England are ready for tough tests against France and New Zealand.
Marley Packer is in no doubt that one of the toughest pre-seasons he has had in England will pay dividends in both the short and long term.
The most important 12 months in the history of the Red Roses begin on Saturday when England face fierce Six Nations Championship rivals France at Kingsholm.
They play New Zealand on Saturday in their second warm-up test ahead of the WXV1 in Canada, where their opponents are the Black Ferns again, along with the USA and Canada.
After England defended their Six Nations Championship title, the Reds could be a major contender for the tournament when the World Cup is held at home.
“It was one of the toughest games we’ve had during pre-season with the Reds,” England captain Packer said.
“We knew the core components of the game we really wanted to get to, and we made it happen.
“Pre-season has been tough, but it has been a season to remember for all of us and will serve us well for the next two games, as well as WXV and beyond.
“It’s always about what’s next. France are our next opponents and that’s our focus.”
England have beaten France 13 times in a row, but Les Bleus are currently ranked fourth in the world, with New Zealand coming in second behind Packer’s side next week.
England manager John Mitchell said: “This team has a lot of faith against France and that is a very important consideration.
“I value trust and am very interested in creating faith in what has been done before.
“We are the ones who requested this game. We want to be in situations where we can be challenged and get feedback, which will help us become a better team going into WXV.
“The whole group has been outstanding. They have raised the bar physically during pre-season.”
Mitchell made just two changes from the squad that clinched the Six Nations Championship Grand Slam against France in Bordeaux last season.
Flanker Maddie Feunatti replaces Sadia Cabella, while centre Helena Rowland replaces Megan Jones, who are both injured.
Feunatti, 22, made five appearances as a substitute at the 2024 Six Nations Championships but now features in the back row alongside Packer and No. 8 Alex Matthews.
On the bench is England Under-20 captain Lily Ives-Campion, who is set to make her first appearance, while Joey Harrison is set to make his 50th appearance for the Red Rose.
“The women simply want to play and we are determined to take on world-class opposition to challenge ourselves and improve our game as we head into an exciting 2025 with WXV,” Mitchell said.
