England head coach John Mitchell has made six changes to his side for Friday's WXV Global Series fixture against the United States in New Jersey, but star full-back Ellie Kildunne remains on the bench for the second consecutive match.
Team changes
Kildunne, 27, was dropped for the 31-22 defeat by Canada last Saturday, with Mitchell saying she needed to show "greater consistency". Despite that loss, the Bristol Bears player, who has 67 England caps and was named World Rugby's player of the year in 2024, will again start among the replacements. Emma Sing retains the starting full-back position.
Four of the changes are in the backline: Tatyana Heard, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Flo Robinson and Holly Aitchison earn their first starts of the tour. In the pack, Mackenzie Carson and Maud Muir replace Hannah Botterman and Sarah Bern. Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Robinson will make her Test debut, with Mitchell seeking a running threat from the number nine position.
Mitchell's perspective
Mitchell said he had been expecting a dip after England's 41-match unbeaten run ended. "I've been waiting for it," he said. "It's not something that I make excuses about, but I've been waiting for a dip." He described the current phase as a 60/40 renewal, with many young players reaching their 11th Test of the year. Mitchell also confirmed that coaching consultant Shaun Edwards had left the group after the Canada loss, as previously agreed, and that he had taken over defence coaching duties for the week.
Looking ahead, Mitchell emphasized a long-term vision: "The main message is not to let a Test match define you. We have a far greater purpose than losing a Test series to a very good rugby nation in Canada."
Head-to-head record
England hold a dominant 21-1 record against the USA from 22 meetings. The sole defeat came in the 1991 World Cup final at Cardiff Arms Park (19-6). The Red Roses' most recent encounter was a 69-7 pool-stage win at Sunderland's Stadium of Light during the 2025 World Cup. Their largest margin is an 89-0 victory at Sixways Stadium in November 2021, while the last meeting in the United States ended 38-5 in San Diego in June 2019.
Match details
USA v England, WXV Global Series, Friday 30 October at 21:15 GMT, Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey. The match will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer.
