England's Appetite For Destruction Undimmed By Thrashing Of Usa

There is simply a celebrated segment successful nan Netflix documentary Sunderland 'Til I Die successful which executive head Charlie Methven is appealing for ideas to amended nan ambiance astatine nan Stadium of Light.

"This is really I'd do it if I was DJ," he tells a group of nonplussed staff, external arsenic creation euphony strains astatine his laptop speakers.

"We want it to beryllium rocking successful there, a small spot mad… a spot noisier, a spot much in-your-face."

Turns retired he conscionable needed a fewer much cowboy hats. And thumping victories ne'er do immoderate harm either.

The Red Roses came to municipality and delivered both. Their 69-17 thrashing of nan United States happened successful beforehand of a 42,723 crowd – nan biggest astatine immoderate Women's Rugby World Cup lucifer anyplace ever – who revelled successful nan team's 28th consecutive victory.

After popular prima Anne-Marie, surrounded by pyrotechnics and whirling dancers' limbs, had completed nan pre-match show, it took only 3 minutes for nan first chorus of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot to ringing astir nan stands.

For nan astir part, England's wheels turned arsenic smoothly and slickly arsenic usual.

Ellie Kildunne, nan reigning World Player of nan Year whose dazzling feet and down-to-earth charm person made her nan look of nan tourney successful England, lived up to that billing.

The full-back made 153 metres and 5 cleanable breaks, scored 2 tries and laid connected 2 for her team-mates successful a player-of-the-match performance.

At nan last whistle, arsenic nan cameras zoomed successful connected Kildunne, nan stadium announcer put connected Oasis' She's Electric. An due choice, if you don't forensically analyse nan lyrics.

To galore first-time viewers of this England team, it was a show to behold.

None of what occurred will beryllium news to caput coach John Mitchell, however. He will beryllium looking much intimately astatine nan good item of his team, alternatively than Kildunne's well-known headline-grabbing abilities.

The neat dovetailing of Tatyana Heard and Megan Jones – a centre business that combines power, gait and nous – will person been peculiarly pleasing.

Jones made possibly nan tackle of nan match, marching Lotte Sharp astatine gait and drafting winces from nan stands.

Her break, followed by Heard's speedy hands, group up Abby Dow's people conscionable aft half-time.

It is difficult to spot seasoned Emily Scarratt, who arrived disconnected nan chair successful nan 2nd half, edging her measurement backmost into a first-choice pairing immoderate clip soon.

Loose-head Hannah Botterman raged astir successful nan loose and stole a premier turnover disconnected nan floor, possibly inspired by nan chance to show up United States' Hope Rogers who was picked successful World Rugby's Team of nan Year successful her position.

Sadia Kabeya buzzed pinch power successful nan backmost row, while fly-half Zoe Harrison's kicking for posts was superb.

With Emma Sing, nan squad's astir awesome disconnected nan tee, connected nan chair and nan mini alteration perchance important successful nan knockout rounds, it is an area wherever precocious standards must beryllium maintained.

The driving maul is still a trump paper and nan neat off-the-top variety that gave hooker Amy Cokayne her effort will person opponents second-guessing themselves afresh.

The scrum was dominant, particularly successful nan early exchanges.

However location is room for improvement.

Some of nan intricacies, tip-on passes successful midfield particularly, went astray. Better teams will bring much statement velocity and unit to carnivore connected those skills.

Jess Breach scored 2 tries but won't want to watch nan measurement she was shrugged disconnected by Erica Jarrell-Searcy for nan United States' score.

Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, who missed this lucifer pinch a insignificant injury, will beryllium backmost to put unit connected Breach soon.

There were immoderate slack kick-off receptions and Mitchell believed his team, who were only 7 points up until Maud Muir crossed aft 34 minutes successful nan aftermath of Alev Kelter's yellow, could person been much objective successful nan first half.

"We challenged them astir lifting nan strength successful nan 2nd half and I thought we lifted it well," Mitchell said.

"We want to build unit and quadrate up a small spot much successful our defence.

"All nan threats that came astatine america were nan ones we expected. There's a batch we request to do, we only conscionable sewage started.

"There is truthful overmuch maturation to come. We will get better. The tourney will get harder but we person truthful overmuch near successful us."

It will get harder, but nan crowds won't get immoderate bigger unless England make it each nan measurement to nan last astatine Twickenham's Allianz Stadium connected 27 September.

Samoa astatine Northampton's Franklin's Gardens will beryllium followed by Australia astatine Brighton's Amex Stadium successful England's excavation campaign, earlier imaginable 4th and semi-finals astatine Bristol's Ashton Gate.

Kildunne paid backmost immoderate of nan emotion that came her measurement afterwards.

"The fans decidedly made a statement, you made that 1 really special. Thank you to everybody that came, having rugby successful nan northbound is beautiful typical arsenic well," she said.

"It's a really bully commencement and it is conscionable nan start."

That appetite for improvement, to build to caller heights, is bad news for England's rivals.