Feaunati eager to keep making an impact for Red Roses

Maddie Feaunati may still only be 22 but she has already made an impact on the Red Roses.

Her Player of the Match performance against Italy last weekend marked her 11th England cap and fourth start.

The Exeter Chiefs star has managed to cement her place in the back row, despite competition from the likes of Marlie Packer, Sadia Kabeya and Morwenna Talling, and will start at No.8 against Wales this weekend.

"The competition is very healthy, it's very clear where we are standing each week," she said.

"It's something to either chase or lead on. I enjoy it and it pushes me to get better and better."

Clarity is a pillar of England head coach John Mitchell's selection policy, stating before the first round of the Six Nations that the Red Roses will be running with "two teams" across the possible 13 Tests in 2025.

He has stayed true to his word across the opening two weekends, making 13 changes for the trip to Principality Stadium.

"It's all about opportunity and depth, and it's just about getting excited to play with new people and try new combinations, and they've been going well," Feaunati said.

"We've had the opportunity to work with a lot of new people that we haven't in the past, so it's keeping us on our feet and excited for more.

"He (Mitchell) understands me, and with many of the girls, he reads into them as people first rather than just players. It's not just ground-level stuff. The squad has a deeper connection with him.

"He opens up a lot to us as well which I think is really key If you want to build that trust. To have our coach and biggest leader leading by example [by opening up emotionally] it just allows us all to follow," she added.

The back-rower is thriving under Mitchell's leadership and is bidding to build on a strong opening showing against Italy as she competes for more gametime.

Saturday's match will be watched by a record crowd for a standalone women's sport fixture in Wales but Feaunati is not worried about the prospect of spoiling the hosts' party.

"We're used to playing at Allianz," she said.

"I guess it's exciting for the Wales Women and for us that we get to play at a bigger stadium but the prep doesn't change and we're focused on us."