Ellie Kildunne Named on Red Roses Bench for Second Straight England Match

Ellie Kildunne Benched Again as John Mitchell Reshuffles Red Roses Lineup

World Rugby’s 2024 player of the year Ellie Kildunne will remain among the replacements for England’s upcoming Test match against the United States in New Jersey. Despite head coach John Mitchell ringing the changes across the squad following a 31-22 loss to Canada in Ottawa, the 27-year-old Bristol Bears full-back has not been restored to the starting XV. Emma Sing has instead retained her place at full-back for Friday’s encounter, leaving the 67-cap international to provide cover from the bench.

Kildunne, who featured prominently in the Red Roses’ 2025 World Cup triumph, was originally left out of the starting lineup against Canada after Mitchell remarked that she needed to demonstrate “greater consistency”. The subsequent defeat in Ottawa confirmed England’s first back-to-back losses since 2016, prompting Mitchell to make six alterations to his matchday squad as they prepare to face the USA.

Backline Overhaul and Tactical Experiments

Four of the six adjustments for Friday’s match have been made in the backline. Tatyana Heard, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Flo Robinson, and Holly Aitchison have all been handed their first starting berths of the tour. The shake-up also extends into the forward pack, where front-rowers Mackenzie Carson and Maud Muir have been selected to replace Hannah Botterman and Sarah Bern.

Mitchell has actively integrated a fresh cohort of younger talent into the national set-up following their recent World Cup victory. The head coach admitted he anticipated that England’s record-setting 41-match unbeaten streak would eventually falter as the team navigated this period of roster transition.

“I’ve been waiting for it,” Mitchell said. “It’s not something that I make excuses about, but I’ve been waiting for a dip.”

“For me, it’s really exciting to get the information that we have. I’ve tried some things as well, and we have been like 60/40 in terms of renewal.”

“We’ve got a lot of young players going into their 11th Test match for the year, and we’ve got some outstanding players to come back as well.”

“There are a couple of things I’ve tried that haven’t paid off, but it’s a good time to try things. I’m actually OK with that.”

Why This Matters

England’s women’s rugby program has set the global benchmark in recent years, underlined by a 41-game winning run and a World Cup championship. However, suffering consecutive losses for the first time in nearly a decade indicates the challenges of squad evolution. Mitchell’s tactical experiments and insistence on performance-based selection—even when dealing with high-profile stars like Kildunne—demonstrate a long-term strategy aimed at building depth and resilience rather than relying solely on established combinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Ellie Kildunne left out of the starting lineup against the USA?

Head coach John Mitchell initially dropped Ellie Kildunne for the Canada match to demand “greater consistency” from the full-back. Following that fixture, Mitchell opted to retain Emma Sing in the starting number 15 shirt for the USA game, keeping Kildunne on the bench.

What changes did John Mitchell make to the England team?

Mitchell made six total changes to the starting XV. In the backs, Tatyana Heard, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Flo Robinson, and Holly Aitchison earned their first tour starts. In the forwards, Mackenzie Carson and Maud Muir replaced Hannah Botterman and Sarah Bern.

When was the last time the Red Roses lost back-to-back matches?

England’s 31-22 defeat to Canada marked the first time the Red Roses had lost consecutive Test matches since 2016, following the end of their historic 41-match winning streak.