Mitchell: Lessons from 2019 World Cup can guide Red Roses to homegrown glory
England head coach John Mitchell says heartbreak from the men’s 2019 final can help the women’s team seize World Cup glory on home soil against Canada at Twickenham, where an unchanged 23 has been named.
John Mitchell believes the emotional and physical toll England’s men endured in the 2019 World Cup final can inform his approach as he attempts to guide the Red Roses to World Cup glory on home soil. Mitchell, who was an assistant to Eddie Jones when England fell to South Africa in Japan, is now aiming to lead the women’s team to a first senior World Cup triumph on home turf as they prepare to face Canada at a sold-out Twickenham on Saturday. England enter as firm favorites.
Mitchell has named an unchanged 23 and the strongest possible squad for the Canada showdown. England: Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (captain), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews. Replacements: Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison, Helena Rowland. Canada: Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier (capt), Asia Hogan-Rochester; Taylor Perry, Justine Pelletier; McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, DaLeaka Menin, Sophie de Goede, Courtney O'Donnell, Caroline Crossley, Karen Paquin, Fabiola Forteza. Replacements: Gillian Boag, Brittany Kassil, Olivia DeMerchant, Tyson Beukeboom, Laetitia Royer, Gabrielle Senft, Olivia Apps, Shoshanah Seumanutafa.
Mitchell described the week as unusual, but he stressed the team has prepared to handle the pinnacle tournament pressures. “The way we've prepared this week is to make sure we headed off for a couple of days after the semi-final performance to be able to come back in focused,” he said. “I think we’ve done that really well. This is actually very similar to previous experiences I’ve had. It has its unusual pressures that always come with a pinnacle tournament.” He added that he spends more time in this job as a psychologist than a rugby coach, noting, “I’ve only spoken once in the whole week and that was on Tuesday morning. The most important thing is to get out of the girls’ way.”
England have lost their last two Women’s World Cup finals in 2022 and 2017, both to New Zealand. Canada are the opponents this time around after shocking the Black Ferns with an attacking display that underscored their danger. Mitchell’s squad has won 32 straight matches since the 2022 final defeat in Auckland and carries the weight of expectations entering a World Cup decider that could redefine women’s rugby in England. “The focus is on opportunity for success rather than the risk of failure,” Mitchell said. “We haven’t been perfect by any means but we’ve been effective. We’re playing good tournament rugby. Ultimately, I want to see these girls fulfil their potential.”
Mitchell has urged England’s stars to elevate the team from a good side to a great one by becoming world champions. If, as expected, England prevail in front of what could be a world-record crowd for a women’s game of 82,000, the win would likely have a transformative effect on the women’s game in England. “We’ve been working for three years and it’s just our time now. We really feel like that,” captain Zoe Aldcroft said. “We are about to find out if that’s the case.”
England scrum-half Natasha Hunt warms up for the final showdown at training in London.
Meanwhile, England men’s and Leicester lock George Martin has been ruled out of the national side’s four autumn internationals after undergoing shoulder surgery. Martin has endured a difficult run of injuries, with knee and shoulder problems keeping him sidelined since February. “As with any nerve injuries, the timeframe on George’s availability is slightly unknown but to give George the best chance to perform we know it won’t be during the first half of this season,” Leicester head coach Geoff Parling said. England coach Steve Borthwick added: “George is a fantastic player and a valued member of the England squad. He approaches everything he does with professionalism and commitment and there’s no doubt he’s bringing that same focus to his rehab. We look forward to seeing him back when the time is right.”
England’s men’s lock George Martin will miss the November Tests after shoulder surgery.