Friendly battle for the No 10 shirt has England’s women flying

Such is England’s dominance of the Women’s Six Nations that the greatest challenge each player faces is earning a spot in the starting lineup. In every position Simon Middleton’s side possess two or three world-class talents capable of walking into any other side in the world. But no competition is as hotly contested as the one under way at fly-half.

On Sunday Zoe Harrison will wear No 10 on her back against Ireland but it could just as easily be Helena Rowland, who starts at 15. Both play fly-half, for Saracens and Loughborough Lightning respectively, but each of them brings a different approach to the role.

The 24-year-old Harrison is the traditional 10. Cool under pressure, accurate when kicking out of hand, she organises the line with military precision. Rowland, at 22, is the fleet-footed, side-stepping pivot who breaks the play open with a drop of her hip. Understandably, both chafe against the idea that their games can be so neatly pigeonholed.

“I think it’s been overdone and it’s not entirely true,” says Harrison. “[Rowland] is a great stepper. But she can control things as well. She’s not one-dimensional at all and our kicking game is pretty similar.”

Rowland also pushes back. “I think it’s potentially lazy, maybe, but I understand why people do it,” she says. “Zoe can run and step. I’ve seen her open things up by straightening the line. The more we train together, the more we play together, the more we develop our games. I’m constantly asking her about what she’s better at and she’s the same with me. We help each other. That can only be good for the team.”

The pair came together as young girls at Welwyn Rugby Club. The Hertfordshire club have produced nine England players, including the prop Hannah Botterman.