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Ellie Kildunne: 'There is nothing more we can do to be prepared'
By Philip Bendon at Ashton Gate, Bristol
For all her speed, flair, and finishing instincts, Ellie Kildunne insists she’s no solo act. But under the lights at Ashton Gate, in front of a sold-out crowd of 27,000, it was England’s fullback who provided the spark that carried the Red Roses into yet another World Cup final.
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Kildunne scored twice, racked up 225 meters with the ball in hand, and beat 13 defenders as England overcame a fierce French challenge 35-17 in Saturday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup semifinal. Her Mastercard Player of the Match performance extended England’s unbeaten run to 32 Tests and set up a No. 1 vs No. 2 showdown against Canada at Twickenham next weekend.
“Honestly, anyone in the team could have got that award,” Kildunne said, shaking her head at the accolade. “I just finished what the rest of the team made. The forwards were outstanding today. You look at Meg Jones and the turnovers she was making. That’s what we do as a back three, we finish what the rest of the girls start. It’s incredible when the crowd lights up, but it is a full team effort.”
France, playing in their ninth straight World Cup semifinal, came with intent. They harried England’s breakdown, scrambled in defence, and struck through centre Nassira Konde in the first half and replacement Kelly Arbey in the second. With 27 minutes left, the gap was just two points. But just as French momentum built, Kildunne cut through from 40 meters, weaving past three defenders for a try that quieted nerves and sealed the victory.
“When I’m running through for a try, what’s going on in my head? Honestly, just: ‘I better get over the line!’” she laughed. “I don’t like being tackled, so I run away from people. That’s the secret, if there even is one.”
Head coach John Mitchell praised Kildunne’s finishing but highlighted the grit that got England through. “Our girls are so driven to be better,” Mitchell said. “To get yourself out of a difficult performance like tonight is a credit to them. Defensively, in the middle of the field, we were very good. There was courage and a lot of heart shown there.”
For Kildunne, the night was more than redemption for England’s near miss in 2022; it was also personal. She missed last week’s quarterfinal under concussion protocols and admitted it was hard to watch from the sidelines. “I trust what is written for me,” she said. “Being in a different position last week and supporting the girls, I had faith we would get through. I just had to look after my head and put myself in the right place with the team around me and the medical staff. Everyone goes through adversity, and it’s never going to be an easy ride. I’m really excited we’ve got another chance to go again in the final.”
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Asked whether the bruising semifinal might serve England well against Canada, she didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. We’ve faced adversity throughout the whole tournament, and not just this tournament, but the last three years. There is nothing more we can do to be prepared. We train really hard and put pressure on each other every day. Anything that comes to us is written for us; we’ve just got to play it out and stick to our process.”
Kildunne’s combination of flair and frankness has made her a central figure in women’s rugby’s growth. This season, she has partnered with brands to design her own boots, which she debuted in Bristol. “It’s hugely important,” she said. “Any brands that are coming in are starting to see opportunities in how to make the game bigger, better and more exciting. I’d like to think I am creative on and off the pitch. To be backed by brands and wear something I’ve designed makes me feel good and fuels me to keep being better.”
That creativity was on show in Bristol, but she knows the ultimate stage is still to come. England will run out at Twickenham next Saturday, with a full house expected. “Not really allowed myself to think about it yet,” Kildunne said. “But it’s something we’ve been wanting for many years. There is nothing to be scared of. We love the crowd, we love the show, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Being at a sold-out Twickenham is something we should be proud of as a union. As players, we want to inspire, whether it’s your first rugby game or your 100th.”
Despite her breakout display, Kildunne keeps circling back to the team-first message. When asked what it means to score two tries on this stage, she downplayed the personal glory. “It doesn’t mean anything, really, because the rest of the team do the work,” she said. “The crowds are so loud; we feel the love. Keep it coming, this is not the end.”
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She also insists that England’s preparation hasn’t been about this week alone; it has been a three-year process of building connection, resilience, and trust. “You don’t prepare for a World Cup final in the last week, you prepare over the last three years,” she said. “Everyone wants to be in that spot, and now we are there. Everything we’ve done and everything we’ve learned has led to this point. We’ve just got to back ourselves and trust the process.”
Captain Zoe Aldcroft echoed that theme. “We knew France were going to come after us,” she said. “Our defence, I cannot fault the girls. I’m so proud we’ve got here. We’re embracing the whole experience, and we have so much fight in this team.”
For Kildunne, the week ahead will be about balance and hard training, but also soaking in the moment. “You’ve got to enjoy it,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first week of the tournament or the last. You’ve got to enjoy it because it doesn’t come back around. I’ve tried to stay in my own shoes and be where my feet are. That’s what I’ll try to do this week.”
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