England finessing key areas for NZ test - Hunter

England v New Zealand

Venue: Allianz Stadium, London Date: Saturday, 14 September Kick-off: 14:30 BST

Coverage: Watch unrecorded connected BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online; updates connected BBC Radio 5 Live; matter commentary connected BBC Sport website and app

Defence coach Sarah Hunter says England person pinpointed aspects of their crippled to "finesse" earlier Saturday's WXV1 lucifer against world champions New Zealand astatine Allianz Stadium.

The Red Roses, who are classed number 1 successful nan world, are unbeaten since November 2022 erstwhile they lost to nan Black Ferns successful nan World Cup final.

A friends triumph complete France past Saturday kickstarted a twelvemonth successful which England will big nan World Cup adjacent August, but Hunter says they must trim their correction count against their confederate hemisphere opposition.

"We want an improved performance," said Hunter.

"We won against France but it surely wasn't a polished capacity and we person identified cardinal areas we want to finesse.

"The scrum has been picked up arsenic an area wherever we tin improve, though we really did that during nan crippled and it was awesome to spot nan girls' in-game problem-solving. There were besides a fewer lapses successful attraction astir nan maul, which is easy to fix."

Hunter continued: "France for illustration to tally nan shot and they person immoderate challenging backs, for illustration New Zealand, who will want to play.

"We request to return our defence to that adjacent level erstwhile again, arsenic attacking rugby is their small heart and it's what they are brought up on."

England claimed a 3rd consecutive Six Nations Grand Slam this year and are favourites to clasp their WXV1 title successful Canada aft winning nan inaugural competition past November.

They are yet to acquisition conclusion since caput coach John Mitchell took charge, but erstwhile number 8 Hunter, who was portion of nan broadside that won nan 2014 World Cup, says nan players proceed to study contempt their winning run.

"Before 2014, we mislaid plentifulness of games which helped style us," said Hunter.

"Equally, erstwhile you person a winning situation for illustration we do now, location are still moments successful a crippled erstwhile things are against us.

"We are difficult connected ourselves and it's astir improving those moments moreover erstwhile we're winning."

England's crippled pinch New Zealand will beryllium Hunter's past earlier she gives commencement to her first child.

The 38-year-old erstwhile captain, who retired from playing aft nan 2023 Six Nations, will not recreation pinch nan broadside to Canada for WXV1, which runs from 29 September to 13 October.

Hunter, however, says she will still beryllium progressive from backmost home.

"I don’t deliberation you are allowed to alert for a definite magnitude of clip [before giving birth] truthful it was taken retired of my hands," said Hunter.

"I would emotion to beryllium retired location supporting nan girls connected nan ground, but nan babe isn’t owed until nan extremity of October truthful I will beryllium moving from backmost successful England. I will still beryllium doing each of our study and readying sessions for nan coaches retired there."

Hunter has continued successful her face-to-face domiciled during pre-season but says her positioning connected nan section has changed done her pregnancy.

"[John Mitchell] has been superb ever since I told him and he wanted to make a scheme activity that kept maine involved," she added.

"As nan clip has gone on, really and wherever I've been placed connected nan section has shifted distant from immoderate of nan players who for illustration to tally astatine people.

"I person been taking much of an overview look connected training, truthful it has taking a spot of getting utilized to. As a forward, you want to beryllium successful nan heavy of it.

"The girls person been superb arsenic well, and they person astir apt been much conscious of my use than I person been.

"Everyone is turning up for maine connected a regular basis, whether it's carrying nan kit aliases making judge I've sewage water. The nutritionist has been making judge I've sewage snacks.

"They are each really willing and support asking maine questions."