England's Red Roses maul Canada 45-12 to remain unbeaten in WXV1

Yellow card: Holly Aitchison 30’, Julia Schell 56’

England has, quite literally, mauled Canada into submission to deliver hooker Lark Atkin-Davies four tries in a 45–12 victory under the roof in Dunedin.

England’s Red Roses remain unbeaten in the top tier of WXV thanks to Friday night’s seven tries to two win on Friday night.

If it wasn’t already clear to fellow big guns France and New Zealand’s Black Ferns, discipline is key at your own end against England, because the Red Roses’ lineout drive is almost impossible to stop.

England fullback Ellie Kildunne opened the scoring thanks to a mistake from her opposite Sarah-Maude Lachance, who made a mess of her attempt to defuse a kick from the Red Roses behind her own try line, allowing Kildunne to dive on the loose ball.

Unforced errors cost England from adding to that score and first-five Holly Aitchison being sent to the bin for a deliberate knock on, cost them, with Canada’s hooker Emily Tuttosi scoring her side’s opening try from, ironically enough, a lineout drive.

But the maul was about to become Canada’s nemesis after a brave first 35 minutes from the underdogs.

In the final couple of minutes before half-time, Atkin-Davies would cross twice from penalties that were followed by lineouts and then the inevitable rumble of the Red Roses drive that would end with their No. 2 getting the pats on the back.

England had Canada under pressure early in the opening half but a dropped ball and then a messy couple of hacks at the ball later, centre Shoshanah Seumanutafa collected the loose ball and set speedy winger Paige Farries free for a spectacular second try from Canada.

But Canada then let themselves down at the breakdown with that keyword, discipline. What followed was the familiar tale, as the kick to the line for Atkin-Davies to score from a maul entered its third chapter.

England, who had made nine changes from the side that was too good for Australia last week, wasn’t about to change the winning formula though and Atkin-Davies soon had her fourth.

Then something strange happened. England scored a try from their own half. Kildunne made the line break and Jess Breach finished it off.

From the kick-off, Kildunne cut Canada open from her own half again and Claudia Macdonald cruised in from the halfway line.

Canada, who defeated Wales 42-22 during week one in Wellington, fought on bravely but in reality, England should have been further ahead at half-time.

France can join England with two wins with a victory they will be heavily favoured to take against Australia on Saturday night back atForsyth Barr Stadium.

That match will follow the Black Ferns attempting to score their first win of WXV1 against Wales.