The Stand-in Superstar - Rowland Steps Up To Replace Kildunne

Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final: England v Scotland

Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol Date: Sunday, 14 September Kick-off: 16:00 BST

Coverage: Live connected BBC One, Sports Extra Two and BBC Sport website and app

John Mitchell's prime arsenic nan subordinate he could slightest spend to suffer came arsenic a spot of a surprise.

Speaking earlier nan Red Roses' Rugby World Cup warm-up against Spain, England's caput coach opted for Helena Rowland.

"Helena is astir apt nan astir valuable personification connected nan team," said Mitchell.

"She's an outstanding rugby player. I'm ever reasoning wherever I tin fresh her."

However, recently, Mitchell has only recovered abstraction connected nan bench.

Rowland was a replacement for 4 retired of 5 matches successful nan Women's Six Nations earlier this year. She has started only 1 of England's 3 matches truthful acold astatine this Rugby World Cup.

If it seems for illustration a unusual measurement to dainty your MVP, nan logic is astir to go apparent.

With Ellie Kildunne, nan reigning world subordinate of nan year, ruled retired of Sunday's quarter-final against Scotland, it is Rowland that Mitchell has turned to to capable successful astatine full-back.

This is nan curse of nan skills Rowlands is blessed with.

A skilful, clever runner pinch an innate knowing of abstraction and deft hands, she tin use herself to immoderate position crossed nan backline.

She has played for England successful each position from 10 to 15, and has moreover been pencilled successful arsenic a fourth-choice scrum-half successful lawsuit of emergencies.

That versatility makes her an perfect chair option, a superb stand-in wherever needed successful nan backline.

Once Kildunne suffered a concussion successful nan triumph complete Australia - her caput whiplashing backmost connected to nan turf successful a tackle by Samantha Wood - Rowland was ever successful rod position to measurement up.

While Gloucester-Hartpury's Emma Sing is simply a master full-back, she is only 12 caps into her Test profession and yet to show nan aforesaid consistency and composure arsenic Rowland.

Both played successful nan triumph complete Samoa successful nan 2nd information of excavation matches, pinch Sing astatine full-back and Rowland astatine fly-half.

But it was Rowland who caught nan eye, scoring 27 points - a Women's Rugby World Cup grounds for a subordinate successful a azygous lucifer - landing 11 retired of 14 conversions and crossing for a try.

That people was characteristically smart, slamming connected nan brakes and stepping retired into nan blind-side to transverse arsenic Samoa were retreating.

But her accuracy disconnected nan tee will person been reassuring for Mitchell, who has Holly Aitchinson successful up of regular kicker Zoe Harrison astatine fly-half for nan gathering pinch Scotland and Sing, England's champion spot kicker, connected nan bench.

The nonaccomplishment of Kildunne undoubtedly robs England of prima power, but it mightiness not weaken them importantly connected nan pitch.

Kildunne's backfield positioning was exposed by Australia past weekend, pinch nan Wallaroos landing respective 50-22 kicks, while nan England backline has yet to deed its stride successful attack.

Rowland enjoyed an enterprising 35-minute cameo aft replacing Kildunne, creating abstraction and making breaks pinch teasing moving lines retired wide.

It's nan measurement she likes to play.

A emotion of off-the-cuff attacking rugby was 1 of nan reasons down her move from Saracens to Loughborough Lightning successful 2020.

Initially successful her XV-a-side world career, Rowland was pitted against Harrison, who she grew up playing alongside astatine Welwyn RFC, successful a conflict to return connected nan fly-half domiciled vacated by nan retiring Katy Daley-Mclean.

Rowland played faster and looser and then-coach Simon Middleton yet opted for Harrison arsenic nan steadier hand.

That determination started Rowland's circuit of nan backline positions.

She emerged arsenic England's first-choice full-back successful nan knockout stages of nan past Women's Rugby World Cup, only to suffer ankle ligament harm successful nan semi-final triumph complete Canada.

The subordinate who stepped successful to capable her boots for nan final?

One Ellie Kildunne.

The roles person flipped this clip astir and, pinch Kildunne needing a hitch-free betterment to beryllium fresh for nan semi-finals, mightiness not revert immoderate clip soon.

Rowland, England's prima flying nether nan radar, is into nan limelight. And Mitchell whitethorn beryllium astir to beryllium proved right.