England head coach Simon Middleton believes increased intensity in training will help his side hit new heights as they go in search of a third consecutive Women’s Six Nations crown.
The Red Roses have won Grand Slams in each of the past two campaigns and kick off this year’s competition at home to Scotland in Pool A on April 3.
England have not played since November, when they recorded back-to-back victories over Women’s Six Nations rivals France, and Middleton credits the players for inspiring a change in approach to practice which he hopes will pay dividends on the field.
“You’re always looking to try and develop your training,” he told England Rugby’s Inside Line podcast.
“The girls are hugely progressive and understand that to stand still is to go backwards. They have a massive thirst to develop themselves individually and collectively as a team.
“They have an unbelievable training ethic and they love a challenge. They know how to raise the bar.
“Off the back of the autumn internationals, they fed back that they didn’t feel challenged enough in training and we’ve changed quite a bit over the last eight months.
“Maybe we’ve gone old school. We’ve really gone into high intensity, physical training sessions where the girls are under a lot of pressure.
“We are mixing and matching challenges through the session and last week we had some of our best training sessions. I can’t wait to see how we go in a game situation.”
Middleton’s side, who also face Italy in Pool A of the revamped format, are adjusting to life without legendary fly-half Katy Daley-McLean, who retired in December following a glittering international career which began in 2007.
Filling the void will not be easy but 21-year-old Helena Rowland provided a glimpse into the future during her maiden international 15s appearances over the autumn while Meg Jones has also made the switch from Sevens to add to England’s options.
“Players like Katy Daley-McLean take some replacing,” Middleton said. “We’ve got some good players at first receiver but no-one has 100+ caps and can pull the strings like Katy.
“Helena Rowland and Meg Jones have both come back in (from Sevens) – Jonesy’s more of a 12 but she has played 10 for Wasps and she’s been smashing it out the park.
“They are very different players and we have some real strength in depth there, but it’s fairly raw.
“We have some fantastic talent coming through all over the pitch. We have great strength in depth in pretty much all our positions now.
“You reach a point where you’re ready to play and can’t train any more. We are ready to go and we’re keen as mustard.
“We are really confident we’ll be able to drop in and play at the intensity we want right from the off. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating but that’s what we’ll aim to do.”
