England women's rugby head coach John Mitchell praised his team's 87-4 win over Scotland in the Women's Six Nations, calling it a 'special' performance despite a challenging week. England had a shaky start in their opening win against Ireland, and injuries to key players, including Alex Matthews, added to concerns about their title defense.
However, the team made five changes to the starting lineup, including moving star player Ellie Kildunne to the wing, and went on to score five tries in the first half and seven in the second. Mitchell attributed the team's success to their 'courage' and ability to adapt to adversity, saying, 'That was a special performance... I am fortunate to have a great staff and coaching group - they have done a tremendous job.' The team's dominant lead allowed for a number of changes, with young players making a significant impact, including back-rower Maddie Feaunati, who put on a strong display.
Former Scotland international Jade Konkel noted that Scotland's lack of depth was a significant factor in their loss, saying, 'The stats speak for themselves; the missed tackles, the lack of gain line; and the amount of turnovers as well. They'll be frustrated but if they want to compete with the best, they have to step up their game.'