England head coach John Mitchell has hailed Helena Rowland as 'Miss Versatility' as she prepares to start at full-back in Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Scotland, replacing the injured Ellie Kildunne. Kildunne has been ruled out after failing to return from a concussion, opening the door for Rowland to step into the number 15 jersey at Ashton Gate in Bristol.
Rowland, 25, has earned 40 Test caps across five different positions – fly-half, inside centre, outside centre, full-back and right wing – and has even practised box-kicking to provide emergency cover at scrum-half. Mitchell emphasised her value: 'Helena is probably the most valuable person on the team. She's an outstanding rugby player. I'm always thinking where I can fit her.'
Rowland's versatility has been both a blessing and a curse. 'Obviously I would love to start every game,' she said. 'That's where the versatility becomes a blessing and a curse. Ultimately, most of the time it gets you in squads, which is where you want to be.' She missed the 2021 World Cup final due to an ankle injury and remains unbeaten in an England shirt.
Her selection ahead of specialist full-back Emma Sing follows a composed performance off the bench against Australia, including a notable cover tackle. Mitchell added: 'Helena is pretty handy in the backfield. She's got a huge work-rate and is very consistent. She's super quick. She's phenomenal and gives us so much versatility.'
