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RWC 2025: Four takeaways from England v USA
By Martyn Thomas at Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Ahead of kick off in Sunderland, pop sensation Anne-Marie performed in front of huge LED signs that fired flames into the air and spelt out the name of one of her biggest hits: ‘FRIENDS’.
There was little room for bonhomie on the Stadium of Light turf as England ran out 69-7 winners, however.
Both England and USA players were left nursing aches at the final whistle. But it was the Red Roses who made their physicality pay in this Women’s Rugby World Cup opener.
The hosts opened their record-breaking home tournament with what – in the end – turned out to be a routine victory.
Taking her cue from the Black Eyed Peas – whose music accompanied the sides onto the pitch ahead of the anthems – Sadia Kabeya got the party started in just the eighth minute.
Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, Ellie Kildunne (twice), Abby Dow, Amy Cokayne, Jess Breach (twice) and Lark Atkin-Davies (twice) each followed her over the American line.
It was not all one-way traffic however. The Women’s Eagles cut their deficit to just 14-7 midway through the first half as Erica Jarrell-Searcy cut through some slack defending.
But Alev Kelter’s yellow card moments later put paid to any momentum USA had built. Once Muir notched England’s third try it became a long night for those in blue.
Here’s what we learned from the opening match.
Meg Jones underlines importance to Red Roses
No player encapsulates the spirit and attitude of England under John Mitchell like Jones.
Her team may have needed time to work through the gears in Sunderland but their dynamic centre was on it from the first whistle. On both sides of the ball.
In the 18th minute Jones barged through Georgie Perris-Redding just inside the USA half. It raised the crowd, put the Red Roses on the front foot and created the momentum that ultimately led to Botterman crashing over the line in celebration.
Later in the half, she didn’t so much tackle Lotte Sharp as pick her up and plonk her down 10 metres further down the pitch.
Jones was twice denied a try – hauled down within sight of the line – but still she came at the Blue defenders.
It was her charge down that led to Kildunne’s second try and with every interjection she shifted the momentum further into England’s favour.
Jones highlighted her versatility by seamlessly switching to fly-half after Harrison departed and her varied tool set will be integral to the Red Roses over the next six weeks.
Her importance is such that it is easy to forget her reintegration from sevens was never as guaranteed as it now looks.
But fierce competition in the centres has been swatted away. A telepathic understanding with Tatyana Heard forged, and if England do lift a third World Cup next month, she will be front and centre.
How do you stop England’s back three?
For more than 34 minutes the USA did a pretty good job at keeping England’s back three quiet.
But in an instant all that hard work was undone. Not for the first time the Women’s Eagles botched a restart, Dow and Kildunne combined and the latter streaked away for the first of her two tries.
Moments later the England full-back was met with the full force of Ilona Maher. Yet the impact only served to galvanise her.
What followed was a Player of the Match performance. A second try early in the second half owed much to Breach’s grubber through. Kildunne repaid the favour with not one but two assists for her good friend and back three colleague.
Breach and Kildunne were virtually unplayable for much of the second half as England began to run in tries almost at will.
And what may scare England’s upcoming opposition in this World Cup is that all three – Breach, Kildunne and Dow – have played and will play better than this.
Certainly something for Samoa and Australia, as well as Canada and New Zealand, to ponder.
To beat England, you have to do the basics
Trite as it may sound following a 69-7 defeat there were elements of the USA’s performance in Sunderland that coach Sione Fukofuka can be positive about.
The Women’s Eagles tested England in the first 25 minutes. But they were undone by some basic errors.
Kelter will not want to watch footage of her yellow card back but more alarming than that brain fade were the USA’s constant struggles at the restart.
The Americans would have expected to concede to this England team. The important thing is not to back up that mistake with another one.
However, that is exactly what the USA did. Time and time again.
Their inability to get a consistent kick-off or chase resulted in direct defensive pressure and ultimately more tries against them.
USA have a week to fix the issue on the training pitch and that is exactly what they must do.
Ilona Maher gives a glimpse of her potential
One publication this week described RWC 2025 as the first post-Ilona Maher World Cup.
That is true for the number of eyeballs on the sport and we can only guess how many of the 42,723 fans inside the Stadium of Light were in part attracted by rugby’s social media phenom.
But there were glimpses too that Maher could have a lasting impact on the pitch.
Eyebrows were raised when she was picked at 13 this week, as opposed to on the wing, but on more than one occasion she showed her power and ability.
There were two breaks that took her – and the USA – through would-be tacklers and into the England 22 while she nearly pulled off a stunning tackle-and-turnover on Jones close to her own line.
Make no mistake, Maher has come to England to play.
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