When France edged England by a point in 2018, nobody imagined that eight years later, that would remain the Red Roses' last competition defeat. This Sunday in Bordeaux, Europe's top two meet again, with a Grand Slam on the line.
England are on a world-record 37-match unbeaten streak in the Six Nations, dating back to a 2022 World Cup final loss to New Zealand. They recently avenged that, beating Canada to win the World Cup and cementing their place as one of the most dominant teams in any major sport.
Since turning professional in 2018, England has surged ahead in depth and performance. The Premiership Women's Rugby league has allowed them to overcome a wave of injuries, retirements, and pregnancies, averaging 60 points and nine tries per game this tournament.
Coach John Mitchell is never satisfied, even after a 61-33 win over Italy. 'We are nowhere near where we need to be,' he said. 'We're still an unfinished rugby team.'
Last year's decider saw England win 43-42 after France rallied from 31-7 down. That performance has given France belief. Their speed and offloading game can unsettle England. For France to win, they need set-piece parity, discipline, and to stop England's maul - a tall order against a team that has not lost a competition match since 2018.