BERN BRACE AS ENGLAND LAND SLAM

ENGLAND underlined why they will be World Cup favourites after winning a fourth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title with a Grand Slam victory in France.

In front of a sold-out Bayonne crowd, England didn’t look back

France 12 after France’s Romane Menager had scored first.

Two tries from prop Sarah Bern and one from Abbie Ward gave

England 24

England a 21-7 half-time lead and despite Annaelle Deshayes’ 66th-minute try for Les Bleues, they held on for 23rd win in a row.

Captain Emily Scarratt said: “It means so much every time we get a Grand Slam. Some players weren’t in the squad for this match and this is for every person who played in the Six Nations.”

After record wins against the Black Ferns in the autumn, this victory places the Red Roses as

firm favourites for the world title.