After more than a year on the sidelines, Venner returned from her ACL injury and took time to regain top form.
John Mitchell called her into camp during last year’s Six Nations and although a cap did not follow, a one-on-one meeting with the England coach helped spur her on to some of her best rugby this season.
Trailing by nine points in Sunday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby final against Saracens, Venner’s dancing feet grabbed a vital try to start a run of 24 unanswered points.
England wing Jessica Breach was one of the defenders beaten by the silky footwork, who alongside Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne have formed a formidable Red Roses back three.
The trio scored a combined 18 tries in last year’s Six Nations, although it is off the field where Venner is learning from her competition.
“I see it more as an opportunity to improve my game by working with the best three in the world,” she revealed.
“The amount of work Jess and Abby do off the pitch is something you don’t see.
“Their analysis is so in-depth, they are looking at the other team and not just themselves. This morning Abby had about two pages of notes on Italy.
“It is amazing to see and something I am going to have to get into.”
Mitchell called up 19-year-old Bristol Bears wing Millie David – who was the joint-leading try-scorer in Premiership Women’s Rugby with 17 tries – in the wider Six Nations squad, and capped Loughborough Lightning wing Bo Westcombe-Evans, 22, in October at WXV1.
Venner edged out both young wingers to earn a spot in the Six Nations pool, which may prove to be the difference when it comes to selection for this summer’s home Rugby World Cup.
For Venner, however, it is one game at time – and hopefully a second cap in York on Sunday against Italy.
“It is just about being able to maintain form at the minute,” she said.
“I am focusing on a Six Nations squad now but a World Cup squad is where everyone wants to be, it is what we work hard for every day.
“It is what you thrive for as a rugby player in order to be the best of the best. To do that, you have to work with the best, it is everyone’s aim. It would be truly amazing.”
