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England v Samoa: Red Roses player ratings
By Matt Merritt at Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
On a miserable, wet, evening in Northampton, England’s Red Roses nevertheless brought the fireworks in a dominant 92 – 3 win over Samoa.
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Despite a driven performance from their opposition, England dominated in every facet of the game, scoring 14 tries on their way to victory.
We breakdown every player’s contribution and speculate on who might be giving John Mitchell some tough decisions to make.
1 Kelsey Clifford (off 54 minutes) – 7.5/10
Dominated Samoa’s tighthead in the scrum and quietly did her job in the loose. Scored the Red Roses’ first try of the second half, to right the ship after a short period of Samoan possession.
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (off 54 minutes) – 7
Few things in rugby are more inevitable than a try being scored when Atkin-Davies is hanging off the back of a rolling maul.
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3 Sarah Bern (off 54 minutes) – 8
Known for scoring some world class tries in open play, Bern showed she is just as dangerous from inches out to score England’s third. Brutally efficient in the scrum and a defensive dynamo, she showed why she is so often mentioned among the best tightheads in the game.
4 Lilli Ives Campion – 8
With Zoe Aldcroft injured, Ives Campion stepped up as the Red Rose pack’s Swiss army knife. A powerful carrier, lethal tackler and rock solid in the set piece, she did everything well. Unlucky not to add a try to an otherwise very impressive all-round performance. Will have shown she can be trusted to step up against any opposition.
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5 Rosie Galligan – 6
Efficiency personified, rock solid behind Bern in the scrum and defensively sound without fussing with the flashy aspects of the game.
6 Abi Burton – 7.5
So busy you’d believe there were two of her on the pitch, she played a classic blindside flanker role, doing so much unseen work and constantly menacing at the breakdown. A player who seems to get better with every appearance and made a strong case for a spot in the team once the knockouts roll around.
7 Marlie Packer CAPTAIN – 8.5
No longer the dynamic openside of old, Packer has evolved into a wily competitor who knows exactly when to commit and when to stand off. Won’t be on the highlights reel but will have reminded John Mitchell just how safe a pair of hands she provides. Added the try that put England at over a point per minute.
8 Maddie Feaunati – 7.5
Feaunati, whose father was capped by Samoa, showed why eight is perhaps her best position. She seemed to be everywhere on the field and managed the ball perfectly when England’s scrum powered over the line.
9 Lucy Packer (off 64 minutes) – 7.5
From starting the last World Cup final to second choice in the current set up, Packer used the game as a reminder that while she might not be as much of a maverick as Natasha Hunt, she adds a metronomic discipline to the backline. Was rewarded with a try in the first half.
10 Helena Rowland – 8.5
After some kicking hiccups in warm up games, it might have been a surprise to see Rowland given the duty of slotting conversions, she did so with aplomb though, keeping the scoreboard ticking over and distributing the ball well in open play. Added a try to her many conversions, though her kicking faltered in the last quarter.
11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald – 7.5
One of the Red Roses’ most dangerous threats in recent years, consistently pressured down the left but often ignored the opportunity for a pass to carry into contact and may have cost her team a try or two in the process. Nonetheless continued to be played into space and scored the closing try of the game.
12 Jade Shekells – 7
Showed that she’s not just a straight replacement for Tatyana Heard by virtue of a few deft kicks. Kept running until the final minute and carried well when called upon.
13 Megan Jones (off 64 minutes) – 9.5
Jones opened England’s account just three minutes into the game, pouncing on an inch of space. Added a second try 12 minutes later to secure her team the bonus point, showing the lateral movement that makes her so lethal. Played impeccably and was likely only removed from the game to preserve her for tougher challenges ahead.
14 Jess Breach – 9
Her 50th England try in an England shirt was the Red Roses’ second of the day, taken perfectly, it showed Breach’s quality in attack. A couple of sloppy tackles could have cost her team against stronger opposition, but was consistently threatening on the attack and was rewarded twice more in the second half to rack up another hat-trick in the white shirt.
15 Emma Sing – 7
With little opportunity to show her defensive nous and a couple of fumbled catches it wasn’t a first half to remember, but she grew into the game with some great defensive moments in the second half to snuff out Samoan threats.
16 May Campbell (on 54 minutes) – 6.5
Immediately threatened to score when lurking close to the try line.
17 Mackenzie Carson (on 54 minutes)
Fought her way back from injury in the Six Nations and celebrated by shouldering two tacklers out of the way to score.
18 Maud Muir (on 54 minutes)
A quiet game for a player who thrives in the biggest of moments.
19 Morwenna Talling – sub not used
20 Sadia Kabeya – sub not used
21 Natasha Hunt (on 64 minutes) – 7.5
Added some spark to the final quarter, pushing a Red Roses side that had slowed down back into top gear.
22 Zoe Harrison (on 64 minutes) – 6
Had little opportunity to impose herself on a game that was only going one way.
23 Ellie Kildunne – sub not used
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