Former Roses star turned Oz coach knows hosts inside out

RED ROSE legend Sarah Hunter has warned England to beware of Australia’s inside knowledge ahead of today’s pool clash in Brighton.

- By Adam Hathaway

The Wallaroos are headed up by former England scrumhalf Jo Yapp, who coached 13 of the 23 home squad players at England Under-20 or club level earlier in their careers.

Yapp, a former international teammate of Hunter's, moved Down Under in 2024 to take the Aussie job after her club Worcester went bust. The likes of fly-half Zoe Harrison and wing Abby Dow, who is gunning for her 50th international try this afternoon, have been trained by her in the past, so there is not a lot she does not know about today’s rivals.

Hunter, left, a World Cup-winning No.8 in 2014 and now an assistant coach with England, warned her side should be on guard for every eventuality.