Abby Dow has become renowned for swashbuckling attack and added another fine solo try to her vast collection on Saturday against the Black Ferns, tearing down the touchline to extend England’s lead in the first half.

The 26-year-old’s combative defence, however, had caught the eye prior to that. Her commitment and conviction without the ball underlined her standing as one of the best wings in the women’s game.

As Dow explained after a 24-12 win, some excellent interventions delivered on a change in mindset inspired both by John Mitchell, the Red Roses head coach, as well as England men’s centre Henry Slade.

We begin with New Zealand’s first possession of the match. On this phase, you can see Dow pressing off the line and beyond the ball before backpedalling when the tackle is made closer to the breakdown:

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She hunts again from the next ruck, pinpointing Ruahei Demant and accelerating as Renee Holmes releases a pass.

There is no thought of covering Katelyn Vahaakolo opposite her. Dow does not worry about giving up an overlap and backs herself to make a ‘ball and all’ tackle. She drives through the carrier and New Zealand end up some 15 metres behind the gain line:

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“Every team you respect, but you want to dominate and crush what they are trying to do,” said Dow afterwards.

“New Zealand are brilliant athletes and you can always respect how they want to play,” she added. “It’s a beautiful style to watch. But it’s also a style that if you get your timing right, you can ruin it.”

Dow would show impressive alertness, opportunism and technical skill to snaffle a jackal turnover on the back of this deflected clearance from Emily Scarratt. A clean pilfer allows the hosts to escape from a potentially tricky scenario:

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She continually pushed up and in-field from the flank. In this case, as New Zealand attempt to spread the ball across their own 22 at the beginning of the second period, Hannah King fumbles and concedes a scrum put-in. England would ultimately score through Natasha Hunt from that position, going 24-0 in front.

Watch where Dow (number 14) ends up. Again there is a freedom and a fearlessness to her defence as she tightens the line and leaves attackers to her outside:

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With five minutes remaining, Dow was still going. Here, on the shoulder of Helena Rowland (number 23), her line speed brings about a spill from Maiakawanakaulani Roos. Eventually, England earn a scrum about 30 metres further up the pitch from the initial breakdown:

“We’ve been trying to push our defence this pre-season and Mitch has this thing, ‘Take your handbrake off’,” Dow said of the licence that Mitchell has granted to her.

“I’m someone who would rather be safer [in defence]. Sometimes, I’m not safe in attack. I’ll take an edge when I shouldn’t, and sometimes I get lucky. I thought why not try that in defence? Why not go for that hit, why not get off the line every time?

“When you know what you don’t want in attack, you can switch it and be that defender that annoys the attack.”

This is a shrewd approach. Dow has considered how defenders have disrupted her and aimed to incorporate those tendencies when opponents are in possession. Aggressive, targeted line-speed compromises the rhythm of attackers, often causing them to rush passes.

In the last two examples of Dow’s display against New Zealand this weekend, she helps to force turnovers.

After England’s men adopted a blitz system at the beginning of this year’s Six Nations, captain Jamie George spoke of his hope that the all-action approach would engage supporters. Dow has been one interested observer.

“There is so much you can do off the ball and with technique, but also with your mindset,” she explained. “You can look at the men as an example. When they were out in New Zealand [this summer], Henry Slade was really going after the ball.

“When the ball is in the air, it’s a mindset: take the space. You’re not worrying about anything. What’s going to happen? You almost ask yourself those questions. Then you go get it, and be brave.”

Release the handbrake, see the pass, take the space, cause havoc. This is the same outlook that the outgoing Felix Jones has encouraged with Steve Borthwick’s side; one that players are eager to keep despite the Irishman’s resignation.

Shipping just 40 points across two away Tests against the All Blacks represented was an impressive result. As well as Slade, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso proved to be an arch disruptor on the blitz.

Dow acknowledged that England women do not want to peak yet. They have a year until a home World Cup and will be exploring new ways to dominate rivals. Defensive courage is something Dow will continue to work on. And watching that is highly enjoyable.