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England women’s head coach John Mitchell said a discussion with men’s record caps holder Ben Youngs will help his team avoid the mistakes of the country’s horror 2015 campaign.
A decade ago, England’s men’s team – which included Youngs – bombed out of their home World Cup under the guidance of Stuart Lancaster, failing to qualify from their pool.
This summer, Mitchell’s Red Roses will play on English soil as firm favourites to win the women’s competition having won 55 of their last 56 matches.
The last time England women lost a match was their heartbreaking defeat by New Zealand in the World Cup final of 2022.
‘I spoke to Ben and he was very insightful,’ said Mitchell, who worked with Youngs while an assistant coach with England’s men’s side.
‘He said that over his four World Cups, he enjoyed the ones where it didn’t feel like a high performance jail. I think that little nugget was key.’
England women's head coach John Mitchell at his team's World Cup squad announcement
Mitchell (left) worked alongside Ben Youngs (right) during his time with the England squad
England's women have not lost a match since being beaten by New Zealand in the 2022 final
In 2015, the pressure on England’s men’s side to become world champions on English soil was immense.
Ultimately, the expectation proved too much, with discussion over the best position in which to play rugby league convert Sam Burgess dominating.
Players involved in that campaign have spoken in the years since about how with such a desire to win, there was no enjoyment about the build-up.
That tension resulted in poor on-field performances, England’s men’s side losing to Wales and Australia.
Mitchell is determined there won’t be a repeat this summer.
'It’s exciting. You hear this word pressure all the time but it’s just a word. If you frame it negatively it becomes about the risk of failure,’ he said.
‘I see it as an opportunity to be successful. That’s where my head is at.’
On Thursday, Mitchell confirmed his 32-player squad for the tournament – one made up of 18 forwards and 14 backs. There were no real surprises.
Stuart Lancaster's England side bombed out of their home World Cup back in 2015
ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
Forwards (18): Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Amy Cokayne. Maddie Feaunati, Rosie Galligan, Lilli Ives Campion, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews, Maud Muir Marlie Packer, Morwenna Talling , Abbie Ward
Backs (14): Holly Aitchison, Jess Breach, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison,Tatyana Heard, Natasha Hunt, Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Lucy Packer, Helena Rowland, Emily Scarratt, Jade Shekells, Emma Sing
Experienced centre Emily Scarratt has been selected for her fifth global showpiece – a record for an England player, either man or woman.
Natasha Hunt and Lucy Packer are the only two out-and-out scrum-halves.
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, normally a wing, will be the other No 9 cover.
Hunt was a shock omission for the 2022 tournament, which was delayed a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, but is now first-choice in her position.
England will be captained by forward Zoe Aldcroft.
‘It’s been a two-and-a-half year process on selection,’ said Mitchell.
Thursday’s squad announcement at Allianz Stadium saw more than 100 members of the media attend – a record for an England rugby press conference.
It was a reflection of the incredible growth the female game has enjoyed in the last three years.
England’s women are taking inspiration from the Lionesses who will play Spain in the final of EURO 2025 on Sunday.
A huge summer of women’s sport in England awaits.
