Red Roses endure reality check against Australia

England coach John Mitchell won't admit it but perhaps a small reality check was just what his Rugby World Cup campaign really needed.

After winning their first two games against the USA and Samoa by an aggregate of 16 points to one, there has been a distinct lack of jeopardy in England's matches. It's not always the best thing—when trying to win a tournament or grow a sport—if the pre-match debate is solely about the winning margin.

Their 47–7 win over Australia stretched the Red Roses’ unbeaten streak to a record-equalling 30 games, but line-outs were lost, wires were crossed, passes were fumbled and a lack of discipline proved costly as, for the first time in 536 minutes, they went behind in a match.

Sometimes you need a bit of adversity to stiffen the sinews and sharpen the focus, and Mitchell will now plot for a quarter-final with Scotland without world player of the year Ellie Kildunne, who will stand down for a minimum 12-day period after showing concussion symptoms.

"We wanted that sort of match and, on reflection, we probably really needed it," said scrum-half Natasha Hunt. "They really brought it and we've not felt that pressure for a while. We needed to work out how to win, but we've still put 40 points on a quality team—that tells you about the standards we are setting as a group.

"We are gutted there wasn't more running rugby, but defensively we showed how much fight we've got for always protecting that try line—that's our character."

Australia's first-half game plan, with precision kicking used to optimum effect, will be useful for England's future opponents to study, though this win guarantees they will not face either defending champions New Zealand or world number two side Canada until the final.

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For 30 minutes their creativity was stifled but, ultimately, it is going to need a full 80-minute performance to pluck these Roses.

There were positives—in particular the driven nature of England's rearguard, which will have delighted defensive coach Sarah Hunter, the all-time leading appearance maker proving one of Mitchell's canniest staff appointments.

And if you laboured under the view that England's firepower was all about their swaggering, speedy back three—who had a quiet match—then it was the strength of their forwards that got this done, with the pack scoring six of the seven tries.

"They'd done their homework on us, but we solved it and that's the important thing," said centre Meg Jones. "We got ahead of the game and it felt flat. I've got so much belief in our defence and sometimes it's nice to show another way to win. I'm sure the forwards will remind us."

England have averaged 54 points in their last five games with Scotland and have conceded just 29, so it was always likely Mitchell would freshen up his starting team for the fourth game in a row.

Emma Sing will come in for Kildunne at full-back in Bristol, though her absence is perhaps not such a drama, considering she may have sat it out anyway.

"I'm just surprised that her hair didn't protect her head," joked Hunt.

"Ellie will be alright and we'll look after her and make sure she's okay, but she was smiling in the changing room.

"We've got incredible squad depth and we always knew everyone would be involved in this campaign.

"If there's no Ellie, you need to remember that Emma (Sing) has beaten more defenders than anyone ever in the PWR."

Former England captain and Australia coach Jo Yapp will reset her side for the challenge of Canada in what could be her final assignment, the rising star coach swapping Sydney for her native Shropshire at the conclusion of the World Cup.

Her team may have come up short, but Yapp's tactical nous underlines why her future coaching role will be much discussed.

"Everybody is looking to beat England—they are the number one team in the world for a reason," she said. "Our game management in that first 30 minutes was really good, but we need to be able to do that for longer against Canada."

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