Back-three depth has become England's super strength

Telegraph

21-04-2025

Of all the areas where England have stepped up a level in the John Mitchell era, their back-three fluidity is perhaps the most obvious.
If the Red Roses were once inhibited by their dependency on the set-piece, Mitchell's reign has brought free-flowing attacking flair – and at the heart of it have been Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow and Jess Breach.
The trio were responsible for 32 of the 75 tries the Red Roses scored in 2024. It is a frightening, mind-boggling statistic – one that comfortably puts the trio among the most potent back threes in rugby, men's or women's.
There are several ingredients which make this combination – the so-called 'holy trinity' – so devastating. From Kildunne's evasiveness in contact, lengthening kicking ability and deceptive footwork, to Dow's robustness on the edges and Breach's eye to cut a great line and fine offloading game, the three-pronged attack have had an almost telepathic understanding in recent years. Against New Zealand last autumn during WXV, they stunned the Black Ferns with their unpredictable, interconnected running game, scoring seven tries between them.
The Jess Breach > Ellie Kildunne connection is unreal 🤩 #WXV #WXV1 | #NZLvENG pic.twitter.com/oh7fQK92v3
— WXV (@WXVRugby) October 6, 2024
Data from Opta shows that since the 2020 Women's Six Nations, the Red Roses back three perform better in every metric when Kildunne, Dow and Breach start together compared to other combinations. Their try yield is nearly one-and-a-half times greater, they secure double the number of turnovers, make more tackles and more line breaks.
The trio have also kicked close to three times as much as other starting Red Roses back-three units and it is this characteristic that sets the Kildunne-Dow-Breach combination apart from others.
To put their superiority into context, even those such as Millie David, the young Bristol Bears winger who finished as the top try-scorer in Premiership Women's Rugby last season, was awed by the way the Red Roses trio operate on the numerous times she has been in camp with the seniors.
'They play very flat to the line,' David told Telegraph Sport earlier this month. 'There's lots of short passes, lots of layers. It was definitely a task to try and switch the way I automatically play if I was at Bears to how they want to do things. It makes you think a little bit differently.'
Which is probably why those like Mia Venner and Emma Sing, the Gloucester-Hatpury winger and full-back respectively, have barely had a look-in. Both are yet to feature since England's opening-round win over Italy, when Sing stayed on the pitch and Kildunne replaced Venner on the wing late on.
If slick passing was the main focus during last year's Six Nations campaign, this year has been about embracing positional versatility as England build towards a home World Cup they know they must win. Back-three variation has therefore been a prominent theme.
England have fielded three different back-three combinations across four rounds, with Kildunne, Dow and Breach starting two of those four matches together – against Wales and Ireland.
On paper, they appear a straightforward choice to play France in the Grand Slam decider on Saturday, so where does this leave those fresher-faced candidates who are vying to usurp this imperious trio? Out of Venner, Sing and Claudia MacDonald, the latter appears the closest in this aim.
Venner impressed in England's win over Italy but Dow would be a much more streetwise choice ahead of France, given her big-match experience and exceptional skill-set. With four tries and counting this championship, Kildunne speaks for herself.
MacDonald, though, staked a claim for Breach's coveted spot in the Red Roses' 59-7 hammering of Scotland at Welford Road last weekend with a brace of well-taken tries. MacDonald's background as a scrum-half has undoubtedly helped her all-round game. She has been a powerful outlet down her wing but also a spark in broken-field play. Against Scotland, she cut inside off her flank for her first score after she was fed by Holly Aitchison before demonstrating fine edge work for her second.
📹 Claudia MacDonald appreciation post 🤩 #GuinnessW6N @RedRosesRugby pic.twitter.com/0dOMJy1FRu
— Guinness Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 20, 2025
This might appear harsh on Breach, who has worked considerably hard since the 2022 World Cup after struggling to break into the starting side towards the end of the Simon Middleton era. Of all her attributes, her defensive game has improved the most and she is an exquisite kick-chase runner. But MacDonald, who won a turnover against Scotland and finished with six line breaks, appears to be demonstrating a more intrepid game. She arduously scurries in-field looking for the work.
Dow scored the pick of England's tries against Scotland with a magnificent solo effort in the 74th minute, which showcased England's back line in full flight. Off a scrum, England recycled quickly with Emily Scarratt running a key dummy line, before Kildunne threw a link pass out to Dow.
😍 Just Wow from Abby Dow 💥 #GuinnessW6N @RedRosesRugby pic.twitter.com/HJmiNSxEBW
— Guinness Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 19, 2025
In a show of their relentless determination, Kildunne and MacDonald both kept on the Ealing Trailfinders winger's shoulder as she showcased a flurry of ridiculous fends before falling over the whitewash. Kildunne's place, too, looks all but secured given Sing is still a raw diamond who has not featured since that first-round win.
Mitchell has insisted he will pick the best side that is tactically suited for France at Allianz Stadium, rather than go on players' form. 'It's a good headache to have,' mused the Red Roses head coach, when asked about how he would decide.
It is fascinating conundrum given the scorelines his side have been wracking up and the depth his side boasts in practically every position.