England’s Tough Test Against Australia Proved Valuable, Says Hunt
The challenge England faced in their final World Cup group match against Australia was "exactly what the team needed, even if they didn’t realize it beforehand," according to scrum-half Natasha Hunt.
England were pushed by Australia in Brighton on Saturday, with Jo Yapp’s side conceding the first try and preventing their opponents from scoring again until the 33rd minute. Despite the early setbacks, England adjusted in the second half to secure a 47-7 victory, setting up a quarter-final clash with Scotland on Sunday.
"It’s exactly what we wanted," Hunt said. "Before the match, we didn’t expect to need that kind of test, but looking back, it was great for us. Australia brought intensity, especially early on. We felt pressure we hadn’t experienced earlier in the competition, and handling it will help us going forward. To work through that and finish with such a scoreline shows the team’s strength."
The hosts took pride in their defensive effort, with center Meg Jones referencing a well-known football saying. "Defence wins championships—it wins games for us," the 28-year-old said. "We have complete confidence in our defensive structure. We’re comfortable without the ball and trust our system. If we have to kick possession away, we’ll do it without hesitation."
Defence coach Sarah Hunter has been instrumental in shaping the team’s mentality. "She’s passionate about the game and has been a leader for years," Jones said. "That mindset has filtered through the group, especially those of us who’ve worked closely with her. When she speaks, we listen—her communication is clear, and we trust her completely."
Alex Matthews, who led the side against Australia, praised the team’s composure. "The way the players regrouped was key," the No 8 said. "We had issues to fix, but we stayed calm at halftime. We trusted the plan and each other—that’s crucial in big tournaments."
England may regain captain Zoe Aldcroft from injury for the Scotland match, but full-back Ellie Kildunne will be unavailable after suffering a concussion against Australia, ruling her out for the required 12-day period. Helena Rowland and Emma Sing are among the options to replace her at No 15.
Hunt, who plays alongside Sing at Gloucester-Hartpury, added: "We have a deep squad. Emma’s a strong contender—she’s beaten the most defenders in the league. We’re fortunate with our depth, but we all hope Els recovers well."
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