England opened the 2026 Women's Six Nations with a 12‑point concession to Ireland at Allianz Stadium and a seven‑point loss to Scotland at Murrayfield. Injuries have depleted John Mitchell’s squad, leaving him without four World Cup winners and forcing 30 players into the campaign, five on debut. The shortage of locks saw 19‑year‑old Haineala Lutui shift from back row to second row.

Defensive metrics have slipped; England now concede 4.8 more points and 0.8 more tries per game than last year, with missed tackles rising to 3.45 per match and dominant tackles falling to 5.5. While line‑breaks allowed have dropped by 1.3 per game, lapses at rucks handed Italy and Wales easy scores, exposing the in‑experience of debutants like Haidee Head. Coach Mitchell urges faster adaptation among newcomers.

Ellie Kildunne continues to dominate, leading the tournament in metres gained and line breaks, while teammate Pauline Barrat trails closely. France’s deep‑running attack, spearheaded by Bourdon Sansus and Barrat, threatens England’s unsettled back‑line ahead of the Stade Atlantique showdown. England must tighten scramble defence or risk seeing their title hopes evaporate as France presses today.