"She looked like a Starter" - 5 Talking Points: England coach John Mitchell and captain Marlie Packer react to win against France

England now have a week to prepare for the incoming Test of the Black Ferns, with New Zealand set to descend on Twickenham's Allianz Stadium this Saturday (14:30 KO). This exhibition against the reigning world champions will be a standard bearing battle, as England look to showcase their strengths as the world's number one ranked women's side, before heading across the Atlantic for WXV1 in Canada at the end of the month.

England head coach John Mitchell was flanked by his captain Marlie Packer, with the two speaking to the media after the win over France. There was plenty to address following the win against their Six Nations counterparts, and in the run-up to a hotly anticipated clash with the Black Ferns. Addressing everything from Maddie Feaunati's first England start, to Packer's try-scoring milestone, here are the top five talking points from the post-match press conference.

One of the Red Roses' top performers against France was back row Maddie Feaunati, who stepped up for her first Test match start. Feaunati was promoted to John Mitchell's starting XV following the unfortunate injury to blindside flanker Saida Kabeya, with the Exeter hard-hitter an impressive stand in for the number six shirt.

Feaunati battled valiantly around the park in a stand-out effort, and even provided the assist for Jess Breach's first half try. Mitchell gave his thoughts on the Chiefs flanker's performance, with Marlie Packer expressing her delight in lining up alongside the now six-capped England star.

JOHN MITCHELL: Yeah, no, she didn't look out of place. Maddie certainly demonstrated today that she looked like a starter. She's been with us six, seven months and has properly immersed herself in the group. It's (the performance against France) probably an example of her belonging, after being here for six or seven months with us.

"She knows what we do, so it's a lot easier for her. She demonstrated outstanding edge work today, there was, a number of outstanding forward performances. Botts (Hannah Botterman), was big, Zoe Aldcroft was always there, and Morwenna Talling, her numbers and outputs were huge."

MARLIE PACKER: "She was explosive. She was powerful. We've really grown a bond over pre-season, and with that, I really wanted to see her to go well today. Tat (Taynana Heard) was the deserved 'Player of the Match', but Maddie was definitely up there with that. She's a really exciting player, and that's why Sunter (Sarah Hunter) and Mitch (John Mitchell) brought her into the squad. I think we're only going to see more from her."

There is bountiful anticipation for the upcoming Red Roses fixture, as England host New Zealand for a seismic clash in Twickenham this Saturday. The home of English rugby welcomes the reigning Women's Rugby World Cup holders, with the marker being set for the Red Roses, with less than a year to go before next year's home-hosted Word Cup. Packer is chomping at the bit with excitement, and called this weekend's match an "one hell of an encounter".

MARLIE PACKER: "You've got World Champions versus world Number One. It's going to be one hell of an encounter. And I think the girls, we've had a long pre-season, but one that we've really stepped up in. I think it's shown out there on the pitch today, and then taking that into next week.

"If you'd asked me this morning, if put 38 points on a really good French team, I'd be super happy. It gives us the energy to go into this week. We get a night off tonight, and then we're back in on Monday and really, really going for this New Zealand game next week."

3. 'Marlie's Milestone' - Packer climbs the Red Roses try scoring ranks

England captain Marlie Packer crossed over for two tries against France, with the back row racking up a significant milestone upon the Red Roses all-time try scoring charts. Packer scored her 45th and 46th career Test match tries in the win against Les Bleus, albeit amidst the TV broadcaster's confusion which awarded Packer's second try to lock Morwenna Talling.

Packer has climbed up to fifth in the all-time England Women try scoring charts, and overtook Lydia Thompson and Kat Merchant in one match. The Saracen now sits just one try behind fourth-placed Nolli Waterman, and is delighted to be amongst such company as the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup winning fullback.

MARLIE PACKER: "Yes, it was twice (scored against France). Look, for me, it's sticking to the process. Most of the time when I get on the scoreboard, it's because of my forwards and our driving maul. We work really hard in that area and I reap the reward, but it is from a massive set piece forward dominance. I couldn't do it without them.

"Like Mitch says, we do it for the girls. To hear that I'm up there with the past of Nollie Waterman, and then actually, there be other players in the future too. I'm not chasing it (the record), because I never knew there was quite a record for it. But look, it's a whole squad effort for me to get on the score line. So, it's really nice to hear."

The first match of a new season always tests the bodies physicality after a lengthy pre-season, with the Red Roses players certainly feeling the effects of the first day back out on the Test match pitch. Couple this with the opponents, as there are few women's teams that carry and hit harder than France, and England were in for a gruelling afternoon in Gloucester.

Thankfully for England, there were no major injuries to add to the already sizeable list of key absentees. With Meg Jones, Sadia Kabeya, Rosie Galligan, Cath O'Donnell and Abby Ward all out injured, there was worry that more top names could go amiss for the New Zealand fixture, and the subsequent WXV campaign at the end of September. Ellie Kildunne was feeling the affects of a tough and physical encounter come the final whistle as she limped off the pitch, but thankfully the Harlequin has been given the green light to go ahead into this week.

JOHN MITCHELL: "I think she's (Ellie Kildunne) fine. There's a few girls that are going to need ice, having had really, the first real contact. We've done a lot of contact conditioning, but we haven't done a lot of rugby contact, if you like, it being a lot of hard shoulders. So it's good to get the real thing."

"There's a particular way to play New Zealand, so we'll get excited about that. But when we're ready, the girls will need a few ice packs, I think and a couple of little quiet beers and a bit of pizza, and just relax a little bit and get back into it again, because it's really important.

"The girls will feel sore tomorrow morning. And emotion, it would probably have taken a lot out of us emotionally today as well. It's good that we put in a really physical contest today."

The Red Roses fans welcomed Ellie Kildunne back to the 15s game, after the high-flying fullback took a Summer's sabbatical with the Great Britain Olympic Sevens squad. Kildunne was joined by her England teammate Meg Jones in Team GB, with the side finishing seventh in the overall rankings at the Paris Games. Kildunne returned to the England camp in August, with her pre-season training taking a different variation to that of her campmates.

With player welfare at the forefront of rugby's discussions, Kildunne took some enforced time away from the pitch yet Mitchell faced a conundrum with injuries to alternative fullback option Meg Jones, and with Helena Rowland forced into the midfield in the Leicester Tigers' absence. Speaking on managing Kildunne's on-field minutes, Mitchell expressed how she will hopefully have more time to rest in the coming weeks and months.

JOHN MITCHELL: She didn't do as much as the other girls in terms of leading into our preseason, (she did) different types of training. She's unfortunately a difficult person to sit down! She's got to be busy doing something. In this immediate period, like the (WXV) tournament, maybe there's an opportunity at some stage to give somebody else a go, because obviously, we're going to need two fifteens as well.

"Next year, we'll get even more depth in that area with getting Meg (Jones) back, she can play 15 as well. Helena (Rowland) can play 15 as well. Then we've got Emma Singh, who's a different type of player as a 15, she's more of a kicking, single line attack player. Whereas the players I mentioned probably play two layers of attack really well, just through the acceleration and their ability to beat people one on one."