Mitchell's three-year plan for Red Roses delivers
REACTION: England head coach John Mitchell said his team’s World Cup-winning performance has been three years in the making.
The Red Roses finally got their name engraved on the World Cup trophy after they claimed the 2025 World Cup title with their 33-13 victory over Canada in the final at Twickenham on Saturday.
It was a case of third time lucky for the English as they had previously lost two World Cup finals.
Mitchell took charge of the Red Roses following the agonising 31-34 loss to the Black Ferns in the COVID-delayed 2022 final in Auckland.
And since then, they have grown from strength to strength and are now the 2025 World Cup champions.
They hoisted the trophy in front of a record crowd for women’s rugby of 82,500.
“Three years ago, we set about doing something and it’s quite cool how it just unravelled all today,” Mitchell told reporters.
“We’ve been visually probably feeling this and imagining this for some time. We’ve been very true in our environment about how we’ve been sort of like climbing a mountain and I think 2022 taught us a lot, it’s made us ready for now.
“I think we just always knew that a home tournament was going to need a huge connection and as a result of connection we were going to capture our nation along with that and I think unless you’re connected on the inside how can you portray that on the outside.
“We always knew that we were going to be good at the rugby but ultimately at the end of the day I think our culture won, all 32 players, all the staff, all bought into what we value, and those values have guided us to this point.”
The former Bulls and All Blacks coach was named the World Rugby coach of the Year.
It is a really significant feat for the 61-year-old, who six years ago was an assistant coach of the England team that suffered a defeat to the Springboks in the World Cup final in Japan.
“I’m the old bugger that’s been hanging around for a while, you get some really big memories and you lose some memories, I mean I think there’s a lot of swings and roundabouts in this trade, I’ve endured most of them I think, that’s not just me, I obviously set the lead but I can’t do it on my own.”
When asked where he rates this win, he added: “I am very proud to be part of it.
“There have been some great foundations laid by Simon [Middleton] in the past. This team has been the best in the world for eight years but hasn’t got the job done – and finally has.”
