'world Class' Sing Ready For Grand Slam Decider

Red Roses full-back Emma Sing was not expecting a telephone telephone from caput coach John Mitchell while successful a crochet people - a favourite activity successful England's camp.

It was Monday evening and time 1 of a week's mentation that ends pinch a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France astatine Allianz Stadium, Twickenham connected Saturday was done.

The 24-year-old backmost has not played since nan opening-round triumph complete Italy, but was astatine bid being beneath world subordinate of nan twelvemonth Ellie Kildunne successful nan pecking order.

But erstwhile she checked her telephone to spot a missed telephone from Mitchell, her mind quickly moved from crochet hooks to backmost 3 calls.

Sing sewage successful touch pinch Mitchell to find retired Kildunne had a insignificant hamstring injury, truthful she would beryllium starting nan Grand Slam decider.

Following nan squad announcement, Mitchell described Sing arsenic "world class" and said Saturday's lucifer was an perfect chance to springiness Kildunne's lawman a due workout earlier nan Rugby World Cup.

When asked if France will target Sing successful nan aerial connected BBC's Rugby Union Weekly, Mitchell was speedy to respond: "Good luck if they do.

"Emma is simply a very difficult tackle and outstanding successful nan aerial and doesn't request to beryllium an Ellie Kildunne, she is Emma Sing who runs difficult and consecutive and is elusive.

"She'll trim you unfastened arsenic well."

Sing was first capped successful 2022 and is known for being a reliable goal-kicker, amassing 288 points for Gloucester-Hartpury complete nan past 2 Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) seasons.

But her standout moments against Italy came pinch shot successful hand, pinch 3 line-breaks and a effort successful nan area connected her seventh headdress showing a well-rounded crippled suited for world rugby.

"Emma has been nan champion full-back successful nan PWR and it gives america different chance to accommodate and woody pinch nan situation," he added.

The Red Roses are connected a 24-game winning streak and chasing a 15th successive triumph complete France to unafraid a seventh Six Nations title and a 4th Grand Slam successful a row.

Les Bleues past travelled to Twickenham successful 2023, wherever they scored 33 second-half points to narrowly miss retired connected an unthinkable comeback.

In past year's fixture, Mitchell's broadside remained objective passim to clinch a 3rd successive Grand Slam pinch a 42-21 triumph successful Bordeaux.

Fly-half Holly Aitchison guided England to triumph that time and was successful rod position to clasp nan 10 garment this campaign, but Mitchell has alternatively divided nan workload betwixt his 3 playmakers.

Utility backmost Helena Rowland, who is named connected nan chair connected Saturday, made 1 commencement astatine fly-half against Italy, while Aitchison was picked to commencement astatine 10 successful past Saturday's hammering of Scotland.

Saracens' Zoe Harrison started nan World Cup last successful 2022 and precocious her lawsuit successful victories complete Wales and Ireland, pinch nan 27-year-old picked to commencement nan decider because of her tactical kicking game.

A pragmatic attack is suited to knockout-style rugby and a beardown capacity could seal Harrison's spot successful nan 10 shirt, but for Mitchell it is not that simple.

"The extremity is nan World Cup and I cognize precisely what Holly tin do, truthful that equation is clear, but I don't cognize what Zoe Harrison tin do aliases Helena Rowland," Mitchell added.

"It would beryllium stupid of maine to spell into 2025 pinch an eventuality that we mightiness request 1 of them because we don't person nan different two."

Saturday will beryllium England's past chance to assistance a trophy successful nan aforesaid mounting arsenic September's World Cup final.

"The juncture of playing present [Allianz Stadium] and it being a Grand Slam decider brings much of a buzz," Harrison told BBC Sport.

"The World Cup last will beryllium here, truthful getting to play finals earlier that is bully for america arsenic it brings confidence."

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)