Scott Bemand© Stu Forster/Getty Images

England women have taken a novel approach to team bonding by 'speed-dating' their new coach.

Former Bath scrum-half Scott Bemand admitted the experience was "pretty eye-opening" but hailed it was the perfect way to get to know his players ahead of their Super Series opener against the USA on Saturday.

"It was all about getting to know the team and making them comfortable with our ideas so that when we do start challenging them, we get their buy-in," Bemand told the BBC.

World champions England take on the USA this weekend before facing New Zealand and hosts Canada in the quad-nation tournament.

Bemand revealed he has been inundated with congratulations since he was appointed to lead the women's XV set-up last month. The 36-year-old will work with assistant Matt Ferguson under rugby director Simon Middleton after taking over from former coach Gary Street.

"The amount of phone calls and messages I had congratulating me when it was announced was incredible," he said. "[Former Bath team-mates] Lee Mears and David Flatman were some of the first, in fact I've just been to speak to Meersey to speak through a couple of things and get his input.

"I knew the pressure I'd be under, I'm in the public eye, this is England sport and, as the world champions, for us to defend the World Cup, that is going to be incredibly tough. However, we've got young exciting players and the reason I've come into this job is because I believe we can do it."

Bemand and Ferguson began work at a four-day training camp where Bemand revealed they were struck by the culture in the squad.

"There was a game in driving rain where [Saracens scrum-half] Leanne Riley was on the touchline not involved, and she was there drying balls for both sets of hookers," he said. "The culture is first class and the whole squad is prepared to look after each other, both on and off the pitch."