No complacency as Middleton’s squad prepare for tough opener

chanical engineer. For Harriet MillarMills, who could come off the bench against Les Bleues to make her first appearance for England since the 2017 World Cup final, the side’s fully-fledged professionalism is palpable.

“The standard has definitely grown over the past two years,” said the Wasps back rower.

She is also rubbing shoulders with the likes of 17-year-old Morwenna Talling, from England’s talent development group, but such is the ferocity of have pooled a number of players from their sevens side, a tactic employed to fudge the issue of professionalism which gnaws at the women’s game.

Can other teams test England’s mettle when their unions are showing no signs of fully professionalising?

The Welsh Rugby Union are yet to explain the absence of their coach Rowland Phillips who is “taking some time away”, leaving Gareth Wyatt, Chris Horsman and Geraint Lewis to lead an inexperienced squad.

Scotland have made notable strides and now have 10 players on “2021 contracts” aimed at qualifying the side for the World Cup in New Zealand, but there are not enough to go around for their captain, Rachel Malcolm.

“You’ve got to recognise that all teams are at very different stages in their journeys,” said Malcolm.

Whether such optimism will be enough to halt England remains to be seen. Hunter is hopeful. “We have fantastic support from the RFU to allow us to be professional. We focus on that and hope that other unions will follow.”