England women's 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 leading up to the match. England had a shaky start in their opening win against Ireland, and their injury list grew with Alex Matthews ruled out due to a shoulder injury, adding to the list of players already sidelined for the tournament, including Hannah Botterman, Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, May Campbell, and Tatyana Heard.
Additionally, Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward, Rosie Galligan, and Lark Atkin-Davies are absent due to pregnancy. The team made five changes to the starting lineup, including moving star player Ellie Kildunne to the wing.
Before the game, Mitchell stated that this would be the toughest test for his team, but it was an opportunity for each player to demonstrate their value as a Red Rose. The team rose to the challenge, scoring five tries in the first half and seven in the second, with Mia Venner and Haineala Lutui finishing the scoring on their third and second Test appearances, respectively. Mitchell made several changes during the game, and the replacement players made a significant impact, showcasing the team's depth and adaptability. The coach attributed the team's success to their 'courage' in adapting to a new style of play and the players' ability to be their 'authentic' selves.
One standout player was back-rower Maddie Feaunati, who thrived in the team's focused approach. Former Scotland international Jade Konkel criticized Scotland's performance, stating that they were 'not good enough' and lacked depth, which was evident in the statistics, including missed tackles, lack of gain line, and turnovers.
Konkel emphasized that Scotland needs to improve their game to compete with top teams.