England Overpower France in Dominant Warm-up Victory at Kingsholm Stadium

England's Red Roses delivered an emphatic 38-19 victory over France at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester, kicking off their preparations for the upcoming WXV1 tournament with a confidence-boosting performance. The reigning Six Nations champions ran in six tries, overwhelming their rivals in what was a rematch of their April showdown, where England secured a third straight Grand Slam.

The hosts set the tone early, with captain Marlie Packer opening the scoring. England’s dynamic attack then saw Jess Breach and Helena Rowland cross the line, giving the Red Roses a commanding 19-0 lead at halftime.

England maintained their dominance after the break, with Morwenna Talling adding another try just three minutes into the second half, pushing the lead to 24-0. However, France found a response through Agathe Sochat, who scored from a driving maul, putting their first points on the board.

Despite this French effort, Jess Breach scored her second try of the match, and Lucy Packer added another, extending England’s lead and sealing a comprehensive victory. Late consolation tries from Romane Menager and Pauline Bourdon Sansus added some respectability to the scoreline for France, but England’s dominance was never in doubt.

Fly-half Holly Aitchison was instrumental in converting four of England’s six tries, while England's pack imposed their authority throughout the match, setting the platform for their free-flowing attack.

The victory sends a strong signal as John Mitchell’s side look ahead to their next challenge, a high-stakes clash against world champions New Zealand at the newly renamed Allianz Stadium at Twickenham next Saturday. With the WXV1 tournament in Canada looming and a home World Cup next summer, England will aim to build on their momentum and fine-tune their preparations in what promises to be an exciting year ahead.

Captain Marlie Packer praised the team’s efforts: "It was a great performance to start our WXV1 preparations. We know we need to keep improving, but this was a solid step forward. Facing New Zealand next week will be another massive test."

England’s display not only highlights their quality but also serves as a reminder of the depth and strength within the squad as they set their sights on further international success.