How England can overcome French threats in Grand Slam decider

Guinness Women's Six Nations: England v France

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Date: Saturday, 26 April Kick-off: 16:45 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and online, listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, live text and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app

York, Cardiff, Cork, Leicester. It doesn't matter where England play in the Women's Six Nations, comfortable bonus-point wins follow.

The 59-7 hammering of Scotland last weekend means the Red Roses have secured the maximum possible 20 points from their four matches to set up a Grand Slam decider against France at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday.

John Mitchell's side have breezed past the competition so far but he has challenged his side to produce the "complete performance" to secure a seventh successive title.

Les Bleues are also undefeated this campaign and are the last team to beat the Red Roses in the Six Nations back in 2018.

"It's something we've had a chat about and it's something we're keen on. We know it's there. We're continually searching for that complete performance," Mitchell said.

What areas do England need to get right to once again lift the Six Nations? And what threat do the French pose?

France almost stunned England when they last travelled to Twickenham in 2023, when they scored 33 points in an incredible second-half fightback.

The game finished 38-33 as France cut loose in attack in the second period, scoring tries from all over the pitch, showing what can happen if you kick inaccurately to their dangerous backs.

Having scored 141 points in this year's championship and 21 points in last year's defeat by Mitchell's side in Bordeaux, Les Bleues remain dangerous in attack through their old-school French flair, meaning accuracy from the boot is needed to win the territorial battle and shut down opportunities.

Scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus remains a class act - proven in her standout display in a dominant second-half performance against Scotland - and has the ability to produce a magic moment from anywhere and at any time.

Fly-half Carla Arbez is joint-second for kicks in play (52) this championship, a tactic France have avoided using in their previous two encounters with Mitchell's side.

"France now attack differently and have a world class nine [Pauline Bourdon Sansus], who is a threat," Mitchell told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.

"They focus on kick metres, the 10 [Carla Arbez] is there to move them forward.

"In Bordeaux, they didn't kick, maybe seeing how our back three played at Twickenham against Ireland [the week prior], and in our WXV1 warm-up game in September they didn't kick at all.

"In this tournament, they have been reliant on kicks from 10, so I'll be surprised if they don't come with that."

Rapid wing Joanna Grisez is another player England need to keep an eye on after the 28-year-old showed off her sharp finishing ability for the opening score as France fought back to win 34-21 in Italy last Saturday.

Mitchell has moved away from Holly Aitchison's running game at 10 in favour of the tactical kicking of Saracens fly-half Zoe Harrison, who impressed in wins over Wales and Ireland, for the decider.

Harrison, on a wide Allianz Stadium pitch, is suited to finding space behind France's back three, and with a strong performance could seal a starting spot before a home Rugby World Cup that starts in August.

"A big, long kicking game where you can pressure France is going to be huge," former England fly-half Katy Daley-Mclean told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.

"France are not going to want to get into a territory battle, they are going to want to have their territory in the 22 when they can dominate with their big carries."

Scotland flanker Evie Gallagher was a constant threat at the breakdown in Leicester to record three turnovers, finding particular success in the second half to slow down England's ball.

"We could have been more ruthless at the breakdown in the second half [against Scotland]," flanker Marlie Packer told BBC.

"It's not about the scoreboard it's about our individual targets."

Prior to the win over Scotland, England struggled in the first half against Ireland, leading only 7-5 at half-time, with the hosts also producing vital turnovers to nullify the Red Roses.

France number eight Teani Feleu is joint-second for turnovers in this year's Six Nations with four, while lock Manae Feleu is also handy over the ball and has made three steals at the breakdown.

Les Bleues are likely to take note from Gallagher, who tops the overall stats with eight turnovers, and target England's breakdown to prevent quick ball reaching their clinical outside backs.

Captain Zoe Aldcroft is top for attacking ruck arrivals (101) in the competition, and will need more support from the rest of her pack in order to retain the ball.

England's pack have been dominant up front in all four of their wins during this year's Six Nations.

Scrum dominance over Ireland resulted in the second-half sin-binning of prop Niamh O'Dowd, which helped England score two tries and swing the game in their favour.

Scotland scored their first try against England since 2023 from a powerful maul drive on Saturday, with Mitchell also unhappy about his side's set-piece.

"We were a little bit untidy. Our maul could have been better and we let them off the hook at times," he told BBC.

France second row Manae Feleu has stolen two line-outs this campaign - topped only by England locks Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan - and will be keen to disrupt the Red Roses' line-out and maul, which was so key in their run to the World Cup final in 2022.

But it is also in the loose where France's pack will want to go toe-to-toe with the champions, with number eight Teani Feleu and locks Madoussou Fall and Manae Feleu all standout carriers.

In their past three wins Les Bleues have opted for a 6-2 bench spilt to maintain power from their pack for the full 80 minutes, which they have turned to again for the game on Saturday.

"France are one of the few packs in the Six Nations that I think can rival what England do," Daley-Mclean added.

With 10 offloads between lock pairing of Fall and Feleu, Mitchell's side will need to target wrapping up the ball as well as the tackler.

England: Sing; Dow, Jones, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Feaunati, Matthews.

Replacements: Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Burton, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland.

France: Bourgeois; Grisez, M Menager, Vernier, Arbwy; Arbez, Bourdon; Brosseau, Bigot, Khalfaoui, M Feleu (capt), Fall-Raclot, Escudero, Champon, T Feleu.

Replacements: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, Bernadou, Zago, Berthoumieu, Maka, Chambon, Queyroi.

Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)

TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)