England’s revolution begins in Dublin on Friday night, when the Women’s Six Nations kicks off in Dublin. Sarah Hunter, the England captain, will be anxious to show their Twickenham paymasters that awarding her and 27 other players full-time contracts will have the instant dividend of taking the grand slam title back from France.
Ireland, beaten 37-15 at Twickenham last November, will have other ideas. It is expected to be chilly with the threat of snow at Energia Park and, if the Six Nations is a two-horse Anglo-French race, Ireland will be determined Hunter’s side will have little in the way of soft-going.
England are loaded with experience, including the increasingly impressive Hunter, who will pack down in the back row for the 109th time. Hunter is joined in the starting lineup by Emily Scarratt, who forges a new centre partnership with Tatyana Heard and wins her 75th cap.
Scarratt is best remembered for slaloming through the Canada defence in Paris in the 2014 World Cup final to score the try that ensured England’s finest hour. She has recovered from a hamstring injury to make her 15-a-side return after being given a contract following the end of her sevens contract.
However the 28-year-old admits that giving up the chance to play sevens in the Tokyo Olympics next year was not an easy one, even allowing for her Jonny Wilkinson moment. “No it wasn’t easy. I would have loved to have gone to Tokyo but sevens is a game for young players and I’m in the twilight of my career and this is a great opportunity.
“Contracts have made a real difference to the girls who were having to fit in training sessions between work. It’s much easier to prepare for matches like this now and we have time to recover from matches.
“It won’t be easy in Dublin. They’ve got players like Lauren Delany and Claire Molloy, who are playing with us in the Tyrrells league. We’ve got some good memories from winning a grand slam there two years ago but we’re expecting a tough evening. Yes, everyone is talking about the France game as being the key fixture in the Six Nations but we won’t be underestimating Ireland.”
Simon Middleton, England’s head coach, knows the weather conditions are likely to be testing. “It could turn out to be a forward battle but we have a pack to cope with that,” he said.
“Ireland are a good side. They’re better than the result in November suggested. They were a bit unlucky really, losing a couple of key players early on. But we’ve got some world‑class players like Emily returning from the 2017 World Cup, as well as some newer names who’ve impressed through the season.”
Poppy Cleall is in England’s second row with her twin sister, the prop Bryony, poised to win her first cap from the bench. An illustration of Middleton’s strength in depth is that the wing Lydia Thompson, who scored a hat-trick against Ireland two months ago – three of 21 tries England scored in three internationals in November – does not make the cut.
Ireland’s head coach, Adam Griggs, knows England will be favourites. “There’s no bigger challenge than to open against the side that are second in the world,” he said.
Ireland have a strong back row, which includes the Wasps openside Molloy and the captain and No 8, Ciara Griffin. England will also be wary of the threat of the dangerous Munster right-wing Eimear Considine, who scored a brilliant try against them in the autumn.
France begin their title defence against Wales on Saturday evening in Montpellier, while Scotland take on Italy at Scotstoun on Friday night.
France, who travel to Doncaster to face England in the second round, are missing their injured world player of the year, Jessy Tremouliere, as well as a number of players who are on sevens duty.
