ENGLAND head coach Stuart Barrow has labelled Saturday’s 38-4 win in France as a worthwhile trip as preparations for this autumn’s World Cup stepped up a notch.
The margin of victory was not as wide as it has been against France in the past, but for Barrow the newer generation of England stars will still have benefitted from the battle.
“Coming out here has been a really good learning curve before we go to the World Cup,” Barrow told League Express, “especially for those girls who have never been in an England camp before.
“To come and spend three days away from home and learn what a performance looks like can be overwhelming if you’ve never done it before, but they’ve learned lots from the experience.
“It answered all the questions we asked and gave us a chance to look at systems, structures and people. But when you think you’ve seen one thing, then another question pops up, so it’s been really worthwhile.
“We can only take 23 people out to the World Cup so we’re trying to find little things about everyone and thinking who will be the best mix and the best abilities for when you go there.
“It’ll be really tough at the end of the year, but to have had this game gives us a little more information, which is really important.”
Barrow handed five players – Wigan Warriors trio Mary Coleman, Ellise Derbyshire and Megan Williams, and Ella Donnelly and Evie Cousins of Leeds Rhinos – their international debut and was pleased to see them all step up, with Derbyshire (twice) and Donnelly crossing for tries.
“All five of the debutants enjoyed the occasion and I was impressed with their performances,” added Barrow.
“Mary and Evie have missed out in the past because of injury, so for them to finally put the shirt on and get out there is testament to all their hard work, both on the field for the clubs, and also in the rehab to get back fit.
“For Ella and Ellise to get on the scoresheet created some really special moments for them too and we all celebrated that success as a group, so I was really pleased with how they all went.”