Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Hunt predicts ‘most competitive Six Nations ever’
ENGLAND scrum-half Natasha Hunt believes this season’s Women’s Six Nations could be the most competitive in its 22-year history.
The tournament kicks off today when France host Ireland in Le Mans and Wales tackle Scotland at Cardiff Arms Park. England, the winners of 14 Six Nations titles and 12 Grand Slams since the tournament began in 2002, launch their campaign against Italy in Parma tomorrow.
The Red Roses’ two home fixtures against Wales and Ireland will be played at Ashton Gate and Twickenham respectively.
Wales’ appointment with Italy on April 27, meanwhile, is their first stand-alone women’s Test at the
Principality Stadium, with a possible title decider taking place later that day between France and England in Bordeaux.
England are bidding for a sixth successive Six Nations crown, and the world’s number one-ranked team look like being tough to stop.
Former New Zealand men’s head coach and England assistant John Mitchell is now at the helm, while his support staff includes World Cup winner and 141 times-capped Red Roses number eight Sarah Hunter.
“I think it could be the most competitive ever,” Hunt, right, the 35-year-old Gloucester-Hartpury nine, told the PA news agency.
“It took us (England) two or three years to reap the benefits of having our professional contracts, and Scotland and Wales are now in that boat. Everyone wants to watch games that go down to the wire, so the more competitive the games are, the better it is for the viewer.
“We have got a whole new gameplan, a whole new system that we are trying to implement, and we want to get that right and do what we can to put our best foot forward.”