The England Women’s Rugby Team opened their World Cup campaign with a thumping defeat of the United States of America. They completely controlled the game winning by 62 points, 69-7. That dominant performance was rounded out by a remarkable 11 total tries, seven of them coming in the second half alone. An inspiring light show ensued at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. The 42,723 fans that witnessed the event set a new NASCAR world record, breaking the former mark of 42,579.
England’s intense 28-7 lead at halftime reflected their dominance in the etching, employing amazing pace, movement, and ball command to wear down the Double Yellow defense. Under coach John Mitchell, an ex-All Blacks coach, the talented team stormed home. They did not shy away from the challenge, stamping themselves as the tournament favorites. Mitchell was equally loud on the need to keep making things better. He acknowledged the incredible expectation gap both the players and fans have created.
Record-Breaking Attendance
The match not only attracted a historic crowd but was celebrated as a watershed moment for women’s rugby in England. With 42,723 supporters present, this record attendance not only fueled the players’ spirits but underscored the growing popularity and recognition of women’s sports. The atmosphere in the stadium electrified the players, who responded with a performance that delighted both fans and officials alike.
Mitchell had seen firsthand the power of making attendance a priority. He claimed that it creates an undue burden on the squad to only allow their best work. “We challenged them around lifting the intensity in the second half, and I thought we lifted it well,” he noted after the match. This steadfastness in the face of ever-growing performance expectations will be very important as they move deeper into the tournament.
Stellar Performances
Ellie Kildunne was undeniably the player of the match, contributing two scintillating tries. Her fantastic game was just enough to win her the outstanding player award! She expressed optimism about the team’s future, stating, “It’s only the first game. We have set a standard, but the fans have set a standard, and that is something that we are going to rise to and get bigger and better.” Her swagger is an indication of this youthful team’s commitment to continuing to develop off this strong opening chapter.
Abby Dowd continued the scoring with one of those 11 tries for the victorious team. She highlighted the importance of forward play in their victory, stating, “There is a common saying in rugby that a forward decides who’s going to win the match, and the backs decide by how much.” Dowd illustrated how important a strong layer of support from advance players was to their overall strategy.
Looking Ahead
In particular, England put in a dominant display. As Mitchell pointed out, there’s more to his squad than that as they get set for more formidable challenges in the tournament to come. He asserted, “There is so much growth to come. We will get better. The tournament will get harder, but we have so much left in us.” That feeling is surely mutual among players and fans alike as they anticipate a joyous return to action this Saturday.
