Hunt relishing Test revival and Black Ferns reunion

Women's Test: England v New Zealand

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham 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 & app

England scrum-half Natasha Hunt says she is relishing nan revival of her world profession arsenic she prepares to return connected New Zealand astatine Allianz Stadium connected Saturday.

The 35-year-old was a high-profile omission from England's Rugby World Cup squad successful 2022, but has played each crippled since caller coach John Mitchell took nan reins successful autumn 2023.

"There were times erstwhile I wasn't judge if I was done," she told 5 Live Rugby Union Weekly.

"But I genuinely consciousness for illustration I americium playing immoderate of my champion rugby of my profession and I americium perfectly loving it."

Hunt says modern betterment techniques, physio sessions and nutrition person helped her and different elite players prolong their careers, pointing to erstwhile England skipper Sarah Hunter, who retired astatine 37, and Mike Brown, who is still portion of Leicester's squad astatine 39.

"This is simply a very short-lived point - you don't get to beryllium a master jock for agelong and, erstwhile you stop, location is nary going backmost to it," said Hunt.

"You person sewage to beryllium judge erstwhile it is clip to spell and I person not been judge yet."

Hunt has been named arsenic a vice-captain this autumn, nan first clip she has held an on-pitch activity domiciled aft much than 70 caps for her country.

"I person ne'er been seen successful that ray to beryllium honest, I don't deliberation immoderate erstwhile coaches had maine arsenic that benignant of activity material," she said.

"It is simply a existent honour for me, but thing really changes. I spell astir my business nan aforesaid and effort and bring retired nan champion retired of everyone."

Hunt, on pinch Marlie Packer and Emily Scarratt, is 1 of 3 players successful nan existent Red Roses squad who played erstwhile New Zealand past visited Twickenham successful December 2012.

England played aft their antheral counterparts had wrapped up a celebrated triumph complete nan All Blacks connected nan aforesaid transportation earlier successful nan afternoon, pinch nan women's fixture portion of nan aforesaid ticket.

"I retrieve our warm-up that time was really, really short," she said. "We warmed up successful nan gym, came retired and virtually ran done 2 plays.

"But I didn't request a warm-up because nan ambiance was unbelievable.

"The astir crazy point now is that everyone astatine nan stadium is genuinely present for america - they person travel for a Red Roses fixture. That, for me, is nan biggest alteration successful my career."

The Red Roses drew a world grounds crowd for a women's Test lucifer to Twickenham successful 2023 erstwhile 58,498 watched them clinch nan Six Nations Grand Slam pinch a triumph complete France.

More than 40,000 fans are expected connected Saturday for nan standalone fixture.

Hear much from Natasha Hunt and England skipper Marlie Packer connected Thursday's section of Rugby Union Weekly .