The headline question heading into this year’s Women’s Six Nations was whether any side could finally dent England’s iron grip on international rugby. After two rounds, the Red Roses have shown they are far from rattled. Even though the squad has been hit by a wave of injuries and a spate of pregnancies – a level of turnover not seen in ten years – England’s depth appears virtually limitless. The team’s World Cup‑winning captain, Zoe Stratford (formerly Aldcroft), is among a long list of absentees, yet the side still performed with the fluency of a well‑oiled machine.
In their opening match against Ireland, the world champions looked a little rusty, but the quality in reserve meant they overcame the early hiccups. The second fixture, a trip to Murrayfield to face Scotland, saw ten more regulars missing. Still, the Roses ran in an astonishing twelve tries, cruising to a record‑breaking 84‑7 win and extending their unbeaten run to thirty‑five consecutive Tests.
The third round pits England against Wales at Ashton Gate in Bristol. Ahead of that clash, two very different players shared their thoughts with the media: veteran prop Sarah Bern, 28, who has already earned 81 caps and lifted a World Cup, and teenage back‑rower Demelza Short, 19, who earned her first cap in Edinburgh just a week ago.
"We’ve had a real mix around the squad," Bern explained. "There are a number of wonderful pregnancies in the group, which has opened doors for younger players like Demelza and others coming through. We’ve also had a few injuries, so things have been changing very quickly." She went on to describe the team’s philosophy: "We give the players the licence to attack, to be themselves, to be brave and to show what they can do.
That’s the way we approach every game." The article also highlighted several sub‑headings that appeared in the original broadcast – such as the Six Nations schedule, a story about star centre Kildunne’s battle with body dysmorphia, and the appointment of Jones as England captain – but the core message remained clear. "Whether you’re a youngster breaking through or a seasoned Rose, the standards are incredibly high," Bern said. She listed the players currently on maternity leave – Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward, Rosie Galligan and Lark Atkin‑Davies – and those sidelined by injury – Hannah Botterman, Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, May Campbell, Tatyana Heard and Ales Matthews – to illustrate how much the squad has had to adapt. When asked if constant success ever becomes boring, Bern replied, "I don’t think any of the girls would say we’ve ever put together a performance we’re not proud of.
Every week we ask ourselves how we can develop our game, how we can grow the sport, how we can push for the best attack and the best defence. It may sound impossible, but that relentless pursuit is in the Red Roses’ DNA." She summed up the team’s ethos with a simple statement: "Rugby doesn’t care what you did last week, or whether you won a World Cup.
It only cares about how you show up on the day." The challenge, Bern added, is also about integrating newcomers like Demelza. "We have a few other young players getting used to the environment, and we want them to get up to speed as quickly as possible." The sheer volume of changes forced England to deepen its talent pool even further, and so far the strategy has paid off handsomely. "We’re ambitious, we’re brave," Bern continued.
"We recognise we won a World Cup, which was fantastic, but we still see areas to improve, especially in our attack. The injuries have actually accelerated the progression of some players, and everyone understands they have to step up.
It takes a lot of work off the field as well." She highlighted the importance of communication and preparation: "There have been many conversations, leaders making sure everyone knows the details. When you step onto the pitch for a training session, you need to know the plan, otherwise it becomes very tough.
Every player here helps each other out." Bern also touched on the entertainment factor: "This is an opportunity, and it makes things more exciting. We want fans to come to the stadium. If they see the same thing every week, it won’t be fun.
We want to be entertaining, to show that all of our Red Roses have amazing abilities – to carry, to fend, to play an exciting style of rugby – and we want to showcase that to the world." She concluded with a broader perspective on women’s rugby: "We just need to keep pushing, show our personalities, and prove that women’s rugby is a fantastic game to watch. It’s different from the men’s, each has its own selling points, but both are equally entertaining." Demelza Short’s rapid rise provides a vivid illustration of the pathway now available.
In just twelve months she progressed from playing for England’s U‑18 side at the Six Nations festival at Wellington College – where matches lasted the full seventy minutes – to earning a full‑time Red Rose jersey alongside recent World Cup champions. "I still can’t quite believe what’s happened," Short admitted. "It feels a bit surreal, like a whirlwind. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but each week it feels a little more normal – though still not quite normal at all." She reflected on her own expectations: "Last year I was playing U‑18s, and even when I was selected for U‑20 camps I thought maybe something could happen, but I never imagined it would be this season.
Getting the call‑up to the Red Roses so quickly and then making my debut in this campaign is just crazy." Overall, the Red Roses have turned a period of transition into an opportunity to prove the depth and resilience of English women’s rugby. With a blend of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers, they continue to set a benchmark for excellence, reminding everyone that in rugby the only thing that matters is how you perform on the day, regardless of past accolades or setbacks.