England started their long-awaited pursuit of the World Cup hesitantly. Later the cork popped out and the fizz flowed.
Thr forwards failed to take the kick-off on the full and had to scramble. This was repeated twice more, leaving Abbie Ward in uncomfortable gymnastic positions.
The Eagles pressed hard, built nice little moves but couldn’t profit.
It took the English eight minutes to get the motor running. Sadia Kabeya completed a move on the far right that started on the other side. (7-0)
The English scrum was a source of comfort, both before and after the front rows switched on 52 minutes.The Eagles hardly ever managed to set the opposition on the retreat. That meant the backs had to work hard to find a hint of a gap. All too often they lost possession before gaining territory.
Sadly, one player in a pivotal position still playing in the States, McKenzie Hawkins, was unable to exploit possession gained. Twice she sent penalty kicks almost laterally into touch. A surer boot would have placed her pack much closer to the line.
A somewhat more celebrated Eagle, heavily featured in the TV build-up, did scarcely better. Ilona Maher made two threatening runs towards the line, but neither brought success. In defence she proved what a tricky position No 13 is. By contrast Meg Jones, half her size but twice her talent, made hay.
One bullocking run had the crowd gasping; it also led to Georgie Perris-Redding’s departure for an HIA.
The Eagles one great moment came when deft hands moved the ball around fast enough to disrupt defensive lines. Erica Jarrell-Searcy, who had a fine game, carved through a gap and sprinted all the way to the line. (14-7)
Alev Kelter suffered a bad moment when she reached across a ruck to tap the ball out of Mo Hunt’s hands. I agree with the view that a penalty for “playing the 9” would suffice. The punishment would fit the crime.
Her absence was crucial. In those ten minutes England added two tries.
The two tries came first to Maud Muir, who drove over, then to Jess Breach (her 48th?). England snaffled possession back near their line; Breach swung it left to Ellie Kildunne who set off. She evaded all but the last tackler, so popped the ball back inside for her cowgirl pal to complete the job.
Half-time: 28-7
It took Abby Dow two minutes to add her offering. A pinpoint cross-kick from Jones to Dow then Kildunne, and the floodgates were opening.
There was such a variety of skills on offer: jackals by Hannah Botterman – often the defensive equivalent of five points – then a charge-down by Jones that led to another stunning move. Forwards joined with backs in moving the ball dextrously.
When Zoe Harrison was called in – six fine conversions – Jones took her place. On 60 minutes Emily Scarratt came on to celebrate a great record, the first Englishwoman to enjoy five RWCs.
It has to be admitted she didn’t make a strong case for retention. She missed a kick at goal from in front, and couldn’t add the touches of brilliance we’ve grown used to in her role as bencher.
John Mitchell will find plenty to chew on. Despite the torrent of English tries the Eagles retained plenty of possession. Theirs was the usual trouble against this English side: they couldn’t profit.
On the three-quarter mark they threatened again, the young winger Sariah Ibarra showing well. Then as the clock turned red, they again took charge of the game in English territory. That will please Sione Fukofuka too.
They should have more success against future opposition. Their game with the Wallaroos will be fascinating.
Jarrell-Searcy, the skipper Kate Zackary and Olivia Ortiz all showed well.
But the Red Roses had run away with the game. Kildunne’s final flourish, a dextrous combination of hands, knees and feet, had the crowd drooling.
It probably tipped the award balance in her favour (see below), but so many other players earned plaudits. Apart from those mentioned, Alex Matthews and Tatyana Heard were immense. Some of Heard’s passes are like arrows.
Result: England 69 USA 7
Player of the Match: Ellie Kildunne
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Attendance: 42,723 (new RWC record)
Teams
England:
15 KILDUNNE 14 DOW 13 JONES 12 HEARD 11 BREACH 10 HARRISON 9 HUNT 1 BOTTERMAN 2 COKAYNE 3 MUIR 4 TALLING 5 WARD 6 ALDCROFT (captain) 7 KABEYA 8 MATTHEWS
16 ATKIN-DAVIES 17 CLIFFORD 18 BERN 19 GALLIGAN 20 FEAUNATI 21 L. PACKER 22 SCARRATT 23 SING
USA:
15 SHARP 14 HENRICH 13 MAHER 12 KELTER 11 MATAITOGA 10 HAWKINS 9 ORTIZ 1 ROGERS 2 TREDER 3 SAGAPOLU 4 BRODY 5 JARRELL-SEARCY 6 ZACKARY (captain) 7 PERRIS-REDDING 8 JOHNSON
16 STATHOPOULOS 17 LEATHERMAN 18 JACOBY 19 EHRECKE 20 TAFUNA 21 BARGELL 22 RITTER 23 IBARRA
Afterthoughts
As the teams ran out a small hand reached down over the entrance. Several American players reached up to touch it. I wonder when it will next be washed.
We can expect wholesale changes in the England side for the Samoa match. Doubts remain over the injured parties, Aitchison, Rowland and Moloney-Macdonald – all backs. If they don’t report fit, it throws greater weight on the surviving alternatives.
The Americans suffered in a similar way to the Spaniards of a week or two ago: plenty of possession, but little to show for it. The big difference was the final margin, testament to the fitness and resolve shown in Sunderland.
Two ironies: the cowgirl hats sported by English spectators and players; and a late rendition of ‘Swing low’, not exactly an English composition.
