England see off USA, but fail to hit top gear
England beat the United States in New Jersey to end a run of two defeats to Canada, but the win did not settle questions about their form at the top of women’s rugby. The Red Roses scored freely, yet struggled at times with their set-piece and attacking flow against a spirited side ranked sixth.
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored four of England’s nine tries, with Meg Jones, Alex Matthews Venner, Emma Sing, Holly Aitchison, Maddie Feaunati and Sadia Kabeya also crossing. The United States scored twice, including Kate Zackary’s try on the final play, after keeping the contest close into the second half. England now have areas to address before defending their Women’s Six Nations title in April.
In short
- England beat the United States after two losses to Canada.
- Moloney-MacDonald scored four tries in the nine-try win.
- Set-piece and attacking fluency remain concerns before April.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The nine-try win ended England’s two-match losing run against Canada and showed the Red Roses can still turn pressure into points. Moloney-MacDonald’s four tries and contributions across the team offer grounds for confidence as they prepare to defend their Six Nations title.
The case against
The result may flatter England’s performance: the United States stayed close into the second half, scored twice and exposed problems with England’s set-piece and attacking flow. With the Six Nations approaching, those lapses support the view that England have not yet found the form expected of a leading side.