Mitchell ready for tougher tests after England win World Cup opener

England coach John Mitchell insists things will only get tougher as the favourites opened their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign with a confident 69-7 win over the United States.

Mitchell's side outscored their opponents 11 tries to one as they stretched their unbeaten streak to 28, a run that goes back 1,014 days to their narrow defeat to New Zealand in the last World Cup final.

The USA beat England in the 1991 final, but they have lost their other 21 matches against the Red Roses – and this one never looked like bucking that trend.

TikTok star Ilona Maher had warned her team were ready to pull off a shock, but it was clear early on there would be no Friday night fright at the Stadium of Light.

"I think we coped with the occasion really well, this group will get better, and we need to as well," said Mitchell.

"We started a bit slowly, but we lifted our intensity in the second half. I enjoyed seeing how the girls built pressure and forced their negativity and we took advantage of that.

"We've got lots of special players and it's hard to single anyone out. The scrum was outstanding and probably buried the USA. We can't rely on individuals as this tournament progresses.

“We're the Red Roses, we set outstanding standards, we've got great depth and we're constantly creating pressure in training. The girls are very driven, they don't want to get beaten. We can't control our opponents. We just need to deal with what we are confronted with.

“We're being hunted, every team will rise against us, but we've only just got started and there is a lot of growth left from us. There is always something to work on, this game is infinite."

Sadia Kabeya opened the scoring after just nine minutes with a rampaging maul, as England’s physicality steamrollered the USA.

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It was not long before they doubled their lead. Meg Jones flattened Georgie Perris-Redding with a crunching tackle, setting up a move finished by bulldozing prop Hannah Botterman.

Erica Jarrell-Searcy made the most of some England nerves to hit back, before Maud Muir’s power and player of the match Ellie Kildunne’s silky finishing restored order.

Abby Dow was England’s try-scoring force as they won a seventh consecutive Six Nations earlier this year, and she won’t score many easier as the second half started like the first had ended.

Kildunne added another as backs and forwards jousted for the points, with hooker Amy Cokayne scoring as the USA blue line was stretched thinner and thinner.

Jess Breach and Lark Atkin-Davies’ doubles completed the rout, while Zoe Harrison and Emma Sing added 14 points from conversions.

Kildunne paid special tribute to the foundation laid by England's forwards, who repeatedly rocked the USA back on their heels in a rampaging performance.

Her two tries and set-up play might dominate the headlines, but this was an all-round display, backed by partisan home support.

"I think the fans made a statement. We had a lot to learn from this game, but the fans made it special," she said.

"It's a full team effort. Hannah Botterman has had a few things to say, she has been in the front row bashing it up through the middle."

With more than 330,000 tickets already sold, and prices starting at just £5 for children and £10 for adults, fans are encouraged to secure their tickets now via tickets.rugbyworldcup.com