Alphonsi adamant that chance for a hat-trick of titles in 2017 is still very much alive

Lewisham-born Alphonsi, playing in her second global tournament, was part of the England side that beat Canada 21-9 in August 2014 to become world champions.

The 31-year-old hung up her boots following the triumph and in her absence England have failed to live up to expectations, finishing fourth at this year’s Six Nations, their lowest ever position having won seven straight titles between 2006 and 2012, six of those via Grand Slams.

However, it isn’t Alphonsi’s absence – who was part of all seven-straight successes – that is to blame but rather the inclusion of rugby sevens in the Olympic programme for Rio 2016.

Several of England’s XV stars have been included in the sevens squad as England helped secure Team GB a place in Brazil, but Alphonsi believes World Cup success in 2017 in Ireland is still a real possibility.

“England have gone through these massive management changes, players have retired, and the year after any big World Cup I believe a team always goes through that type of transition, because they’re having to adapt again for another four years time, said Alphonsi, speaking at Wooden Spoon’s Rugby Ball."

“It happened to the England men’s team, and affectively for them the next four years are going to be very interesting. For our girls, unfortunately we had that experience, which isn’t great because you want to continue on positive winning ways, but the focus for them now is building towards the next World Cup, which is going to be one year sooner in 2017."

“It’s very difficult, now they are part of the sevens program, it means they are further removed from the XVs structure, but their knowledge and expertise is still relevant."

“It’s going to make things positive in a sense that it means the RFU have to focus on trying to develop new players. That’s always important, like we saw in the men’s World Cup, you need a lot of players who are confident under that pressure."

“That will allow opportunities to feed through and blood new players. The challenge that does present is that you’re taking away some of your most experienced players, who will come back for the next World Cup, but one season out is quite a big systematic change."

“So who knows how that experience will go. It can go one of two ways, at the moment results haven’t been great but what’s positive is that we’ve got an extra two years to develop these players and make it right."

“Like we saw with the New Zealand’s men’s team, and Australia’s, It’s about peaking for a World Cup not what’s in between. They’re going to go through ups and downs but hopefully they can come up with another consecutive World Cup win in 2017. That’s the priority.”

And Alphonsi is adamant the talent is there for all to see in the current England crop.

“There’s a girl called Charlotte Clapp, a very good winger who’s got a bit of gas, and can back herself,” Alphonsi added.

“A lot of our other experienced players are now part of the sevens program and they’re going to Rio so we need players like Charlotte who are coming through."

“Sarah Mckenna is also a very talented player. She plays full-back, got a good bit of gas and has come from the sevens program but is one for the future."

“Abbie Scott, a second row, has got very much a Courtney Lawes about her, a big physical unit who can jump but can also play in the back row. So these girls are also coming through and it is great to see.”

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