The world champions suffered their first defeats in nearly four years in October, with a 41-match unbeaten streak coming to an end at the hands of Canada, who recorded back-to-back victories to avenge last autumn’s World Cup final defeat.

England bounced back with a convincing 55-12 win over USA and Hunt is looking forward to seeing how the squad continue to respond to unfamiliar adversity.

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Hunt said: “I don’t know if it’s a new challenge. We always pride ourselves on our performances, our standards, and go after what we believe is the right way to play.

“It is about getting back to the way we want to play, our determination on the pitch and showing how much it means to play for each other.

“I’m not saying we’ve lost that by any stretch of the imagination, but a little shake-up is really important to energise and redirect our focus.”

Hunt, 37, returned to action against Australia in September after recovering from the knee ligament injury she sustained in the Six Nations opener against Ireland.

“I got injured playing for the Red Roses, so for my first game to be for England as well was pretty high stakes,” she said.

“I’ve not had to come back from too many big injuries, so it was a challenge. It was something I had to get my head around.

“I didn’t quite hit the ground running as much as I would have liked, but it’s an absolute honour to pull on the shirt.

“I’ll do anything for that group of girls, my whole life has been dedicated to being the best I can be for the Red Roses.”

The scrum-half was speaking at Allianz Stadium as England’s men got the second half of their Nations Championship campaign underway with a 45-22 win over Australia.

A proud alumnae of Dene Magna School in Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, Hunt hopes the Allianz Kick Start Programme can help provide opportunities for fellow state school kids to follow in her illustrious footsteps.

The Kick Start programme offers teachers at primary schools resources to lead six lessons of non-contact rugby to introduce children to the sport.

Hunt, who is a qualified PE teacher herself, added: “In the boys’ and men’s game at private schools, rugby is a big part of their curriculum - whereas we’ve never had that in the girls' and women’s game.

“You might get three or four people that love the game, find a rugby club and go there. It’s all about access and opportunity.”

Allianz is the Official Insurance Partner of Rugby Football Union (RFU), including England Men's and the back-to-back grand slam champions Red Roses team.