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Match Report, 21 Nov

Red Roses overcome Canada in second Test

  • England - Tries: Kerr, Burford 2, Kildunne 2, Waterman, Botterman, Brown. Cons: Reed 2, Harrison. Pens: Reed.
  • Canada - Tries: Slevinsky, Hunt. Cons: Miller.

The Red Roses ran in eight tries as they beat Canada 49-12 in the second Old Mutual Wealth Series Test match at Twickenham Stoop.

On a night where captain Sarah Hunter led the team out on her 100th international appearance, England faced a much improved Canada outfit but made it back-to-back wins after their 79-5 victory on Friday night at Allianz Park.

England were ahead after three minutes when Heather Kerr crossed from a driving maul for her first ever international try, while Rachael Burford dotted down Katy Daley-Mclean's grubber and Ellie Kildunne went over with an excellent individual score for a 20-0 half-time lead.

Danielle Waterman's classy footwork got the scoring going in the second half, Burford and Kildunne added their second tries, with Hannah Botterman and Jo Brown also going over for their first tries for England.

Canada's hard work was rewarded late on when Janna Slevinsky went over when they finally broke down a well-drilled England defence while Mckinley Hunt also crossed for Canada in the last action of the match.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday in the final game of the series at Twickenham Stadium after the men's match against Samoa.

The centurion  

Hunter brought up her 100 caps after a decade of service representing her country following her debut in 2007.

The 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup winner, who is player-coach at Loughborough Lightning, has scored 19 tries during her time at highest level.

Her performances last season were recognised across the globe as she was named the World Rugby women's player of the year and she was also awarded an MBE for services to the game.

She is now level on 100 caps with former hooker Amy Garnett, with only current team mates Rochelle Clark (131) and Tamara Taylor (111) ahead of her.

New Red Roses 

After seven debutants in the first Test win over Canada, head coach Simon Middleton again blooded new faces to international rugby with Catherine O’Donnell and Jo Brown getting their first caps from the start, and Lagi Tuima coming on for her debut.

Ellie Kildunne made her first England start at full back and made it three tries in two games, while Caity Mattinson, Zoe Harrison and Botterman, who scored her from a driving maul, featured again after making their debuts on Friday night.

All of the new faces have been part of the new Tyrrells Premier 15s competition this season which will see a £2.4 million investment from the RFU over the first three seasons in the top flight.

Reaction

Head coach Simon Middleton: "We did some great things and some not great things, but we tried. We wanted to look at some different stuff over the course of this series and we showed a lot of innovation in our play I thought.

"We were a little bit scratchy at times and probably a little disappointed with the finish to the game but for 50 or 60 minutes I thought we were very good."

On Ellie Kildunne: "She's a fantastic talent, she's risen through the ranks really, really quickly and plays with absolutely no fear like a few of them do, and it's pretty important we try and protect that as much as we can.

"It is just about saying to them play to your strengths, stick to the basics, don't try and do anything outside what we want you to do as that's what got you here.

"They'll be that much better for having that game under their belt and for some of them it's next stop Twickenham."

Teams

England

15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Danielle Waterman, 13. Rachael Burford, 12. Amber Reed, 11. Charlotte Clapp, 10. Katy Daley- Mclean, 9. Leanne Riley; 1. Rochelle Clark, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Heather Kerr, 4. Catherine O’Donnell, 5. Tamara Taylor, 6. Jo Brown, 7. Marlie Packer, 8. Sarah Hunter (c).

Replacements: 16. Lark Davies 17. Vickii Cornborough, 18. Hannah Botterman, 19. Abbie Scott, 20. Izzy Noel-Smith, 21. Caity Mattinson, 22. Zoe Harrison, 23. Lagi Tuima.

Canada

15. Brianna Miller, 14. Paige Farries, 13. Dria Bennett, 12. Nadia Popov, 11. Emmanuela Jada, 10. Anais Holly, 9. Jess Neilson;  1. Brittany Kassil, 2. Emily Tuttosi, 3. Olivia De Merchant, 4. Tyson Beukeboom, 5. Laura Russell (c), 6. Pamphinette Buisa, 7. Sara Svoboda, 8. Cindy Nelles.

16. Alexandria Ellis, 17. Veronica Harrigan, 18. McKinley Hunt, 19. Emma Taylor, 20. Janna Slevinsky, 21. Justine Pelletier, 22. Emilie Nichol, 23. Sam Alli.

England's 2017 Old Mutual Wealth Series

Friday 17 November - England Women 79-5 Canada @ Allianz Park 

Tuesday 21 November - England Women 49-12 Canada @ Twickenham Stoop 

Saturday 25 November - England Women v Canada @ Twickenham Stadium (KO 17:40, live Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Mix)