Le Crunch went to the Red Roses. England defeated France 43-28 in Bordeaux on Super Sunday to claim a fifth consecutive Grand Slam, an eighth consecutive Women's Six Nations title, and — as Her Side of the Ruck host Tash flagged in her round five review — a first ever Six Nations crown won by an English team while reigning as senior world champions.
"From a personal point of view, I said that I wasn't nervous going into this game," Tash said. "But I was a little bit more nervous when Pauline Bourdon Sansus went over the try line first for the first points on the scoreboard. But I don't think I ever doubted that the Red Roses wouldn't come back and win the game."
France threw the first punch. Bourdon Sansus's deep team try lit the Bordeaux crowd. England's response was Sarah Bern — the tournament's leading try-scorer — riding a tackle on an angled carry over the French line, and a Meg Jones kick-chase finished by Ellie Kildunne to swing momentum.
"I think Burn's first try, the disruption in the lineout, the scrum success — so a lot of effect and impact from the forwards actually helped England get into this game," Tash said. "That backline opportunistic try then just kind of settles everybody. It goes, right, we know what we're doing. This is the game plan, we just need to execute it."
Amy Cokayne — England's hooker — was named as the campaign's standout for Her Side of the Ruck.
"Her lineout throwing has been amazing," Tash said. "She only — I think she missed one lineout throw against France, and there were a lot of lineouts in that game. She is a fabulous player. She's thriving at Sale Sharks in the PWR and she is thriving in an England shirt."
France came out of the changing room reignited. The lock Manaé Feleu was the obvious target — a back-line ball-carrier so big Tash noted she needed a minimum of two English defenders to bring down.
"It was very clear that one of the tactics of the French side was to pass the ball to Manaé Feleu," Tash said. "She needed a minimum of two English defenders to like properly take her down. She is just incredibly tall. I have no idea how much she weighs, but I can imagine it's — she's not going to be a light person."
Anaïs Granotto pulled France within touch with the second try after Léa Ducher's spilled chance, and England wobbled. The Red Roses, however, kicked again. Jess Breach's finish drew applause through the broadcast booth and the score-board ran to 43-28.
For Tash, the win belonged to the coach as much as the players.
"I absolutely love John Mitchell," she said. "I think he's such a fabulous head coach. If you haven't, go and watch his post-match interview that he did with Sonja McLaughlin on the BBC. He is a true believer in what women's sports can and should be. To have him as a head coach, I think is a role model to any man or woman who wants to be a leader in this sport. He's also just good crack, isn't he? The fact that he was dancing and stuff in the changing rooms after — it's absolutely hilarious. He is the man that you want to be leading your team."
The wider tournament picture: Wales finished with a third consecutive wooden spoon. Scotland regressed. Italy positively surprised, winning two — including a Cardiff scalp over Wales — and scoring a try bonus point against the Red Roses themselves. Ireland delivered three home wins, kept Erin King fit at last, and look like a genuine top-three side heading into WXV.
"All I'm saying is the Six Nations trophy is back where it belongs, and that's in England," Tash said. "The achievement by this Red Roses team is unmatched. They have to be one of the best sporting teams in all of professional history because they are the first men's or women's team in England that have won the Six Nations after winning a World Cup. That's an incredible achievement and no one can take that away from the Red Roses side."
The Red Roses are now off the international clock for a stretch. The PWR returns on May 29, and WXV looms in the autumn. England, on this form, will be the team every other contender measures themselves against. The Six Nations record book is theirs already.
