England Women’s Rugby World Cup squad: Talking points from John Mitchell’s selection

Scarratt is one of four squad members included from the group that beat Canada 11 years ago.

Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews and Natasha Hunt all played that day and have been key players for Mitchell over the past two seasons.

Packer, 35, captained England during that time and lifted back-to-back Grand Slams before Zoe Aldcroft took over as skipper this year.

Young talent has emerged in the back row and Packer faces tough competition for a starting spot but her experience will be key, having started the past three World Cup finals.

Number eight Alex Matthews, who was named player of the match when England won the Grand Slam against France last year, has developed into Mitchell’s big game player.

Suspension impacted the 31-year-old’s start to this year’s Six Nations but she showed her class on her return. When England play well, Matthews is usually at the heart of the team with her strong ball-carrying.

Hunt has established herself as Mitchell’s starting scrum-half after being a surprise omission from the World Cup squad in 2022.

The 36-year-old is the oldest player in the squad but has played some of her best rugby over the past two seasons.

Hunt’s fast service is vital to how Mitchell wants to play and her return to the international stage has taken England’s attack to the next dimension.

The class of 2014 have a combined 383 caps and will be the drivers of Mitchell’s plan, with a potential final World Cup at Twickenham bringing further motivation.

“There are so many lessons [from winning a World Cup],” Scarratt told BBC Sport.

“Even the times we’ve lost in World Cup finals. Not everything has to be perfect. You think in a successful campaign everything needs to be perfect and on the money, and of course you’re striving for that but inevitably there are going to be bumps, there will be things you have to fix.”