Women’s Six Nations: France v England
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Date: Saturday, 27 April Kick-off: 16:45 BST
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online; live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra; text commentary, highlights and report on BBC Sport website and app.
England will have to win their individual battles to overcome France in their Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider on Saturday.
The Red Roses have not lost in the competition for 28 games – since they were beaten 18-17 by Les Bleus in Grenoble in 2018.
But France are also unbeaten this year and have home advantage as they seek to ruin England’s bid for a sixth successive title.
BBC Sport looks at six key battles in the final game of the 2024 competition.
Queyroi v Aitchison
The battle of the fly-halves pits Lina Queyroi against Holly Aitchison.
Queyroi is a smart operator with ball in hand and is equally competent directing her side’s attack from the boot.
The France number 10, who has had three try assists in the championship, exposed Italy’s defence with a clever chip through before later kicking the ball wide for Melissande Llorens to finish in the corner.
Aitchison has established herself as England’s first choice following Zoe Harrison’s long-term knee injury, and her excellent range of distribution has created four tries – only half-back partner Natasha Hunt has more assists (five).
If it comes down to kicking from the tee, France have the edge. Queyroi has converted 13 of France’s 19 tries, although Aitchison continues to improve and added the extra two points after nine of England’s 14 tries against Ireland.
Boulard v Kildunne
The player with arguably the toughest job on the pitch is Emilie Boulard.
The France full-back is tasked with being the last line of defence against England’s relentless attack and their most potent weapon, her opposite number Ellie Kildunne.
The influential England full-back scored a hat-trick in the Roses’ win over Ireland last time out to take her tournament-leading tally to nine tries.
Kildunne has also racked up the most carries, most metres carried and line breaks.
Only Romane Menager has gained more metres than Boulard for France, but it will be the full-back’s resolve in defence that is tested most against Kildunne and England.
Konde v Jones
Outside centre will be a fiercely contested position as Nassira Konde faces Megan Jones.
Konde is a graceful runner, with the ability to expose defences in the number 13 channel, but she is also a menace at the breakdown.
France often use her to chase kick-offs and to great success, as she stole the ball at the breakdown from the restart against Italy before the hosts scored a try.
Wales-born Jones has formed a formidable England centre partnership with Tatyana Heard.
She is a constant threat – adapting to slow ball by changing her line to crash over from close range against Ireland, before later side-stepping her way over the whitewash.
Romane Menager v Matthews
Powerful in open play and from the base of the scrum, Romane Menager is the French battering ram with the speed of a back and the physicality of a loose forward.
Menager, twin sister of wing Marine, has carried and gained more metres than any of her compatriots in this year’s tournament.
Alex Matthews has established herself as England’s first-choice number eight after Sarah Hunter’s retirement.
Like Menager, Matthews carries the ball hard and also has the agility to test defences at the fringes.
Fall v Aldcroft
Madoussou Fall is a French lock capable of dominating in the line-out but also able to hit the accelerator into contact.
She is the joint-top French try-scorer, with two tries in this year’s Six Nations, and impressed in the win against Ireland.
Zoe Aldcroft stood in as England captain during Marlie Packer’s absence against Scotland and has been one of the Red Roses’ standout performers.
The lock, who can also play in the back row, has made the most tackles (58) of any England player in the championship.
She is also the leading light at the breakdown, with a tournament-high 35 clean-outs – Scotland’s Alex Stewart is second with 21.
Khalfaoui v Botterman
France prop Assia Khalfaoui defies logic.
She carries all of the physical attributes needed to compete in the scrum, along with the hands and skill of a centre.
Khalfaoui has the ability to link play, making more offloads than any other player in the competition with nine.
Hannah Botterman will want to test her opposite number in the scrum, as well as continuing to impose herself in the loose.
Botterman carries hard and takes some stopping with ball in hand.
