'There’s no better sports team in any gender on the planet than the Red Roses' - Ugo Monye previews Women's Six Nations
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ByOli Gent
Updated 24/03/2024 at 12:58 GMT
TNT Sports' Ugo Monye believes that there is no better team across any gender than England's women's rugby side as the Red Roses prepare for the Women's Six Nations. John Mitchell's side are gearing up an assault for a potential sixth straight crown in the competition, and welcome back key faces Emily Scarratt, Zoe Harrison, and Abby Ward to their set-up, which boasts more younger players.
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TNT Sports expert Ugo Monye believes that there is no better team across any gender than England’s women’s rugby side ahead of the Women’s Six Nations.
The Red Roses, now coached by John Mitchell, are firm favourites to retain the title, which they have won 19 times, and five times consecutively since 2019.
They finished as runners-up at the World Cup in 2022, narrowly losing out in the final to New Zealand 34-31, which included a controversial red card for England’s Lydia Thompson for a high tackle on Portia Woodman.
Now, England come into the 22nd Women’s Six Nations on a hot streak of form.
They are unbeaten since that World Cup final, with their most recent outing a 38-33 victory over France back in April 2023.
Les Bleues will be the main threat to the Red Roses’ chances of a sixth straight crown at the Six Nations, and the match-up between the two sides - scheduled for April 27 at Stade Chaban-Delmas - is highly anticipated.
TNT Sports pundit Monye believes that, despite their World Cup final defeat, England’s women’s rugby side are the best team across any gender in the world.
“They’re the number one side in the world,” Monye said.
“John Mitchell is someone with a vast amount of experience, totally connected with that team and wanting to take them to that next level. They’ve been the standard-bearers for many a year.
“In addition to the current crop of talent they’ve got, we’ve got the reintroduction of Zoe Harrison and Emily Scarratt, who’s been out for 13 months. To be able to welcome back the former World Player of the Year into an already highly-functioning side speaks volumes to where this team truly are.”
“They’re ready to move onto a new generation if that new generation is ready for the standards that the Red Roses set.”
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The returning Harrison and Scarratt, the fly-half and centre, will bolster Mitchell’s ranks and incorporate more experience into a more youthful-looking squad.
“With Harrison, Scarratt, and Abby Ward all coming back for this first game, it’s a great opportunity to reintegrate them against an Italy team that they’ll be fairly confident of winning [against],” Monye explained.
“For Zoe Harrison, how unfortunate it’s been for her, but Holly Aitchison in her absence has been absolutely superb for Saracens last year and this year with Bristol Bears. Abby Ward is a wonderfully gifted rugby player. She came back after giving birth to her first child after just four months. That is an amazing story. To see her back with a Red Rose on her chest is really good to see.
“A Grand Slam [would be a success for them]. I don’t think there’s a better sports team in any gender on the planet than the Red Roses. I think they’re that good. They lost the World Cup in 2022 against the Black Ferns, but they went back to New Zealand at WXV and put 40 points on them. I don’t think there’s anyone that comes closer.
“The dominance they have in this sport and the chokehold they have is quite extraordinary. 2025 is going to be another moment for women’s sport in this country, in the same way we saw the Lionesses.
“They had that as a carrot dangling - to host a World Cup and be part of that team - is going to be absolutely ferocious in terms of competition and everyone wants to be a part of it.”
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