Zoe Aldcroft shines as England win Six Nations

The 24-year-old flanker received 80% of the public vote to take the victory, with her nearest rival her England teammate Poppy Cleall a distant second with 10%.

Aldcroft was named player of the match for her all-action showing against Les Bleus as the Red Roses clinched the title for a third consecutive year with a 10-6 win.

Aldcroft was relentless from start to finish against the visitors, making more tackles (15) than any other Red Roses player and setting off on 14 carries to boot.

Aldcroft hailed her teammates for their endeavour.

“It means so much, we’ve worked so hard since January and I think all that paid off today,” she said. “We worked hard for the full 80 minutes which is what we spoke about.

“It obviously came off and we got the win. They were pushing us back in the tackles but we knew that pressure was going to come on, so we just had to hold on in there and keep going.

“I think in the first half we could have been more physical and taken it to them more, maybe played it a bit wider and got our tip-ons a little bit more but we did it when it mattered.

“There is definitely [psychological advantage from beating France again]. That is what we were thinking, it was going to be a battle, it always is a battle between us.

“Every time we go out and play them it’s like that and credit to them as they played amazing but it’s put us in a good stead.”