Preview: Red Roses v USA - Autumn Series
Everything you need to know ahead of the Red Roses' meet with the USA.
The Red Roses look to make it four from four in their autumn campaign when they take on the USA on Sunday.
| Date | Sunday 21 November |
| Venue | Sixways Stadium |
| Coverage | BBC Two |
| Kick off | 2:45pm |
Simon Middleton's charges are on a 17-game unbeaten streak, and a win in Worcester would see them equal the feats of Eddie Jones' 2016/17 squad.
There has been wholesale changes to the side that beat Canada 51-12 last weekend, with Lydia Thompson and Rowena Burnfield set to earn their 50th Test caps.
World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Zoe Aldcroft captains the side for the first time.
Stats & Facts
This will be the 18th match between England and USA, having first met in 1991, the Red Roses have won 17 of the previous 18 clashes (L1).
England are currently on a 17-game win streak against the USA which dates back to 1993; the USA’s only victory against England came in the first encounter between the two sides, which took place at the 1991 World Cup in Cardiff (19-6).
The Red Roses have now won 17 straight matches and 48 of their last 51 tests, losing only to New Zealand (2017 and 2019) and France (2018) over that period.
England have won their last 25 tests on home soil, dating back to a 25-20 loss to New Zealand at The Stoop in November 2016.
England and the United States last met at the Super Series in 2019 where the Red Roses won 38-5, since then, England have gone on to play 20 fixtures just losing one of them (W19), whilst the USA have played eight times (W1, L6).
Views from camp
Simon Middleton on Lydia/Rowena: "Lydia has been an important part of our team for a long time and it’s fitting for her to reach this milestone at the stadium and club she’s always called home.
"It’s been great to have Rowena back in the squad. She’s an incredibly tough and combative player and we need those types in our team. She’s also an incredibly versatile player who can play in the second row or at flanker which is a huge benefit in any team. It’ll be a special and proud day for both players and their loved ones."
Middleton on Aldcroft: "Leadership comes in many different forms. Zoe has her own style based around actions not words. It’s a style that resonates with our coaching team and one that is massively respected across the squad, so from that side it was a simple choice for us and in line with how we have approached this series of games.
Team
Starters
1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Lark Davies, 3. Maud Muir, 4. Harriet Millar-Mills, 5. Zoe Aldcroft (c), 6. Alex Matthews, 7. Sadia Kabeya, 8. Sarah Beckett, 9. Leanne Infante, 10. Helena Rowland, 11. Heather Cowell, 12. Lagi Tuima, 13. Holly Aitchison, 14. Lydia Thompson, 15. Abigail Dow.
Finishers
16. Connie Powell, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Sarah Bern, 19. Rowena Burnfield, 20. Sarah Hunter, 21. Lucy Packer, 22. Zoe Harrison, 23. Ellie Kildunne.
Related topics
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
England beat world champion boks at Twickenham
Marcus Smith slotted a final minute penalty that saw England beat the world champion Springboks 27-26 at Twickenham.
England got off to a quick start, as probing kicks from Ben Youngs and Marcus Smith edged the hosts deep into Springbok territory.
One of which was taken back over South Africa's line, handing England the first scrum of the match, and moments later the first penalty of the match - much to the delight of England's front row.
Eddie Jones' men continued to apply the pressure and on the 7-minute mark, after a few successful phases, Youngs spread the ball wide through the hands of Smith and Henry Slade, to Manu Tuilagi on the left flank, who went over in the corner.
Smith added the extras, but Tuilagi was injured in the process of scoring, and was replaced by Max Malins. The Saracen went to wing, and Joe Marchant shifted to outside centre.
Handre Pollard pulled South Africa back into the game with a simple three-pointer moments later, but Freddie Steward extended England's lead after bulldozing his way over from close range for England's second score. Smith's kick was good.
As half time approached, the fly halves battled it out with boot, a trio of Pollard penalties was answered with one from Smith making it 17-12 at the break.
It took 13 minutes of second half action for Pollard to take his personal tally to 15, courtesy of another penalty, reducing the deficit to two.
And the Springboks took the lead for the first time on the 63-minute mark, England giving away a penalty in front of the sticks, and Elton Jantjies duly converting.
But England immediately took back control of the Test, off a 40-metre lineout, Slade put Marchant through a gap in the Springbok defence. The Harlequin squared up Frans Steyn and lifted a pass into the onrushing Raffi Quirke, who scored his first Test try. Smith converted.
England's ill discipline continued, and Will Stuart was sent to the sin bin. The penalty count began to mount, which led to South Africa's first try of the match on the 70-minute mark, scored by Makazole Mapimpi.
Jantjies missed the conversion, but Steyn slotted another penalty minutes later, and the Boks led 26-24.
Siya Kolisi was yellow carded in the 75th minute for a tackle in the air, and in the final moments of the game England forced a penalty in front of the sticks. Smith stepped up and knocked it over, making it 27-26, and handing England victory.
TEAMS
England
Starters
1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Jamie Blamire, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Tom Curry, 9. Ben Youngs, 10. Marcus Smith, 11. Jonny May, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 13. Henry Slade, 14. Joe Marchant, 15. Freddie Steward.
Finishers
16. Nic Dolly, 17. Joe Marler, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Alex Dombrandt, 22. Raffi Quirke, 23. Max Malins.
South Africa
Starters
1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Lood De Jager, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 7. Kwagga Smith, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 9. Cobus Reinach, 10. Handre Pollard, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 12. Damian De Allende, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 14. Jesse Kriel, 15. Willie Le Roux.
Replacements
16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Franco Mostert, 20. Jasper Wiese, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Elton Jantjies, 23. Frans Steyn.
FIXTURES & RESULTS
England 69-3 Tonga
England 32-15 Australia
England 27-26 South Africa
