Jones challenges Red Roses to keep rivals guessing
England captain Meg Jones says the Red Roses need to broaden and vary their attack as other teams close the gap at the top of women’s rugby. Her comments follow England’s first defeats in 41 matches, against Canada earlier this month, and a narrow escape against New Zealand in September.
England responded with a nine-try win over the United States in New Jersey, with scores from across the team showing the range of threats Jones wants them to offer. The result eased concerns about England’s world ranking, while the side now look towards defending their Rugby World Cup title and pursuing a ninth consecutive Women’s Six Nations crown, beginning against Wales on 10 April.
In short
- Meg Jones wants England to make their attack less predictable.
- England scored nine tries against the United States.
- The Red Roses aim for a ninth straight Six Nations title.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Broadening England’s attack could help the team stay ahead as rivals adapt, making their play harder to predict and giving more players chances to threaten. After losing to Canada and being pushed by New Zealand, varying their approach may also strengthen their prospects of defending the World Cup and continuing their Six Nations run.
The case against
A more varied attack can make England less predictable, but changing a successful approach risks disrupting the combinations and clarity that have underpinned their results. Their nine-try win over the United States suggests the existing squad already has multiple threats, so the priority could be refining execution and consistency rather than widening the game plan.
Explained simply
The Red Roses is the name used for England’s women’s rugby union team. They have been one of the strongest sides in the sport and won the most recent Women’s Rugby World Cup; the Women’s Six Nations is an annual tournament between England and five other European teams.
Rugby teams try to score by carrying or kicking the ball into the opposition’s scoring area, and attacks can use different players and routes to get past defenders. As other leading teams become more competitive, varying an attack can make it harder for opponents to predict how England will play.