England's World Cup countdown begins against France

Women's Test: England v France

Venue: Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Date: Saturday, 7 September Kick-off: 14:30 BST

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

Planning, preparing and peaking - that is what nan adjacent twelvemonth looks for illustration for nan England women's squad successful mentation for a location Rugby World Cup.

As nan timeline moved to 400 days until nan last astatine Twickenham, nan squad gathered for a gathering to statesman an unforgiving countdown.

The action of reliable September Tests against France and New Zealand earlier WXV1 successful Canada shows John Mitchell wants to situation his broadside complete nan adjacent year.

Up first is France astatine Kingsholm Stadium connected Saturday, a broadside nan Red Roses person beaten 13 times successful a statement since 2018, and astir precocious defeated 42-21 successful April to clinch a sixth consecutive Six Nations title.

"France are a awesome squad and we build our Six Nations astir playing them because we cognize they are nan champion guidance we are going to get," England skipper Marlie Packer told BBC Sport.

"They person started, complete nan past fewer years, to tally complete footwear and that is because they person immoderate awesome beforehand 5 players, but their loose backmost statement players are really useful astatine moving and passing and getting progressive successful nan wide channels."

Throughout Mitchell's first Six Nations run he kept everyone guessing pinch his squad selection.

It was each astir rotation and opportunity to build extent and find retired astir his caller players.

As nan squad settled towards nan Grand Slam showpiece successful Bordeaux, still no-one was ever decently safe.

Flanker Sadia Kabeya and centre Megan Jones ended nan run arsenic important players, but injuries person ruled them retired of nan full autumn campaign, pinch fastener Catherine O'Donnell joining them connected nan sidelines.

"Injuries are portion and parcel of nan athletics we play and Mitch [Mitchell] is very large connected if personification is injured past it is simply a caller opportunity [for different player]," Packer added.

Flanker Maddie Feaunati starts her first Test connected Saturday, while centre Helena Rowland comes successful for Jones astatine 13, arsenic Mitchell makes only 2 changes to his starting XV from nan past gathering pinch France.

On nan bench, England Under-20 skipper and 2nd statement Lilli Ives Campion is group to make her elder debut, pinch nan Red Roses ray successful nan fastener department.

The Red Roses maturation has been helped by playing crossed England astatine various stadiums.

Their past crippled astatine Kingsholm was during nan 2022 Six Nations erstwhile they hit Wales 58-5 successful beforehand of a crowd of 14,869.

Six players successful nan matchday squad play their rugby for Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury - including prop Maud Muir, who played successful nan 2022 Six Nations crippled against Wales.

"It was insane having that galore supporters [in 2022]. Hopefully connected Saturday we person nan aforesaid magnitude of England supporters and it echoes done nan full stadium," Muir said.

"The Shed is simply a typical portion of nan club. They are harsh successful nan Shed. I deliberation that adds to it and it whitethorn not beryllium very sporting, but that is Gloucester.

"You will perceive them. Gloucester fans are loud."

New Zealander Mitchell has coached and played astatine Kingsholm earlier and is excited to return connected nan world stage.

"It's a spot that smells of rugby and has a existent rugby community," he added.

"I person fond memories of playing for nan All Blacks astatine Kingsholm and winning my first crippled arsenic Sale coach there.

"It's a typical spot and this play nan girls person an opportunity to make their ain memories together."

England: Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Aldcroft, Talling, Feaunati, M Packer, Matthews.

Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Carson, Bern, Campion, Cleall, L Packer, Harrison, Scarratt.

France: Jacquet; Banet, Konde, M Menager, Boulard; Tuy, Chambon; Brosseau, Sochat, Khalfaoui, M Feleu (capt), Fall, Escudero, Gros, R Menager.

Replacements: Bigot, Mwayembe, Bernadou, Ikahehegi, Okemba, T Feleu, Bourdon Sansus, Vernier.