Just before kickoff at a packed Murrayfield, England head coach John Mitchell faced a question that many in the rugby world were asking: with a raft of World Cup winners missing, was this his team's biggest depth test yet? "No doubt," he acknowledged. "But you have to adapt and respond to it." What followed was a masterclass in exactly that.

In front of a record Scottish crowd of 30,498, the Red Roses didn't just respond; they delivered a thunderous statement of intent. Transforming from a side that looked a touch "rusty" in their opening win over Ireland into a "relentless" force, England powered to a staggering 84-7 victory over Scotland.

The scale of the challenge cannot be overstated. The squad that lifted the World Cup trophy in September has undergone significant change. Captain Zoe Stratford is among four players unavailable due to pregnancy, legends like Emily Scarratt have retired, and a cruel run of injuries has sidelined key figures including Natasha Hunt and Alex Matthews. This forced a major reshuffle, with players like Abi Burton slotting into unfamiliar roles in the second row.

Yet, this new-look England was imperious. Scoring 12 tries in a display of sheer power and precision, they extended their historic winning streak to 35 games. Captain Meg Jones, who crossed for one of those tries, captured the mood perfectly, calling the performance "relentless" and emphasizing the drive to "keep getting better and better."

This was more than just a win; it was a powerful declaration. Despite the turnover and adversity, the Red Roses' standards haven't dipped. They remain the relentless benchmark in women's rugby, proving that their strength runs deep and their ambition is as fierce as ever.