Jess Breach’s England debut against Canada in 2017 saw her score six tries and the roman numerals of that November date are tattooed over her ribs. The Saracens wing left a more modest impression in north London on Saturday as the Red Roses completed their two-match series victory against the same opponents.
Canada’s defence made sure Breach had to exist on rations, restricting her to a single try 10 minutes before the end. A team that has never beaten England had been reduced to 14 players for an hour after the dismissal of the flanker Gabrielle Senft, but the visitors refused to cave.
England had scored 50 points at Exeter in the first fixture last Saturday and while another series win against the world’s No 4 side is nothing to be sniffed at they were not at their most fluent best.
Louis Deacon, the caretaker coach, has blooded young players in the Exeter flanker Maisy Allen and Sophie Bridger, who came on for a debut here, and he has an enviable pool of talent. The Red Roses were less than perfect here against a stubborn side for whom their captain, Sophie de Goede, stood out, even if the result was not in doubt after Senft made her early exit.
England’s rolling maul is always a source of strength and Breach’s Saracens clubmate, Marlie Packer, broke the deadlock when she was driven over the line by her pack from an early lineout. When Ellie Kildunne scored a second try a couple of minutes later there was a sense Canada were in for a long afternoon.
Things got a whole lot worse when Senft was shown a red card by the referee, Amber McLachlan, for a high tackle on Hannah Botterman. From Amber to red it was a green light, though, for Canada’s best period and when Holly Aitchison’s kick was charged down Sara Svoboda scored an opportunistic try in the corner.
England, though, switched on their forward power with the last move of the first half, working the ball infield after a lineout to give Maud Muir the opportunity to crash over for a try converted by Megan Jones.
The Red Roses swapped their front row 10 minutes after the break as they laboured to break down an Canada defence. It paid instant dividends as Amber Reed, England’s best player, found some space to breeze over for her side’s fourth try and the game began to slip away from the visitors.
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Packer looked to have stretched England’s lead but her try was ruled out after the TMO, Ben Blain, spotted a knock-on. England’s back play continued to look laboured and the Red Roses had to play with 14 players themselves for the last quarter of an hour when their replacement scrum-half, Lucy Packer, had to leave the field after five minutes with an ankle injury. England had already emptied their replacements bench.
The loudest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Breach as she at last got her hands on the ball to dart over. There was a late consolation for Canada with a try by the centre Taylor Perry.
England now turn their sights on a trip to New Zealand. They fly out next Sunday for a tournament that includes the Black Ferns, Australia and Canada. After that Deacon will hand over to John Mitchell, currently helping coach Japan’s men in France.
“We’re only two weeks into a new journey,” he said. “We let a lot of opportunities slip by and on the whole it was frustrating but we’re attempting to play the game in many different ways and the last week has been very instructive for us. When a red card is shown like that it often changes the game but not today.”
Marlie Packer will lead the team in New Zealand but her namesake Lucy will be a doubt for the trip. Marlie Packer said: “We didn’t quite gel and we must keep improving in the next month.”
