France 0-42 England: Stuart Barrow says experienced players helped debutants ‘flourish’

Head coach Stuart Barrow believes the experienced players within his England team helped their five debutants “flourish” in Saturday’s 42-0 win against France in Toulouse.

Wigan’s 17-year-old half-back Isabel Rowe was among the quintet making their first appearances at international level, while club-mate Anna Davies marked her first England game with two of their eight tries.

Selected alongside them were players such as captain Jodie Cunningham, centre Amy Hardcastle and second row Emily Rudge, who have amassed 91 international caps between them.

Barrow told BBC Sport: “I wouldn’t say I was apprehensive, but when you bring five [debutants] in, this is probably the most different that an England team has looked for the past two or three years.

“I was sat thinking: ‘I’ve chosen them because I know their qualities and I know what they bring, but I hope it goes OK’ – not for me, but for them.

“I thought they did flourish, but they were able to flourish because of the people they’ve got inside and outside them. It’s easier to bring people in when you’ve got experienced professionals like Amy, Emily and Jodie around them.”

York full-back Georgie Hetherington was also a try-scorer on debut, while Katie Mottershead of St Helens and Bella Sykes of Leeds were also involved.