'World class' Sing ready for Grand Slam decider
Red Roses full-back Emma Sing was not expecting a phone call from head coach John Mitchell while in a crochet class - a favourite activity in England's camp.It was Monday evening and day one of a week's preparation that ends with a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday was done.The 24-year-old back has not played since the opening-round win over Italy, but was at peace being below world player of the year Ellie Kildunne in the pecking order.But when she checked her phone to see a missed call from Mitchell, her mind quickly moved from crochet hooks to back three calls.Sing got in touch with Mitchell to find out Kildunne had a minor hamstring injury, so she would be starting the Grand Slam decider.Following the team announcement, Mitchell described Sing as "world class" and said Saturday's match was an ideal chance to give Kildunne's deputy a proper workout before the Rugby World Cup.When asked if France will target Sing in the air on BBC's Rugby Union Weekly, Mitchell was quick to respond: "Good luck if they do."Emma is a very hard tackle and outstanding in the air and doesn't need to be an Ellie Kildunne, she is Emma Sing who runs hard and straight and is elusive."She'll cut you open as well."Sing was first capped in 2022 and is known for being a reliable goal-kicker, amassing 288 points for Gloucester-Hartpury over the past two Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) seasons.But her standout moments against Italy came with ball in hand, with three line-breaks and a try in the corner on her seventh cap showing a well-rounded game suited for international rugby."Emma has been the best full-back in the PWR and it gives us another chance to adapt and deal with the situation," he added.
'I know exactly what Aitchison can do'
The Red Roses are on a 24-game winning streak and chasing a 15th successive win over France to secure a seventh Six Nations title and a fourth Grand Slam in a row.Les Bleues last travelled to Twickenham in 2023, where they scored 33 second-half points to narrowly miss out on an incredible comeback.In last year's fixture, Mitchell's side remained clinical throughout to clinch a third successive Grand Slam with a 42-21 win in Bordeaux.Fly-half Holly Aitchison guided England to victory that day and was in pole position to retain the 10 shirt this campaign, but Mitchell has instead split the workload between his three playmakers.Utility back Helena Rowland, who is named on the bench on Saturday, made one start at fly-half against Italy, while Aitchison was picked to start at 10 in last Saturday's hammering of Scotland.Saracens' Zoe Harrison started the World Cup final in 2022 and advanced her case in victories over Wales and Ireland, with the 27-year-old picked to start the decider because of her tactical kicking game.A pragmatic approach is suited to knockout-style rugby and a strong performance could seal Harrison's spot in the 10 shirt, but for Mitchell it is not that simple."The end is the World Cup and I know exactly what Holly can do, so that equation is clear, but I don't know what Zoe Harrison can do or Helena Rowland," Mitchell added."It would be stupid of me to go into 2025 with an eventuality that we might need one of them because we don't have the other two."Saturday will be England's last chance to lift a trophy in the same setting as September's World Cup final."The occasion of playing here [Allianz Stadium] and it being a Grand Slam decider brings more of a buzz," Harrison told BBC Sport."The World Cup final will be here, so getting to play finals before that is good for us as it brings confidence."
Line-ups
England: Sing; Dow, Jones, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Feaunati, Matthews.Replacements: Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Burton, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland.France: Bourgeois; Grisez, M Menager, Vernier, Arbwy; Arbez, Bourdon; Brosseau, Bigot, Khalfaoui, M Feleu (capt), Fall-Raclot, Escudero, Champon, T Feleu.Replacements: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, Bernadou, Zago, Berthoumieu, Maka, Chambon, Queyroi.Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
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