A final Le Crunch with France overseas provided a supreme stage for England to prove themselves in front of an enviously hostile Les Bleues crowd. Prove it they did, on the right side of a 42-21 scoreline.
Smoke and flames engulfed the champions as Marlie Packer gripped the prized silverware with every ounce of furore England have demonstrated across five perfect rounds.
Classy Kiwi Mitchell has often called on his side to ‘take the handbrake’ off but referring to this squad as an engineered masterpiece is starting to sound like an understatement.
That is not to say the Red Roses had it all their own way. The hosts were gunning to play up to an intoxicating atmosphere of impassioned fans, proudly waving a sea of tricolour flags before kick-off. Scintillating. 28,023 is a new record for a standalone women’s Test in France.
On a glossy Stade Chaban-Delmas pitch after some earlier downpours, the sun peaked its way in and the Red Roses flourished.
Tries from Maud Muir and Player of the Match Alex Matthews gifted an early advantage to the visitors, who returned to their mauling roots when necessary in the competition’s climax.
Tighthead prop Muir felt the Championship favoured England’s free-flowing backs before this finale but, when it mattered in France, the forwards were a force to be reckoned with.
Her prop partner Hannah Botterman, partial to a spot of crocheting, perfectly knitted this offensive with Amy Cokayne returning from suspension to top off a devasting front row – the hooker going over from a clinical set-piece on the stroke of half time.
Gaëlle Mignot’s side certainly had their moments too, Gabrielle Vernier’s opportune score and Marine Menager’s clever run on the wing to dot down provided a reprieve from conceding five in the first half.
And with every metre gained, 508 to England’s 302, the crowd’s appetite for a comeback swelled.
It took until the 69th minute for the second-half deadlock to be broken through Menager again as Les Bleues struck gold from a period camped inside England’s 22.
But France were already a player down by that point after Assia Khalfaoui saw red for head-on-head contact against Morwenna Talling as the Grand Slam stretched further from their grasp.
Matthews, a standout performer closed the tie after weaving her way through off the back of a brilliant hold and pass from breakout talent Connie Powell off the bench.
Rounding off the crowning moment was Lucy Packer, not in attack but defence, halting a final French offensive by superbly holding up the ball.
Marlie Packer expertly summarised: “We have been working really hard to get to this place, it is not something we did overnight.
“I am super proud the girls and the way we performed today. It is a tough gig coming to France, the crowd were amazing they were constant the whole game.
“We reacted to that really well, we played some really good rugby out there. France tested us so testament to them and the way they performed.”
With 104 caps to her name, the skipper knows more than most how the Red Roses have evolved, 16 years on from her debut.
This is the John Mitchell and his sublime team’s era. As captain Packer admits, we have not seen rugby quite like this in their Six Nations ascendancy across as many years.
When the skipper was asked whether she has ever been part of a greater squad, she replied: “I don't think so and I got asked the question earlier 'where is the limit for this team?', I don't think we have a limit."
