recognition.

Under Scarratt we want fast ruck time, to play at pace and to attack quickly so defences don't have time to set. At times it's great to watch and I think we're getting better at it as well. That breach try in the second half was a thing of beauty.

Can't say enough about Harrison's goalkicking, it's like watching Wilko in his pomp. Just know it's getting slotted and so many are on the sidelines. She might be with Ramos, the best kicker in the game right now.

The team is in such a good place and I'm excited to see where this evolves. There's a few things I want to discuss going forward in the next bit, but that, after everything that has gone on this tournament was mustard.

Final Words:

I'm not too sure how Mitchell has managed to do that. All the injuries, ins and outs, and to still deliver a 6 nations when previous England teams, mens and womens, who've won world cups, haven't gone on to win the 6 nations afterwards, it's a tremendous achievement for him and the team. Shout out to Scarratt and Deacon as well.

As for the team. At prop I expect Botterman to return and that will give more depth as well. Hooker, I'd like Hayley Jones to stay, drop Connie Powell even though I'm a Quins fan, and have her learn around LAD and Cokayne, we need a new hooker being bled through. Locks, I'd have Campion and Talling as the new no 1 pairing going forward, they are the future and are potentially the now as well.

Backrow, Feaunati's performances throughout have been stellar, Burton has come on leaps as well as being influential now around the side. Packer will keep going and as for Lutui, she needs time. She looks like a player who's a project but an exciting one who over the next world cup cycle we're on, a bit like Feaunati will be bled gradually into the starting 15, but she's a prospect. I'd also keep Short, she's been pretty solid whenever she's played and acclimatised well to the setup and Mitchell really rates her as does Deacon. Another one who we need to perservere with.

In the backs, I'd stick with Packer starting but make sure in weaker games to let Flo Robinson get game time. She's the youngest scrummie we have, but Packer has asserted herself as undisputed no 1, and whilst Hunt will be back, we need another scrummie to come through and I think Flo has it. Zoe is the most important player in the side and the best fly half in the game, behind her, I'd still look to introduce Cromack slowly. I think Holly is going to be phased out slowly over time, so I'm hoping that's for Ella.

Centres is where it gets interesting. I think Rowland has done a brilliant job at 12 for England with Jones, but I'd do what France has done and have a harder carrier at Inside Centre to draw defenders. Over the next year or so I'm hoping Parry gets blooded at 12 and becomes the 12 we think she is, which should free up Jones to be even more dangerous at 13.

As for the back 3, I'd keep Kildunne at 15. She's at her best there. I'd also keep Breach as one of the wingers, you just know she's going to score and she shows up when it matters more often than not.

For the other winger spot however, I think it's up for grabs. I'd hope Millie David gets it. There aren't many x factor young backs coming through around the womens game but she is one, so I'm hoping she's trained to be the new winger added to the side so that the backs get some new youngsters added to revitalise it too. Mia Venner also is another option if Mitch wants size to Breach's speed.

It's interesting watching Mitch bleed the youngsters in. Take Feaunati for example. She's been around the side since 2023, but she's only really hit her gear this tournament, but she's accumulated 30 odd caps already. Kabeya too. I think with the backs, he'll do something similar with Parry and David I hope, but he's very cautious about their development. Doesn't chuck them into the deep end. Develops them to the environment of the red roses gradually and over time they take over. It's done well so far.

What's next?

September 2026:

Saturday 12th September 2026 TBC - England v Australia - CorpAcq Stadium, Salford

Saturday 19th September 2026 TBC - England v Canada - Sandy Park, Exeter

Saturday 26th September 2026 TBC - England v New Zealand - Twickenham, London

October 2026:

Friday 16th October 2026 00:00 - Canada v England - BMO Field, Toronto

Friday 23rd October 2026 00:00 - Canada v England - Ottawa

Saturday 31st October 2026 TBC - USA v England - TBC