England the World Cup favourites on home soil

HOME nation England head into the World Cup as red-hot favourites amid record-breaking ticket sales and optimism of women’s rugby hitting new heights.

- BY ED ELLIOT

The formidable Red Roses have swept aside all before them since suffering defeat to New Zealand in the final of the 2022 tournament.

Even that agonising 34-31 loss in Auckland - the team's solitary setback in their past 58 matches - was mitigated by an early red card for wing Lydia Thompson.

England have now gone 27 games and more than 1,000 days without defeat, clinched seven consecutive Six Nations titles, and avenged heartbreak at the hands of the Black Ferns by winning three subsequent meetings.

John Mitchell’s hosts kick off their quest for World Cup glory on Friday evening against the United States in Sunderland and will also face Samoa and Australia in Pool A.

Lifting silverware at Twickenham is the obvious aim but it is intertwined with ambitions of elevating the women’s game.