Red Roses player ratings v Australia | WXV Global Series 2026

The Red Roses certainly had to dig deep in their 48-15 win over the Wallaroos in their WXV Global Series opener in Salford.

At half-time England trailed 10-5 in the North West. The first time they had been behind at the break since 2020. Which tells you just how well Australia applied themselves in that opening 40 minutes.

In the second half, Australia’s resolve could not withstand the world champions. Over the second half, England saw May Campbell, Meg Jones, Bryony Field, Mia Venner, Lucy Packer and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald all dot down.

Here are how the Red Roses rated against the Wallaroos…

15 Ellie Kildunne – 6.5

An uncharacteristically quiet day for Ellie Kildunne. A player who is categorised by her stardust on the pitch, the 27-year-old found her space restricted in attack and even made a couple of uncharacteristic errors. Where she did impress was keeping play alive. England clearly want to keep any attack alive, which is an area you can usually expect the full-back to deliver. She also delivered an expert spiral-kick to touch. Mega.

14 Mia Venner – 6.5

Mia Venner was continually busy for the Red Roses, although her only real impact on the fixture can be categorised by her second-half try. In all honesty, the 24-year-old did not put a foot wrong, but did not take the game by the scruff of its neck either. Her pass for Claudia Moloney-MacDonald’s try was a superb piece of play in midfield.

13 Megan Jones – 6.5

It was about as quintessential a Meg Jones performance as you could possibly get. The 29-year-old distributed play in midfield, defended astutely and, simply, did everything that she was asked. The second try-scorer in the second-half, Jones kept alert and helped the Red Roses to secure their 39th win in a row in style.

12 Tatyana Heard – 7.5

In the first half, Tatyana Heard was the Red Roses’ leading light. Everything flowed through the 31-year-old centre in the North West. She showed versatility, whether that was with ball-in-hand or showing her range of passing. It was one of those passed that kept play alive in the lead up to Abi Burton’s 18th minute try.

11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald – 5.5

Much like her wing teammate, Venner, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald again provided a very solid option on the wing. Able to inter-link play and be a threat while carrying, the 30-year-old kept play alive when needed, but was largely isolated on the left flank. She finished the game on a high when finishing off a first-phase try in the 78th minute.

10 Holly Aitchison – 7.5

If you are going to celebrate your 50th cap, you may as well do it with an all-action performance. That’s what Holly Aitchison did. Her ability to tie in defenders was essential in Abi Burton’s try and her kicks from hand opened up the field for her forwards to attack. Aside from a couple of missed conversions, you cannot really say that Aitchison put a foot wrong. Another fascinating twist in the tale of her personal battle with Zoe Harrison for the starting fly-half shirt.

9 Natasha Hunt – 6.5

A pretty good return to Test rugby for Natasha Hunt. Australia’s first-half game plan hinged around making the 37-year-old’s life difficult. Which they did. Even so, Hunt’s experience kept things coherent for England, even if it was the Wallaroos that had a half-time lead.

1 Mackenzie Carson – 5.5

A pretty quiet day at the office for Mackenzie Carson. England struggled as a whole at the set-piece, particularly in the first-half, and Carson did not dominate at scrum time. Overall, the Gloucester Hartpury loosehead prop made three carries and made one metre.

2 May Campbell – 6

It was May Campbell’s first ever start for England on the occasion of her sixth cap. Before being subbed in the 48th minute, it was tough for the 30-year-old to have an impact. Campbell’s throw at the lineout is what led to Faliki Pohiva’s try to ultimately give the Wallaroos a half-time lead. Even so, the hooker ended her time on the pitch positively with a try from the back of a lineout maul before being replaced by debutant Bryony Field.

3 Sarah Bern – 5.5

Not Sarah Bern’s finest day in an England shirt. Some months after a Women’s Six Nations where she showed off all the attributes that made her world class, her 47 minutes in Salford were a far more attritional. Bern had a hugely engaging battle with Faliki Pohiva, one which she did not have the better of at times before being subbed off early in the second half.

4 Delaney Burns – 5

It felt like experience mattered in the front-row. At least certainly it did in the first-half. The lock partnership of Delaney Burns and Lilli Ives Campion had just 14 caps compared to the 87 that Kaitlyn Leaney and Michaela Leonard. After a baptism of fire in the opening 40 minutes, England’s pack tightened things up and allowed the set-piece to do plenty of the talking, which Burns was a part of.

5 Lilli Ives Campion – 5

Much like her compatriot in the engine room, Ives Campion did not enjoy the best first 40 minutes. The Loughborough Lightning second-row gave away the penalty that Samantha Wood struck between the uprights. It was at the lineout where the 22-year-old shone, where she regularly called to herself.

6 Abi Burton – 8

Since getting an opportunity for starting match minutes with England, Burton’s confidence has been sky high. Those years of honing her craft with England and Great Britain Sevens mean that the back-row has a good engine and showed off her power to score England’s first try. Her huge break in the second half led directly to Mia Venner’s try. A really good afternoon capped off with a Player of the Match award.

7 Sadia Kabeya – 7

It almost feels like since Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 that Sadia Kabeya has added plenty of variety to her game. Last year the loose forward was a defensive tour de force, but one year later seems to break tackles with ease and regularly challenges the whitewash. This swashbuckling approach saw her provide the final pass for Burton’s score. This ability to keep in the fight and scored a try with her final touch of the game before being replaced by Marlie Packer.

8 Maddie Feaunati – 7 

A proper No.8’s performance from Maddie Feaunati. As the game wore on the Exeter Chiefs back-row grew more and more. She was not a try scorer, but her nine carries for 31 metres went a long way to ultimately grinding down the Wallaroos’ resolve and keep the good times rolling for the Women’s Rugby World Cup champions.

Replacements – 9

Arguably the most important players on the pitch for England. When England brought on replacement front-row trio Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir and Bryony Field there was an instant impact. All of a sudden the Red Roses were dominating. Field even trundled over at the end of a well-constructed lineout. Elsewhere, Morwenna Talling made an impact on her international return. Lucy Packer and Zoe Harrison were also influential in the second 40, the latter scoring an opportune try shortly after her introduction.