With a home World Cup on the horizon, there is little time to waste for John Mitchell, who is expected to name his first England squad for this year's Women's Six Nations at the end of February.
The 59-year-old, who underlined his unwavering commitment to the Red Roses last month, is likely to chair up to 17 Tests before the 2025 tournament kicks off in August next year.
England will be heavy favorites to retain the Six Nations crown for a fifth consecutive season, but France's 18-17 victory over world champions New Zealand in last year's inaugural WXV competition will be a huge warning sign for the Red Roses , as they aim to maintain their lead over the world champions. the world's greatest nations.
Telegraph Sport analyzes four key areas Mitchell will look to influence in his first year in charge and what a successful 2024 could look like for the Red Roses.
Walking towards busy
A true champion side doesn't run away from big moments, they embrace them. Over the past five years, England have become famous for massive kills in the Six Nations, but their aura of invincibility disappeared when they lost a thrilling World Cup final to New Zealand, which ended their 30-match winning streak in November 2022 .
One of Mitchell's priorities will be exposing the players to high-pressure situations in preparation for 2025. England were unable to control the huge momentum swing after Lydia Thompson was sent off for a high in the final at Eden Park tackle on Portia Woodman and their team. The game plan then unravels, so learning to reframe the pressure will be huge.
But how does a coach really expose players to tough situations if they keep trampling everyone else? How do they learn to dig deep into clutch moments if they are rarely properly tested? Even in Premiership Women's Rugby (a competition originally set up as a springboard for Red Roses talent), lopsided scores are still common.
"We are aware that some of our athletes are winning easily at weekends in the Premier League and winning easily in Test matches," Mitchell said.
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"When it comes to the top five, it becomes more of a pressure game in the way you apply and receive pressure because the game is unfair. The World Cup was unfair. So the way we prepare the girls during our preparation is critical to developing that."
It is partly why the RFU are planning a standalone New Zealand Test at Twickenham this autumn, which could serve as a dress rehearsal for a World Cup final.
Keeping it competitive
The battle for places has made England an unstoppable force in recent years and Mitchell, who has said he wants to add "more pace and style" to the Red Roses game, will have to make some big selection calls in the coming weeks.
Will he opt for experience or youth at scrum-half in Mo Hunt or Lucy Packer? How will he integrate the likes of Poppy Cleall, who has been in spellbinding form for Saracens of late after missing WXV through injury, and Bristol Abbie Ward, who is targeting an international return after giving birth, into a squad that is already full of talent? Where is Helena Rowland's best position, full-back or centre?
As the Red Roses look to raise the stakes, there is also the not-so-small task of splitting fly-half duties between Holly Aitchison and Zoe Harrison, the latter back from a serious knee injury, while maintaining a lead. keep an eye on who does what in the PWR.
"While we have a contractual process, which is great, Porsche cars don't always make the cut, based on what I've experienced and seen in my life," said Mitchell, whose varied coaching resume in the men's game includes leading from the All Blacks to a third-place finish at the 2003 World Cup. "I'm open to the shooter coming in. We may have a few surprises by the time we arrive at our home World Cup."
A good team is a happy team
Women's rugby is hardly awash in wealth, but it is impossible to ignore that Mitchell's reign has coincided with an increasing number of commercial opportunities for female players.
Having witnessed the transition to professionalism in men's rugby in the late 1990s, Mitchell has already indicated that he will not stop any of his players from taking part in commercial ventures, such as appearing on TV shows (Exeter Chiefs winger Jodie Ounsley will play the leading role in the new series). popular TV series Gladiators) to express their personalities.
The Rugby Football Union now has 34 contracted players on deals worth up to £45,000 a season, excluding bonuses, match fees and sponsorship, with some Red Roses reportedly earning more than £8,000 a year for their clubs.
There is currently no limit to how much a Red Roses player can earn in Premiership Women's Rugby, with a source close to a PWR club going so far as to say a 'bidding war' has already erupted among some players. With the £190,000 cap expected to increase to £220,000 next season, it seems inevitable to impose a cap on how much English players can earn through their club if the game is to grow sustainably. Whether Mitchell contributes to such discussions remains to be seen.
Keeping both feet on the ground ahead of a big year in 2025
With organizers aiming for a sell-out final at Twickenham during the 2025 Women's World Cup, there is no shortage of talk about the 'Lioness Effect' as England look to replicate the Euro 2022 success that swept the country two summers ago.
Following their football colleagues in making history in one of the country's national stadiums is a tempting prospect, but Mitchell has insisted the Red Roses cannot assume it is their God-given duty to host the fairytale World Cup experience what they crave.
Under his watch, England's first priority will be retaining their Six Nations and WXV titles. "We have to earn the right to participate in that final," Mitchell added. "The fact that we are at home does not mean that we have the right to win this World Cup."
