Canada v England: Ellie Kildunne on bench as Red Roses ring changes
BBC Sport
In-depth coverage of the world of sport, direct from the BBC Sport team
By Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter
Published 7 minutes ago
Star full-back Ellie Kildunne has been dropped to the bench as England make a host of changes in response to their first defeat in four years, a 24-21 loss to Canada last Friday in Toronto.
Head coach John Mitchell has accused his side of losing their hunger, which fuelled a run that included four successive Six Nations Grand Slams and last year's world title on home soil.
"Last Friday, we lost sight of what we could control when it mattered most. That's on us to fix," said 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."
Changes for Saturday's rematch with Canada in Ottawa:
- Emma Sing comes in at full-back in place of Kildunne.
- Tatyana Heard and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald drop out of the matchday squad entirely.
- Helena Rowland and Mia Venner replace Heard and Moloney-MacDonald at inside centre and wing respectively.
- Sadia Kabeya starts with Alex Matthews dropping to the bench.
Exeter's Flo Robinson and Sale's Hollie Aitchison are included on the bench as new-look 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.
Venner, who made her England debut in 2020 aged just 17, has won only another four caps since but was putting pressure on England's more established back three at the start of this year.
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.
"We've earned a strong period but nothing about it is owed to us going forward," said Mitchell.
"Friday [Saturday 00:10 BST] is an opportunity to apply sustained pressure, learn from what we missed, and come out the other side better than we went in."
Canada v England
WXV Global Series
Saturday, 24 October 00:10 BST
TD Place, Ottawa
Watch on iPlayer | Live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app