Red Roses set for revenge mission

ENGLAND return to New Zealand for the first time since their ‘devastating’ loss to the Black Ferns in last year’s World Cup final aiming to get revenge in the newly formed WXV competition. 

- BEN JAYCOCK

The Red Roses were beaten 34-31 at Eden Park last November and interim head coach Louis Deacon says the “players are looking forward to going back” to the scene of that defeat.

“Losing the final was devastating, but a lot of us have got great memories of New Zealand,” Deacon said. “The players are looking forward to going back.

“The biggest thing is that they want to improve and it is an opportunity for us to test ourselves against the Black Ferns, Australia and Canada.”

Split across three pools, the WXV will provide more competitive games between World Cups. Promotion and relegation has been introduced between levels two and three.

England are in WXV1, the top tier, along with New Zealand, France, Canada, Australia and Wales with all games played in New Zealand, with Deacon’s side kicking off against Australia in Wellington on October 20.

England named the 30-player squad without any input from incoming head coach John Mitchell, who will link up with the squad following the conclusion of his duties as forwards coach of Japan at the men’s World Cup.

Helena Rowland has been given a vice-captaincy position, and Deacon wants to stop moving her around positions and focus on her wearing 13.