England 48-15 Australia: Red Roses extend winning streak to 38 games in WXV Global Series opener
The Red Roses produced a dominant second-half to defeat Australia in the opener of the WXV Global series at the CorpAcq Stadium in Salford.
But England survived a scare, having gone in 10-5 down at half-time before a hugely improved second period saw them extend their 38-game winning streak.
Australia led the first half with a converted try by Faliki Pohiva and a penalty to an England touchdown by Abi Burton.
But more intensity from John Mitchell’s side led to seven second-half tries to Australia’s one.
Holly Aitchison won her 50th England cap, while Bryony Field scored off the bench on her debut as Mitchell put his faith in both experience and youth.
Australia started off strongly and were awarded a third-minute penalty for holding from which Sammy Wood slotted the Wallaroos ahead.
England launched consistent attacks in response but were held up by strong Australian defence and a penalty call against captain Meg Jones after she touched down.
The Red Roses capitalised on Wood’s sin-binning for a deliberate knock-on as Burton barrelled over the line for an unconverted try.
But after a strong run by Caitlyn Halse and a solid maul, Australia were only denied a second try by being pulled back for not throwing straight at the line-out.
Australia persisted, though, stole a line-out just metres from the England and Pohiva dived over for a score converted by Wood – now out of the sin bin – to give the Wallaroos a five-point lead going into the break.
But England were a different team after the restart, with May Campbell going over after a line-out and Aitchison converting to put them ahead.
Within minutes of making her entry onto the international pitch, Field followed skipper Megan Jones over the line for her maiden England try as the Red Roses stretched their lead.
John Mitchell’s side continued to dominate, with three tries in 10 minutes – from Mia Venner, Sadia Kabeya and Lucy Packer – and two conversions taking them past 40 points.
Australia rallied with a try from Eva Karpani, although the conversion narrowly fell short.
And the Red Roses had the final word two minutes before the full-time whistle as fast hands and gaps in the Wallaroos’ defence allowed Claudia Moloney-MacDonald to put the ball over, with Zoe Harrison converting.
The Red Roses will next face Canada at Sandy Park on September 19 – the first meeting between the teams since the Women’s Rugby World Cup final where England were crowned champions.
England: 48
TRIES: 8 (18’ Burton, 46’ Campbell, 50’ Jones, 54’ Field, 56’ Venner, 60’ Kabeya, 66’ Packer, 77’ Maloney-MacDonald)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (47’ Aitchison, 61’ Harrison, 67’ Harrison, 78’ Harrison)
STARTING XV: 15. Ellie Kildunne 14. Mia Venner 13. Megan Jones 12. Tatyana Heard 11. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald 10. Holly Aitchinson 9. Natasha Hunt 1. Mackenzie Carson 2. May Campbell 3. Sarah Bern 4. Delaney Burns 5. Lilli Ives Campion 6. Abi Burton 7. Sadia Kabeya 8. Maddie Feaunati
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Bryony Field 17. Hannah Botterman 18. Maud Muir 19. Morwenna Talling 20. Marlie Packer 21. Lucy Packer 22. Zoe Harrison 23. Helena Rowland
Australia: 15
TRIES: 2(31′ Pohiva 73’ Karpani)
CONVERSIONS: 1(32’Wood)
PENALTIES: 1(3’ Wood)
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 1(12’ Wood)
RED CARDS: 0
STARTING XV: 15. Caitlyn Halse 14. Amelia Whitaker 13. Georgina Friedrichs 12. Faitala Moleka 11. Desiree Miller 10. Waiaria Ellis 9. Samantha Wood 1. Brianna Hoy 2. Brittany Merlo 3. Faliki Pohiva 4. Kaitlan Leaney 5. Michaela Leonard 6. Pia Tapsell 7. Lily Bone 8. Siokapesi Palu Sekona
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Tania Naden 17. Allana Sikimeti 18. Eva Karpani 19. Jemma Bemrose 20. Piper Duck 21. Emily Chancellor 22. Tia Hinds 23. Cecilia Smith
4 THINGS YOU MISSED:
England extend their winning streak
Their success over Australia meant England have now reached a 39-game winning streak and added to their wins on home soil taking their unbeaten home run in almost a decade further.
Holly Aitchinson wins her 50th cap for England
In the post-match press conference Aitchinson revealed just how much her 50th cap means to her and her family.
She stated how grateful she is for all her family’s support and sharing that her dad “is the reason I play really, going down to Huddersfield he was sort of a big guy in the club, and it would have never really started without him.”
Bryony Field scores on England debut
Field was welcomed to the pitch with rousing applause as she came off the bench to make her debut. Field grounded the ball following a well worked lineout maul, marking the start of what is hoped to be a successful international career.
Players on the upgraded ball size
World Rugby are trialling a new 4.5 size ball for September and October in the WXV Global Series, which is 3% smaller than the ball used in the men’s game to better match women’s physiology. The post-match press conference revealed the new size has mixed reviews from players.
With Australia’s Siokapesi Palu Sekona stating that she “kind of likes them…. We’ve already played with that ball during our super season, so we haven’t had to adjust much.”
England’s Jones stated “I’m a craftsman and I don’t blame my tools.”
