England ‘always trying to be better’ ahead of Women’s Six Nations, says Atkin-Davies

Published 19/03/2024 at 23:47 GMT

England hooker Lark Atkin-Davies has insisted the team are ‘always trying to better’ ahead of the 2024 Women’s Six Nations. The Red Roses get their campaign for a sixth successive Six Nations title underway this weekend against Italy, with new head coach John Mitchell at the helm. Atkin-Davies said England were focusing on showing ‘some variety’ during the match.

Lark Atkin-Davies of England arrives ahead of the Women’s International match between England Red Roses and Canada at StoneX Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Barnet, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

Lark Atkin-Davies has insisted England are “always trying to be better” ahead of the 2024 Women’s Six Nations, despite completely dominating the tournament since 2019.

The Red Roses are seeking their sixth successive Six Nations title, and their fifth Grand Slam in a row.

England’s schedule will include a match against Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, which will also host the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final.

Atkin-Davies, who plays for Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby team Bristol Bears, stressed that the focus was fully on the Six Nations rather than next year’s home World Cup.

“As much as there is that focus on the World Cup on the horizon, it’s about us as players and individually doing our job first with the Six Nations,” she said.

“It’s a massive tournament and we want to perform and keep elevating our performance, then we will look at the WXV and the build-up to the World Cup.”

Marlie Packer of England celebrates with the trophy after the TikTok Women’s Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium on April 29, 2023 in London, England

Image credit: Getty Images

Atkins-Davies added: “I love to be challenged and love learning, and with JM [head coach John Mitchell] coming in, he is trying to raise our game with variety and by trying to play faster.

“There is loads we can work on physically and from a game understanding point of view, but we are always trying to be better.”

After succeeding Simon Middleton in November, Mitchell will take charge of England for the first time in a Six Nations game on Sunday, March 24.

The Red Roses will take on Italy at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma.

“The big thing for us is showing some variety, in terms of what we can do as forwards and backs,” said Atkin-Davies.

“Italy are coming off the back of three wins in the WXV so they will have confidence coming into the game.

“We know Italy always bring their flare and they run the ball a lot, so we are expecting them to bring loads of different challenges.

“It’s about us making sure we focus on our performances because we know what Italy will bring with the unpredictability in their game.”

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