Roses Back Row Most Competitive Area - Matthews

Guinness Women's Six Nations: England v France

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Date: Saturday, 26 April Kick-off: 16:45 BST

Coverage: Watch unrecorded connected BBC Two, iPlayer and online, perceive connected BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, unrecorded matter and video highlights connected BBC Sport website and app.

England number 8 Alex Matthews says nan backmost statement is nan astir competitory area successful nan Red Roses squad, which is aiming for a double Six Nations and World Cup triumph this year.

The 31-year-old was portion of nan World Cup-winning squad successful 2014 and has been a champion successful nan broadside for respective years, but now faces title from Maddie Feaunati.

Matthews missed nan opening 2 rounds of this year's Six Nations done suspension and Exeter Chiefs' Feaunati deputised, winning subordinate of nan lucifer against Italy earlier scoring doubly successful nan commanding triumph complete Wales.

Last year's World Rugby women's subordinate of nan twelvemonth nominee Matthews returned to nan starting XV for England's triumph against Ireland earlier being replaced by 22-year-old Feaunati successful nan astir caller triumph complete Scotland.

With a location World Cup successful August England's resources successful nan backmost statement are plentiful, including skipper Zoe Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya and erstwhile skipper Marlie Packer, and Matthews says it is difficult for caput coach John Mitchell to accommodate them all.

"The backmost statement is nan toughest position successful nan squad astatine nan moment," said Gloucester-Hartpury's Matthews.

"There are immoderate world people players and not capable abstraction successful nan squad for each of them, but it's nan extent we request successful our squad.

"Maddie is an unbelievable jock pinch her footwork, powerfulness and handling."

The Red Roses will beryllium chasing a 4th successive Grand Slam and a seventh Six Nations title successful a statement erstwhile they look France astatine Allianz Stadium connected Saturday.

A record women's crowd of 58,498 watched England hit France connected their past gathering astatine their Twickenham location successful 2023 and Matthews says she still gets goosebumps erstwhile she recalls nan day.

"I emotion nan ambiance astatine Allianz, it's a different level," she said.

"I retrieve nan goosebumps from nan past France crippled and conscionable having that support.

"I retrieve times moving retired aft an England men's crippled and everyone successful nan crowd is gone, but to now person that [support] is truthful typical and it's what dreams are made of."