Maybe it’s a mark of England’s superiority over their rivals that they are often such strong favourites for a home World Cup with out but figuring out whose hand will on the fly-half tiller. An enormous choice looms for John Mitchell, the Red Roses head coach going through an issue of playmaking a lot. A drizzly afternoon in Leicester proved dreich for an overmatched Scotland however nonetheless provided England 10 Holly Aitchison an opportunity to strut her stuff most impressively.
Mitchell’s third fly-half of the marketing campaign might but show herself once more his most suitable choice. Aitchison had seemingly seized the shirt with a superlative 2024, illustrating England’s attacking recreation with the broad brush strokes of an artist coming into her personal, capable of paint within the summary and with pointillist precision. However a shaky exhibiting underneath strain from Canada at WXV, and a slight tweak in gameplan, introduced each the versatile Helena Rowland and, significantly, Zoe Harrison again into the body.
This, although, was a exhibiting to remind Mitchell and all at Welford Highway of Aitchison’s class. Her passing recreation, peerless inside even this squad, helped England run riot as they proceed to steamroll all of their path. 9 tries arrived even on an uncharacteristic off-day for full-back Ellie Kildunne and with the hosts squandering loads of possibilities – such is life, sadly, in a match struggling increasingly for aggressive jeopardy.
“She’s been fulfilling her position very properly,” Mitchell mentioned of Aitchison. “An excellent efficiency immediately. I’m very fortunate that I’ve bought three very, excellent tens, in order that they’re all going to play an element throughout 2025. Certainty is admittedly necessary to me for cohesion. I am simply enjoying out a plan in the mean time which goes to assist us in ‘25 as a result of we simply do not know who’s going to make sure in relation to a state of affairs when it issues.”
A worryingly poor efficiency from France in Parma in opposition to Italy doesn’t precisely augur properly for subsequent week’s grand slam showdown, although they do are likely to elevate their recreation for the annual Girls Six Nations decider. Privately, England would confess to slightly wanting an 80-minute problem – although pushed by Eire within the first half final week and Italy within the second 40 in spherical one, this actually has been a romp in direction of one other clear sweep.
Scotland’s stagnation is trigger for concern. The measuring stick for any facet in opposition to England is totally different to in different video games, and one might argue the defeat to Italy at dwelling in spherical three was much more damaging for Bryan Easson’s facet. However having stored issues comparatively respectable on this fixture over the previous 5 years, the primary half right here felt like a step again. The progress promised by the onset of professionalism is but to actually present for a facet that sorely missed skipper Rachel Malcolm – sat within the coaches’ field after a concussion final week – and her management.
A regime change maybe looms after a World Cup {that a} group that has been via loads of robust instances collectively will hope to peak for. However the hole is rising to England. Maybe as an instance their exceptional depth, their again row bench substitute right here was World Cup winner and Olympian Alex Matthews; her Scottish counterpart, the highly-rated Gemma Bell, is technically a clubmate however is just not but significantly close to the reigning Premiership Women’s Rugby champions’ first staff.
That distinction in high quality was evident from the off. Gradual begins had been a theme of England’s match however not right here. Claudia MacDonald had already been denied with line in sight twice – as soon as by an impressive cowl deal with from Rhona Lloyd after which by a poor Kildunne go – when loosehead Kelsey Clifford bought the scoring began six minutes in from shut vary.
Marlie Packer quickly collected her fiftieth England strive earlier than Zoe Aldcroft, her substitute as captain, snared one among her personal, striding away like Keely Hodgkinson after plucking an intercept close to midway. MacDonald, Abbie Ward and Lark Atkin-Davies all crossed earlier than the interval because the Crimson Roses progressed at greater than a degree per minute.
Issues stalled considerably after the break, although MacDonald had her second quickly sufficient after a beautiful passing transfer out to the left. A Scottish maul rating was properly acquired, with centre Lisa Thomson an unlikely buried beneficiary, but England got here once more. By her requirements, Abby Dow had been quiet till the ultimate 10 minutes however two tries but got here her manner because the wing powered previous three weak would-be tacklers on a 60-metre surge down the suitable touchline earlier than crossing in the identical nook to finish the rout.
Will Aitchison hold the shirt at Twickenham subsequent week? It appears possible, however enjoying in a facet with such wealthy expertise means one should undertake a sure mindset. “The message is that everybody is valued within the staff,” Aitchison defined. “We’ve bought three, in Mitch’s phrases, ‘class’ 10s. I’m simply completely satisfied no matter position I’m given. With the World Cup this 12 months, it’s necessary we’ve depth in each single place, so it’s been good to play totally different roles and get that underneath my belt.”
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