Helena Rowland sat quietly in the Ashton Gate press room, boots off, conjuring hands now playing idly, content with their evening’s work. It had been a virtuoso showing from start to finish from England’s emerging superstar, Wales carved open repeatedly on a night of history in Bristol as the Red Roses completed 25 straight wins, and Rowland’s smile spread as her head coach Simon Middleton waxed lyrical about his “unique” backline star.
For all the fair talk of the advantages a fully professional England have enjoyed over their opposition during their winning streak, it has been a remarkable run without blemish or major blunder that has now surpassed the achievements of any Test side in history. The Red Roses saved one of their best performances of the quarter-century of wins for last, surviving a slightly muted, messy opening to burst into brilliantly clear colour and remind a Welsh side in nascent professional days how large the gap is to close.
Simon Middleton had selected a near strength side, particularly up front, hoping to bed in large parts of the group most likely to be tasked with pursuit of World Cup glory on November 12. While Vickii Cornborough and Alex Matthews produced nights of fine work both seen and unseen, there was just one name on the lips of those filing into the Bristol night.
Until her withdrawal late on – precautionary, according to Middleton, to protect a key player after a slight cramp – Rowland was outstanding, an abstract artist painting glorious pictures with broad brush strokes. In England’s first attacking movement of the match it was Rowland’s forthright charge that won the gainline. Soon after Rowland was back on her feet, rotating in at first receiver to broaden England’s attack with spaces found all night on the edges.
But for a Cornborough obstruction, three tries would have been four, with the jet-heeled Jasmine Joyce among those left trailing in the wake of a player yet to lose in an England shirt. Rowland’s broad smile as she crossed thrice could not have been further from the image of a disconsolate player leaving the field in tears after her yellow card in Exeter a week and a half ago. Even for someone all but assured of a place on the plane to New Zealand, the Loughborough playmaker feared that she had thrown away a chance to impress.
“I probably don’t get so emotional on a yellow card,” Rowland explained. “But I think just because of the occasion and what we are all fighting for at the moment, it got to me a little bit more.
“I came on, we defended for the first ten minutes, I gave away a yellow and a penalty try, and I’m off for the rest of the game. I felt pretty bad about that. I felt that I had put the squad in a worse position than they were before.”
The hat-trick in Bristol was, then, some reaction.
“I don’t think I saw a performance like that coming. A big thing for me coming into this week was almost, I suppose, binning the last game and moving on, making sure I put my best foot forward. That was my main focus. Obviously to come away with a performance like that is pretty pleasing.”
The question with Rowland has never really been her candidacy for a starting England shirt but more where she best fits in a complicated England backline selection. There is belief among the England coaching staff that she could quickly become the best fly-half, inside centre or full-back in the world with a consistent run at any one position, but a naturally slightly reserved character has been content to take her opportunities wherever they have come.
It looked 12 months ago like it may be at fly-half after a breakthrough first year in international rugby, but Zoe Harrison’s autumn resurgence saw her again take control of the battle for the ten shirt. The Saracen appears likely to hold on to the starting role despite a mixed performance in England’s final warm-up fixture.
During the Six Nations, with Abby Dow injured and Ellie Kildunne deemed to be slightly off-form, Rowland was pressed into duties at full-back. She performed well, but with a sense that she was perhaps not afforded quite enough time up in the line to utilise her particular proficiency through contact and instinct for space. It is at inside centre, then, that Rowland appears likely to settle, giving England all manner of attacking options with Harrison and Emily Scarratt in midfield.
“It would be useful to maybe have more of an idea about where my focus needs to be,” Rowland said soon after her coach suggested that 12 might be her best role. “I definitely enjoyed playing 12 today. It is a role I am growing into – I don’t play it for club, I hadn’t played it since I played for Sarries in 2017-18. The game has changed a little bit since then.
“I think, ultimately, we are all here because we want to be on that plane and we want to be starting every game. It’s just about knowing about how I can impact the game and show the best of me in that role. It is something that I am learning, and I’m not there yet, but I definitely enjoyed today.”
