England bench Kildunne for Canada rematch as Mitchell demands reset

Ellie Kildunne has been moved to the bench as England make four changes to their starting side for the final Test against Canada in Ottawa, seeking a response to their first defeat in four years.

Emma Sing replaces Kildunne at full-back for Friday’s match, which kicks off at midnight BST on Saturday. Canada’s 24-21 victory in Toronto last Friday ended the Red Roses’ 41-match unbeaten run and put the hosts ahead in the three-Test series.

Head coach John Mitchell has demanded greater hunger and accountability from a team whose unbeaten sequence included four successive Six Nations Grand Slams and last year’s World Cup triumph on home soil.

Consistency behind Kildunne decision

Kildunne had started all nine of England’s matches this year. Her previous absence from the starting line-up came in the 2025 World Cup quarter-final against Scotland, after she suffered a concussion in the preceding match.

Explaining the selection to the Guardian, Mitchell said the full-back continued to offer “huge value” but was going through a difficult period.

“It’s important for us to help her through that. She has to become consistent as well. She will get back,” he said. “It is also important to create competition and to recognise that you have to become more consistent, especially when you are competing in the Red Roses.”

Kildunne’s performance in Toronto nevertheless included England’s highest totals for metres gained, clean breaks and defenders beaten: 149 metres, two breaks and six defenders, according to BBC Sport. The Guardian reported that she also made four knock-ons.

Sing will earn her 18th England cap. Her last start came against Italy in the Six Nations, when England won 61-33 in Parma and Kildunne played on the wing.

Four changes to the starting side

Mitchell has also brought Helena Rowland into the side at inside centre and Mia Venner onto the wing. Tatyana Heard and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, who started in Toronto, are omitted from the matchday squad.

Sadia Kabeya takes the starting place of Alex Matthews, who moves to the bench. Kabeya returned from a leg injury as a replacement in last week’s defeat.

Venner, who made her England debut aged 17 in 2020, has won five caps. She finished last season as the Premiership Women’s Rugby joint leading try-scorer with 12 tries and appeared in England’s Six Nations victories over Scotland and Italy earlier this year.

Flo Robinson and Hollie Aitchison are selected among the replacements, giving England a changed set of reserve half-backs.

Final chance to answer Canada

Canada lead the series following their Toronto victory and a 26-26 draw in Exeter in September. Ottawa offers England their last opportunity to beat Canada in this WXV Global Series.

“Last Friday, we lost sight of what we could control when it mattered most. That’s on us to fix,” Mitchell said.

Captain Meg Jones said the squad had held “honest conversations” after the defeat, while allowing players space to process the result. The focus now is on their response rather than allowing the loss to define them.

England’s programme continues after Ottawa with a match against the United States on 30 October, their final fixture before the Women’s Six Nations in April.