Kildunne drops to bench as Englands Red Roses ring changes

England head coach John Mitchell says Ellie Kildunne needs to show greater consistency after dropping his star full-back to the bench in the wake of the Red Roses’ first defeat in four years.

Kildunne was part of the starting XV that lost 24-21 to Canada last Friday in Toronto as England’s unbeaten streak ended at 41 matches.
“It is undisputed that she adds huge value,” said Mitchell of the 27-year-old.
“She’s just going through a difficult period at the moment, and it’s important for us to to help her through that.

“She wants to become consistent as well and she’ll get back.
“It’s really important to reinforce the behaviours that we think are necessary to our game and that goes for everyone.”

Emma Sing comes in at full-back in Kildunne’s place for Saturday’s rematch against Canada in Ottawa, while Tatyana Heard and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald – backline starters in the defeat – drop out of the matchday squad entirely.

In the fourth change to the starting line-up, Sadia Kabeya, who appeared off the bench last week on her comeback from a leg injury, starts with Alex Matthews, two-time Rugby World Cup winner, dropping to the bench.

Exeter’s Flo Robinson and Sale’s Hollie Aitchison are included on the bench as a new-look set of half-back replacements.

Sing, a rangy runner who can also kick goals, started two matches at full-back during England’s Six Nations campaign, with Kildunne switching to a different position on the wing on each occasion.

Sing’s Gloucester-Hartpury team-mate Venner made her England debut in 2020 aged just 17.
Venner has won only another four caps since but was putting pressure on England’s more established back three at the start of this year, appearing in wins over Scotland and Italy.

The 24-year-old finished as the PWR’s joint top try-scorer last season, crossing 12 times.
Moloney-MacDonald cost her side an early try in the defeat by Canada when, after doing superbly to pick Jess Breach’s pass off her toes, she spilled the ball over the line in the sixth minute.

“Last Friday, we lost sight of what we could control when it mattered most. That’s on us to fix,” added Mitchell.
“This week is about getting back to who we are – hungry, accountable to each other and demanding more of ourselves than anyone outside this group ever could.”We’ve earned a strong period but nothing about it is owed to us going forward.