Wise to hold all bets on final joy for Red Roses

Roses are red, Scotland in blue, the stakes are rising, how will they do? The scoreboard answer from a soaking wet Bristol was predictable enough.

- Robert Kitson Ashton Gate

Roses are red, Scotland in blue, the stakes are rising, how will they do? The scoreboard answer from a soaking wet Bristol was predictable enough. When bookmakers start quoting prices of 1000-1 on for a team to win a two-horse race, the chances of England failing to reach the semi-finals were roughly on a par with anyone in the stands getting sunstroke.

With it came yet another record statistic for John Mitchell's serial winners. No leading international rugby side in history has previously won 31 Tests in a row as England's women have now done: 61 victories in their past 62 Tests leaves little room for people to question their pedigree or killer instinct.

Yet would you put your mortgage on England hoisting the World Cup in just under a fortnight? Without hesitation? Based on the evidence of this game, despite the comfortable victory margin, you may just be inclined to hold fire.

Sure, the return of Zoe Aldcroft makes a big difference. What a totemic figure the England captain has become. And, as ever, when England get within five metres of the opposition line with ball in hand, their supporters lick their lips. Scotland were spirited and committed but the laws of physics are not easily defied when big forwards with subterranean centres of gravity are queueing up to score.