With Fin Smith rested, Ford is preferred to Marcus Smith at fly-half, with the latter again being deployed as a utility option off the bench.
For Ford, the debate around the England number 10s is nothing new.
“It’s been like this all my England career. A lot has been spoken about fly-half in particular and who starts. And 12 years ago now when I first came in, it was the same,” he said.
“Genuinely the three of us, our relationship, the respect we have for each other but how competitive we are as well, is probably the best I’ve experienced within the England team.
“We understand selection is very subjective and Steve will pick a 23 that he thinks is the best formula to win the game.
“For the team to succeed, for the team to win, for the team to go and win the Nations Championship or to go and win a World Cup in 12 months’ time, it’s going to need three high-quality, brilliant 10s who are great people as well.
“Fin has been amazing, the way he’s played for Northampton, the way he’s played for England, he’s took it to a new level in his game.
“Marcus has started the season like a house on fire when he came back from his injury at Quins and you know what versatility he’s got and how he can influence the game.
“And hopefully I can add when I am playing, when I’m not playing, maybe in a different kind of way.
“So what I’m saying is you get the one who’s starting at the weekend, you probably get another one of us who’s on the bench, but it’s like a three-man job to get the team ready for every week. Of course we want to play, but we are very respectful of the situation.”
Tries: Bourson, L Hivernat, Dore, Guttadoro, Denuwelaere 3 Goals: L Hivernat 3, N Clausells 2
England can now paint the final rung on their dressing-room ladder gold.
On Friday in Wollongong, Australia, they became the first nation to lift the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup on three occasions with a peerless display to defeat France 50-38.
And just as they did four years ago, Tom Coyd’s wheelchair side have delivered a triumph to offset the disappointment felt by the men’s and women’s teams.
This was always going to be close. The only surprise was that 12 points separated the wheelchair game’s two powerhouse nations.
Since Tom Halliwell’s last-gasp try secured a 28-24 win in Manchester in 2022, England and France had met on four occasions, with both winning twice.
In the build-up to this tournament, and during it, England spoke of a desire to win the trophy – rather than defend it. It was a choice of language that spoke of a positive approach. They did what they set out to do on the sport’s biggest stage.
Joe Coyd – who scored four tries, including the opening two of the match – and Jack Brown, who finished with a hat-trick, will grab many of the headlines but there were heroes draped in white all over the Wollongong Entertainment Centre.
A thunderous encounter was punctuated by bruising collisions, heavy chair smashes and running repairs being made to equipment that included the reconstruction of a set of goalposts – as emotions threatened to boil over on more than one occasion.
Those facets, married to some outrageous moments of skill, all contributed to a nerve-shredding contest that delivered a super advertisement for the wheelchair game.
Hawkins, who recently became the first player in any form of rugby league to win three successive Golden Boots – awarded by the IRL to the best player in the world during the calendar year – lived up to his billing.
The Halifax wing provided some wonderful moments, including two tries, and he superbly evaded two French defenders before laying on a score for Brown as the contest swing England’s way before the break.
Having started in the ascendancy, courtesy of two Coyd tries, England were in danger of losing momentum – an early flashpoint threatening to shift the match towards France as Mason Billington was penalised for shoving Leo Hivernat to the ground.
France capitalised with a try in the corner from Jeremy Bourson. Damien Dore, Hivernat and Florian Guttadoro all crossed before a wonderful England response.
And even when Dany Denuwelaere scored to underscore France’s whirlwind start to the second half, England immediately regained control as Hawkins acrobatically grounded the ball in the right corner to restore their six-point advantage.
They never looked back from that point on. And they have a third World Cup to prove it.
Morgan Rogers says any suggestion Cole Palmer is not committed to England “is a lie” and “nonsense”.
Rogers scored the opener in Wednesday’s 2-1 Uefa Nations League win over Croatia, with Harry Kane adding a penalty on his record-breaking 126th appearance for the men’s side.
But his Chelsea team-mate, and childhood friend, Palmer had been left out of the squad after boss Thomas Tuchel said he “misses too many chances to impress”.
The 24-year-old Palmer, who was also not called up for the World Cup, withdrew from the previous England camp in September citing a minor injury.
Forward Rogers, also 24, was asked about the criticism of Palmer following the win at Wembley, and told BBC Radio 5 Live: “He wants to be here.
“He wanted to get called up and he wanted to come and represent his country as he always has done.
“He was in quite a low place with his injuries last year and didn’t feel 100% himself on the pitch, so he wants to be here and he wants to be the best version of himself.
“But he also has to look at his body. He wants to play for 10 or 15 years, he also has to manage himself. If he has to manage himself in the short term for the greater good then he has to do that and you have to fully support it.
“It has nothing to do with England or not wanting to play with England. It’s a nonsense really that people are questioning someone that wants to play for England. It’s a lie.
“You see the joy and smile on his face, how much he loves the game, so I honestly don’t get it and he doesn’t get it.”
WANT to know where’s hot (not literally) this winter? Expedia has just revealed its top trending destinations.
From far-flung islands in The Bahamas to famous UK university cities, all of these spots have seen a surge in interest, and for good reason.
The Bahamas is the top trending spot according to ExpediaSource: getty Another destination at the top of Expedia’s trending list is Malmo in SwedenSource: Getty
Expedia has used data from lodging searches made on its websitebetween July and October 2026 for travel this winter, compared to the same period in 2025, to find the rising spots.
The top trending international destination this winter is Exuma in The Bahamas, which is up 115 per cent from last year.
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Exuma is made up of over 365 islands and cays – the largest being Great Exuma, which is only 37 miles long.
The islands which sit at around 25C in winter, are surrounded by bright blue waters and are well-known for having spots where you can swim with pigs.
In second spot is Quebec City in Canada, where interest is up 75 per cent.
The French-speaking destination is much cooler in the winter months with average highs during the day of around -5C.
But there’s plenty to do including wrapping up warm to explore its enormous castle called Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.
Or take a walk through historic Old Quebec which makes for a pretty picture spot thanks to its cobbled streets and historic buildings.
In third spot is the city of Malmo in Sweden which is up 45 per cent.
It’s considered a quieter alternative to Stockholm and has an enormous Turning Torso skyscraper as well as pretty castles.
Quebec City in Canada is home to huge castles and has river toursSource: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Thanks to its Lebanese and Palestinian immigration history, Malmo has a thriving falafel street food scene too giving it the nickname ‘Falafel City’.
It’s not just far-flung destinations either, there’s plenty of close cities for Brits to visit that have seen a surge in interest.
At the very top of the list of trending places in the UK is Cardiff, which is up 45 per cent.
The capital of Wales is regularly voted the UK’s best city and has a thriving restaurant and nightlife scene.
There are lots of independent eateries, or head to Cardiff Market filled with stalls selling fresh Welsh cakes and cheeses.
The second on the list is Oxford which is up 35 per cent.
The city is steeped in history and one popular activity is to take a tour of Oxford University – after all, it’s one of the most prestigious in the world.
Riverboat cruises are popular, and for any Harry Potter fans, check out the tours which go behind the scenes of some of the locations you’ll recognise from the films.
Also on the list are Harrogate, the Cotswolds and Torquay.
Oxford is the second-most trending city in the UK according to ExpediaSource: Getty
Here’s the full list of Expedia’s trending destinations this winter…
Who: England vs Croatia What: UEFA Nations League, Group A3 Where: Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom When: Thursday, November 12 , at 8:45pm (19:45 GMT). How to follow:Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up from 16:45 GMT ahead of our live text commentary stream
Harry Kane will lead with a spring in his step and a newly acquired Ballon d’Or trophy on his arm as England host Croatia in a Nations League clash, with a spot in the quarterfinals up for grabs.
The England captain will be man of the hour on Thursday after a prolific few weeks that saw him win the coveted individual honour and he will present the trophy in front of home fans ahead of the match at Wembley Stadium.
Kane, 33, will also become England’s most-capped men’s player, making his 126th appearance. This surpasses the record set in 1990 by former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who will be in attendance to mark the occasion.
The Bayern Munich forward is also England’s record scorer with 91 goals.
“Definitely up there with the biggest [achievements of my career],” England captain Kane told reporters at former club Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground on Wednesday after being given a standing ovation when he entered the room.
“It showcases consistency at the highest level and to reach the number of caps I have is a testament to the things I spoke about in my [Ballon d’Or] speech behind the scenes, the dedication, and for sure it is one of the biggest milestones of my career.”
Tuchel said Kane was the “perfect captain and a leader by example” and described his playing style as unique, adding that he is getting smarter with age.
Manager Tuchel also said he has no intention of leaving the England job before the 2028 European Championship regardless of any offers from major clubs.
England eye Nations League quarters
England only need a draw to make it to the quarterfinals having won three and lost one of their four games so far. They sit second with nine points behind leaders Spain with 12 points, and both teams should make it to the last eight.
Croatia are seeking redemption after a 7-0 thrashing from England in their previous encounter last month, followed by a narrower 2-1 defeat to Spain.
The 2018 World Cup runners-up are third in the group, and manager Slaven Bilic emphasised the importance of finishing third to maintain their Nations League A status.
Czechia, meanwhile, have only won once and cannot reach the quarterfinals.
England will travel to Madrid to face world champions Spain on Sunday while Croatia take on Czechia in a home fixture.
Bellingham brothers could feature together
A major talking point for England’s squad selection was the exclusion of midfielder Cole Palmer. But a more captivating storyline is that of Jobe Bellingham finally playing alongside older brother and England star Jude.
The younger Bellingham received his maiden senior call-up after impressing at Borussia Dortmund and England’s under-21 side, which he captains.
Jude had previously said it would be the highlight of his career, while Jobe said it would be an emotional milestone.
“I can’t ignore it, but obviously with Jude being here too, it’s a great, great feeling for the family,” Jobe said.
If he features against Croatia, they will be the 22nd set of brothers to play for England and the first since Gary and Phil Neville in 2007.
Jobe Bellingham received his maiden senior call-up after impressing at Borussia Dortmund and England’s under-21 side, which he captains [Justin Setterfield/Getty Images]
What happened in the last England vs Croatia game?
England ran riot in Rijeka last month to obliterate Croatia 7-0 thanks to a brace each from Kane and Bukayo Saka, while Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers were also on target.
Tuchel’s men took just eight minutes to go ahead with an incisive raid that exposed the talent gap between the sides.
“It was the highest level from everyone and from first to last minute as well,” Tuchel said, summing up his side’s dominance.
What have the coaches said?
Tuchel: “For us, it’s important not to chase the same result … we want to win the match to have a chance to win in Spain, and that’s where our focus is. We expect a reaction from Croatia and we expect to overcome this mental challenge for us to start from scratch.”
Bilic: “I told the players that the way we played against Spain last month is our standard. That is how we want to play, with togetherness, aggression and everything else. Tomorrow we have a chance to show that what happened in Rijeka was just a collective bad day.”
Predictions
The Opta supercomputer heavily favours England, with a win probability of 67.2 percent.
Croatia were assigned a mere 14.8 percent chance, while a draw was estimated at an 18 percent likelihood.
Head-to-head
Previous matches: 13
England wins: 8
Draws: 2
Croatia wins: 3
Last five encounters
October 3, 2026: Croatia 0-7 England (Nations League)
June 17, 2026: England 4-2 Croatia (FIFA World Cup)
June 13, 2021: England 1-0 Croatia (European Championship)
November 18, 2018: England 2-1 Croatia (Nations League)
October 12, 2018: Croatia 0-0 England (Nations League)
England team news
England will be without defenders Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence — both expected to recover for Sunday’s clash against Spain — and Tuchel is looking at James Hill for cover.
Marc Guehi is out with a hip injury and has been replaced by Dan Burn. Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarell Quansah and Ben White could all be in contention at centre-back.
Saka, who scored twice in Rijeka, was not named in the squad because of a quadriceps injury that is set to keep him out for weeks.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended after being booked in both games against Czechia, while Declan Rice, back after missing the last camp, should partner Elliot Anderson in midfield.
Predicted starting XI: Jordan Pickford (goalkeeper), Lewis Hall, James Hill, Dan Burn, Ben White, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Harry Kane
Croatia team news
Veteran winger Ivan Perisic will miss the match after receiving a red card against Spain.
Josip Sutalo, Marin Pongracic, Andrej Kramaric and Franjo Ivanovic are also unavailable, with Luka Vuskovic and Duje Caleta-Car expected to start against England’s attack.
Luka Sucic has a fever and is almost certain to miss the game, while Kristijan Jakic is reported to be out of both Nations League games with a knee ligament injury.
Predicted starting XI: Dominik Livakovic (goalkeeper), Josko Gvardiol, Josip Sutalo, Luka Vuskovic, Josip Stanicic, Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Martin Baturina, Igor Matanovic, Ante Budimir
VETERAN actor Randall England, best known for his role as General Hospital villain Jack Slater, has died aged 75.
The star passed away peacefully, surrounded by family following a battle with oesophageal cancer, according to an obituary.
Randall England, best known for his role as villain Jack Slater on General Hospital, has died at 75Source: Randall England InstagramThe beloved actor starred on the show for 11 yearsSource: Randall England Instagram
“Randall lived a life full of interesting people and stories. Of all his roles, being a father and “Pappaw” to his grandchildren meant the most to him,” the tribute continued.
“‘His legacy lives on in the people he loved, taught, and supported.”
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The actor’s family requested that donations be made to the Esophageal Cancer Action Network in his memory.
England played Slater in 31 episodes of the hit soap opera General Hospital between 1984 and 1985.
England has been remembered as a ‘charming’ and ‘loving’ dad and grandadSource: Randall England Instagram
He launched his decades-long career in 1978 with an uncredited role in the TV Movie Ruby and Oswalk.
Six years later, he landed an episode of the TV show This is the Life before being cast in General Hospital.
Ozzy Osbourne was rock ‘n’ roll’s Prince of Darkness — and also a much-beloved bumbling reality show dad. Inventive bassist Geezer Butler put words into Ozzy’s mouth as Black Sabbath’s main lyricist, his muscular playing anchoring the quartet’s rhythm section alongside drummer Bill Ward.
But it’s guitarist Tony Iommi whose iconic riffs built the Sabbath sound. The hugely influential aural architect found his signature style after a horrific accident at a sheet-metal plant when he was just 17. The teen was about to quit the factory, but on his last day, the tips of his middle and ring fingers of his right hand were sliced off in a piece of machinery. As a left-hander, Iommi used his right for fretting, and for creating a song’s mood and melody.
From the ominous timbre of the first song in their 1970 debut LP, “Black Sabbath,” to legendary cuts including “N.I.B.,” “Paranoid” and “Iron Man,” Iommi’s self-made fingertip “thimbles” and adaptive way of playing created unforgettable and hugely influential riffs. The guitarist’s instantly recognizable style and tone are as vital and memorable more than 50 years later on his new solo album, “From the Dark.”
Via phone from his home in the Cotswolds, England, a day before the London premiere of the concert documentary film “Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning,” Iommi is humble, low-key and congenial. While he’s excited about “From the Dark,” he’s still stunned by the 2025 loss of his longtime friend and bandmate Osbourne.
He speaks with slight trepidation about his upcoming viewing of the concert documentary, which chronicles Osbourne’s final live performance and Sabbath reunion.
Tony Iommi’s amputated fingertips could have ended his guitar career. Instead, homemade thimbles and a new playing style helped create Black Sabbath’s defining, generations-shaping riffs.
(Ross Halfin)
“It’s weird for me,” Iommi says. “In my own heart, I don’t particularly really want to see it because it brings back so many memories with Oz of course. For me, on that last gig, seeing him not being able to move wasn’t particularly the way I’d seen him — all the years he’s been running around the stage. That’s how I know him, and then to see him sitting down on a throne…”
However, for most of the four-song final performance, which saw Sabbath reuniting with drummer Ward for the first time in more than two decades, Osbourne was not in the guitarist’s sights. “I stood at the back because Bill wanted me to stand by him. We hadn’t played live with Bill for 20 years, so Bill said, ‘Would you stand by me, if I forget anything or miss anything?’ I don’t know what I could have done, but I did do that,” Iommi says.
“[The event] was a very strange experience. It’s great for all the other bands who came to the show and supported Sabbath. That was fantastic, and they were all really nice and no egos. It was a great setup, and I was really proud of everybody coming along to be involved in it and tip their hat towards us. It was lovely, of course, for the fans.”
In rehearsal, while Osbourne was joking around, “you could see he was in pain,” recalls Iommi. “Basically, he was carried in, and we were all shocked. We just didn’t know what to say. It was a strange, strange feeling.”
When the singer died only 17 days after the concert, even his bandmates were shocked by the suddenness. “I spoke to him the night before he passed, and he said to me, ‘Oh, God, I’ve been really tired, I feel really tired. I can’t stay awake. I’m exhausted.’ I said to him, ‘You’re bound to feel it.” We’ve been rehearsing the show, it’s been a bit stressful. We’ve had a lot of things to do.’ Ozzy said, ‘But I just can’t.” I just feel tired.’ And of course, the next day he’d gone. Really, it was such a shock.”
At 78, the Birmingham-born guitarist is releasing From the Dark, a solo album built around his signature heavy sound and a new lineup of collaborators.
(Ross Halfin)
At that time, Iommi had the seeds of the songs that would become “From the Dark.” It began with a scent: “I did a couple of instrumental tracks for a perfume [ad campaign]. Then I thought, ‘I’ll start writing some instrumentals for an album,’ and I did three or four. Then I changed my mind and thought, ‘I want to do one with a vocalist.’ ”
If Tony Iommi were a perfume, he’d smell like cinnamon, patchouli and leather. In fact, he is one, with three unisex fragrances by Italian luxury brand Xerjoff under his name. One — with notes of rum, bergamot and Ambergris, is called Monkey Special, named after his 1964 Gibson SG guitar. “It’s not a cheap perfume, I might say,” Iommi says. “In England, they stock it in Harrods and Selfridges. It’s been very successful and very different for me to do something like that.”
Following his perfumey instrumentals, the songwriter began collaborating with journeyman Norwegian vocalist Jørn Lande, bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil, who has worked with pop icons Robbie Williams and James Blunt. The latter two hail from Iommi’s and Sabbath’s hometown, Birmingham, England.
“I met Jørn years ago when I was going to do another album, and it ended up with [former Deep Purple bassist/singer] Glenn Hughes on it. But I’d done a track with Jørn, and I liked the idea. But at the time, the record company wanted to use somebody a bit more known, so I did the album with Glenn.”
Lande ended up singing on a 2010 live show following the death of second Black Sabbath singer Ronnie James Dio, stepping into the frontman’s shoes for the band, which was then going by the name Heaven & Hell. “I was really pleased with what he’d done, and I always had it in mind to use him somewhere along the line, doing an album together, and that’s how it worked out.”
Born 78 years ago, in Birmingham — the town where Sabbath first formed and later performed its final show in 2025 — Iommi remains defined by his signature look. It is hard to imagine the guitar legend without his trademark black shirt, large silver cross, blue-tinted glasses and leather coat. His playing — down-tuning his guitar to lower the pitch for a menacing and heavier sound — may have morphed very slightly over the years, but “I think you just do it naturally without even thinking about it. My writing ideas are still the same. I still come up with miserable stuff,” he says, chuckling. “I like to do riffs and whatnot, so I enjoy that.”
Tony Iommi with his band vocalist Jørn Lande (far right), bassist Becky Baldwin, and drummer Karl Brazil and producer Mike Exeter
(Tina Korhonen)
On “From the Dark,” lyrics are all Lande; Iommi has no interest in telling his own stories using words. Yet a new tune like “Beyond the Dead” seems as if it could be about Iommi’s 2011 diagnosis and treatment for early-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Not so, the guitarist affirms, while acknowledging that the lyrics could be read that way.
“It was about beyond the living, beyond the dead, and coming back. Really deep, but that’s good. I do love what he’s done. When somebody like Jørn comes in, as with Dio, they’d write their own lyrics, and I prefer that because they’re going to sing them,” Iommi explains. “It’s like somebody saying to me, ‘Play this and play that.’ I want to play what I feel and what’s coming from me.”
There was a time when Sabbath did take a slightly different approach to writing and recording, but it wasn’t at their own initiative. In 2001, the band recorded “13,” Sabbath’s 19th and final studio album. It was the first studio record with Osbourne since 1978’s “Never Say Die,” and producer Rick Rubin was on board for the reunion.
What did Iommi learn from Rubin?
“I learned not to use a producer again,” he quipped. “It was strange because Rick wasn’t there most of the time. He’d be there for a certain recording, then he’d disappear. I’d written a lot of the stuff, and then we’d play it, and he go, ‘I don’t like that bit, I don’t like that part,’ and then disappear.
“One Friday he phoned me up — because he wouldn’t talk to the others [Osbourne, Butler]. He wanted me to relate what he’d said to the others. He said, ‘Could you write a song over the weekend that’s like “Planet Caravan,” so we can record it on Monday?’ I went, ‘What?!!’ But it happens that I did do it.” The end result was “Zeitgeist.”
Iommi is still processing Ozzy Osbourne’s death, just 17 days after Black Sabbath’s final performance, and says watching the concert film will bring back painful memories.
(Ross Halfin)
Iommi’s key plans for his new lineup and record were to make sure the players brought a healthy dose of enthusiasm. Baldwin is the first female he’s been in a band with. Iommi has a comfort zone, so he’d originally wanted Butler on the new album, which didn’t work out logistically. “Becky happened to be a big fan of Geezer, so we got Becky over to my home studio, and I did throw her in the deep end a bit,” admits Iommi. “I gave her the first track, which was ‘World Alone.’ I said, ‘Play that.’ She listened to it a bit and started playing it. It was really good. I just wanted to see what she’d be like straight away, just to see what she came up with, which was a bit horrible of me, I suppose.
“She worked out really good. The other thing is enthusiasm,” he continued. “I wanted people involved in this that really love what they do and really enjoy playing, and she constantly wants to play and be involved in the music, and it’s a great attitude.”
Another Brit superstar who also opts to play with relatively unknown, ardent players is Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. “He’s the same,” Iommi acknowledges. “We spoke about this, myself and Planty, because obviously we’ve known each other a long time. He could have easily done Zeppelin, but he wanted to do what he wanted to do.”
What a collaboration Iommi and Plant would be.
“I did say to him one time about doing something together, but again, he got his own thing, and I did [too]. Who knows? We’ve talked about it a couple of times, but he’s into a certain flavor of music that he likes to play, which is different to what I play, really. I don’t discard anything that way. If something comes up that’s a good idea and somebody’s into it, then I’m going to have a go.”
It’s been 26 years since Iommi’s debut, a self-titled solo album with a roster of guest vocalists including Osbourne, Dave Grohl, Henry Rollins and Pantera’s Philip Anselmo. “How fast it goes,” Iommi says with a chuckle. “Twenty-one years ago was my last solo album. And that’s long enough, isn’t it? But I was just busy with the Sabbath thing and then other things, including the Sabbath ballet.”
While fans would adore a tour, Iommi says he’d only do the occasional “one-off.” He will allow a moment of supposition, if pressed. “I suppose if I did something like that, I’d probably do some Dio stuff and maybe [one-time Sabbath vocalist] Tony Martin and maybe ‘Paranoid,’ ‘Iron Man.’ I haven’t really thought about it. Again, it’s not Sabbath,” he concludes. “It would be an Iommi thing, but it is part of my background. So I suppose I would play some of the old ones.”
“It’s great when fairytales come true,” England boss Roy Hodgson said after 21-year-old Tottenham striker Harry Kane scored 79 seconds into his international debut back in 2015.
“Let’s hope it’s the start of a good and long England career for him.”
Eleven years on, Kane will make his 126th appearance for his country and become the most-capped men’s player in Three Lions history when England play Croatia in the Nations League at Wembley on Thursday (19:45 GMT).
Peter Shilton, who served England as a goalkeeper, won 125 caps between 1970 and 1990.
“It’s not about me – it’s about the team,” said Kane, scorer of 91 goals in 125 appearances for his country, about his landmark moment.
“I love coming to every England camp, I love playing every game and representing the country in the best way possible.”
Kane, 33, has gone through every emotion playing for his country.
He fought back tears after missing a penalty in the World Cup quarter-final defeat by France in 2022, and sang Wonderwall with fans following the win over Croatia at this summer’s World Cup – which he labelled one of his “favourite ever moments” in a Three Lions shirt.
London-born Kane is the boy who grew up in Chingford to captain his country, become England’s record goalscorer and win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Now the Bayern Munich striker stands on the brink of making more appearances than any other man in England’s football history.
“He wins the Ballon d’Or, and deservedly so, and in the next game for England he gets the all-time record with 126 matches,” England boss Thomas Tuchel said about Kane when announcing his squad last week.
“Thursday is a deserved occasion to celebrate an extraordinary player.”
At least two bases in England hosting U.S. Air Force aircraft are operating under beefed-up security protocols, a U.S. official told us Monday afternoon. The official was responding to our questions about what appeared to be unusual aircraft movements out of RAF Mildenhall. It is unclear what spurred these measures, how long they have been in place or whether they are connected to an ongoing investigation into whether Iran was behind a security incident at RAF Fairford in September that reportedly prompted the hasty departure of B-1 Lancer bombers.
“Enhanced force protection measures are in effect across RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall,” the official told us. “We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families. We are working closely with our host nation counterparts to minimize impacts from enhanced force protection activities and ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, their families and the local community.”
The official declined to say what steps were taken.
“For operational security reasons, we do not discuss specific force protection measures,” the official added.
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing taxis down a runway after landing at RAF Mildenhall, England, July 22, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Aidan Martínez Rosiere) Senior Airman Aidan Martinez RosiereA U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron, takes off for Atlantic Trident 25 at RAF Lakenheath, England, June 12, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sierra Casteel) Airman 1st Class Sierra Casteel
Both bases also see frequent flights transiting to other locations.
As we noted earlier in this piece, the official was responding to our questions about unusual aircraft movements out of Mildenhall. They were first noticed by the @DefenceGeek open-source flight tracker account.
“Over the course of today, a number of US Air Force assets at RAF Mildenhall (EGUN) have made unannounced/unexpected movements to other locations, with several of those movements in motion presently,” DefenceGeek wrote on X. “The initial few this morning I assumed were due to heavy fog in the area, but other information is now suggesting something else… – Several KC-135s have moved to Spangdahlem (ETAD) or Prestwick (EGPK) – CV-22Bs have moved from Mildenhall to Lakenheath It remains unclear if there is an ongoing exercise or information of a potential threat (following the incident at RAF Fairford)…”
UPDATE: US Assets at RAF Mildenhall Dispersing
For those commenting and asking, no, the NOTAMs regarding RAF Mildenhall are not related to what is currently going on. The two NOTAMs are for Veterans Day (Wednesday) and Thanksgiving (end of November).
DefenceGeek also noted that RAF Lakenheath posted a notice this morning on Facebook urging vigilance in spotting and reporting drones.
US Assets at RAF Mildenhall Dispersing?
Over the course of today, a number of US Air Force assets at RAF Mildenhall (EGUN) have made unannounced/unexpected movements to other locations, with several of those movements in motion presently. The initial few this morning I assumed… pic.twitter.com/vVVA0cRljN
“Our strongest security asset is an observant community,” the RAF Lakenheath Facebook post read. “Staying vigilant and reporting suspicious activity, including unauthorized drone activity, helps protect our Airmen, families and mission. If you see something unusual on or around the Tri-Base area, report it to Security Forces.”
It is unclear what connection, if any, the Lakenheath post has to the enhanced force protection status. U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE) declined to discuss security measures. The command oversees U.S. Air Force operations in Europe and Africa.
“U.S. Air Force aircraft rotate between installations and operating locations for a variety of reasons including training and real world requirements,” USAFE told us. “U.S. military aircraft are hosted in accordance with access, basing, and overflight agreements with our Allies and partners. Due to operations security, we will not provide further information on movement of assets.”
The departures from Mildenhall took place amid an ongoing flow of refueling tankers and other aircraft to the Middle East as President Donald Trump continues to mull whether to resume strikes against Iran. This afternoon, Trump wrapped up his meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss a flagging effort to resolve the conflict with Iran through diplomacy.
It should also be noted that in late November 2024, Lakenheath, Mildenhall and two other RAF bases hosting U.S. forces experienced drone incursions, which we were the first to write about.
As we mentioned earlier in this piece, security concerns about bases in England hosting U.S. Air Force aircraft and personnel were raised following an incident at RAF Fairford.
Like Mildenhall and Lakenheath, RAF Fairford is a major hub for U.S. military aircraft in the United Kingdom. It is a regular host of strategic assets, including bombers and U-2 spy planes. It also acts as a pit stop for other aircraft, including fighters, that are being ferried to and from the United States. Bomber strikes launched from Fairford were a central aspect of major U.S. combat operations against Iran earlier this year.
A U.S. Air Force Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. (Photo by Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images) Ben Birchall – PA Images
In late September, five men were arrested on suspicion of driving bomb-laden vans toward it. They were soon released on bail after no explosives were found, but two men were later arrested, one of who was “charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, which police earlier said they believed to be Iran,” according to the BBC.
We can’t say for sure what prompted the enhanced security at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall or whether the aircraft movements at Mildenhall are precautionary or just normal shifting of resources. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates when warranted.
Arsenal defender Ben White says people do not know the “full story” behind his decision to previously make himself unavailable for England selection – but says he would make the same decision again.
He then made himself unavailable for selection for the rest of Gareth Southgate’s reign, and was booed by some fans in March’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine after returning to the squad under Tuchel.
Asked by BBC Radio 5 live’s football correspondent John Murray what he would say to people who define his England career by what happened in Qatar, White said: “I think obviously people don’t know the full story, because I [have] never said anything and I won’t put anyone under the bus or share any of that.
“I think that is probably the best way.
“It’s been amazing [though], obviously a bit tricky and not straightforward, but it is amazing to be here now.”
White is now 29 and asked if he would have done anything differently in hindsight, he added: “No, I don’t think I would.
“Obviously, I was a bit younger, I am a bit older now.
“I think as a person I am quite real and I think I made the decision that I would probably continue to make.
“So, one that I am not happy about, but obviously it happened and [it is] time to move on.”
White came on for his first England appearance since 2022 in March’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay and was booed by some supporters before he scored but also gave away the penalty that led to the visitors’ equaliser.
After that, Chelsea midfielder Jordan Henderson said he and his fellow England players would always support White, while Tuchel said recently that the defender deserves “a new chapter” and “positive feedback from the crowd”.
Asked how he dealt with the emotions of that night at Wembley, White added: “Before the game I was thinking ‘don’t not stand out, but [take it] nice and easy’.
“Then I came on and obviously got booed, then I scored, then I gave away a penalty.
“So, it was obviously full of emotions that night, [but] it was a good night.”
England play Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, 12 November before taking on world champions Spain in Madrid three days later.
White is looking to add to his six England caps in this international break and said: It is obviously an amazing privilege to be called up.
“The feeling is the same every time you do get this chance to play for England. It’s one I am really looking forward to this week.”
James Trafford says not playing for Manchester City last season was “horrendous” before he moved to Leeds United in the summer in search of first-team football.
City re-signed academy graduate Trafford in July 2025, two years after he had left the club to join Championship side Burnley.
But less than six weeks after his arrival, Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived from Paris St-Germain.
The 27-year-old, who helped the French club win the Champions League just weeks earlier, immediately became City’s first-choice goalkeeper, leaving Trafford short of playing time.
After starting the first three matches of the campaign, 24-year-old Trafford made just one further Premier League start in the 35 games that followed Donnarumma’s arrival.
Speaking on Football Daily’s The Football Interview, Trafford reflected on the difficulties he encountered during a season on the fringes of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
“What a horrendous, horrendous feeling. Not playing,” said Trafford.
“You are ringing a lot of people and just venting. Like most people, you have a [bad] day at work and you ring someone up.
“I ring my dad, I ring my mum, I ring my missus, I ring my mates. I like ringing my mates and we can just have a good talk about it all. It’s quite funny.
“I had to play regularly this season for my own mental wellbeing. You just lose yourself not playing.
“Maybe I’m different, I don’t know, but the feeling of not playing every week, it felt horrendous.
“I just had to play every week this season for that mental feel-good and to keep progressing with my career and edging me closer to achieving the dreams I want to achieve.”
Despite his limited playing time, Trafford believes he still gained plenty from his final season at City, having helped the club win the League Cup and FA Cup after starting both finals at Wembley.
“Going into any season, I always have the highest of hopes and always the belief that it will go the best way it could,” he added.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t win all four trophies. It didn’t go how I expected it to go, but it happens.
“In the moment, I just tried to make the best of it as I could. Looking back, I don’t think it was a disappointing season in the end because I learned so much, I improved so much and I won two trophies in one year.
“There were moments when I was very down, regretting things and feeling disappointed, but looking back, I’m very thankful for the experience. What an incredible year.”
The wait until the next international break in March will undoubtedly feel like an eternity for Dewsbury-Hall.
But the Everton midfielder is no stranger to taking the long road to success, having experienced plenty of setbacks and detours throughout his career.
He did not make his Premier League debut for boyhood club Leicester City until the age of 22, having spent previous seasons gaining valuable experience out on loan in the English Football League with Luton Town and Blackpool.
Even when his opportunity to establish himself in the Foxes’ first team finally arrived, it came during a turbulent period for the club, which ultimately ended in relegation from the Premier League at the end of the following season.
After playing a starring role in Leicester’s Championship-winning campaign under Enzo Maresca, the midfielder soon followed the Italian to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £30m.
However, Dewsbury-Hall struggled for regular game time during his only season at Chelsea, featuring mainly in cup competitions with limited opportunities in the Premier League.
It was only after his move to Everton last summer, at the age of 26, that he appeared to have finally found the right environment to reignite his career and showcase the qualities that made him once such a highly regarded attacking midfielder.
Since the start of last season, Dewsbury-Hall has scored 11 goals for Everton in the Premier League and provided seven assists.
“I’m really, really enjoying it,” said Dewsbury-Hall. “I’ve got a really good hybrid role in this team, where the gaffer is giving me the freedom to pop up all over the pitch.”
Tuchel said on Friday afternoon that Dewsbury-Hall had been “very close” to earning a place in his squad, having enjoyed “a very good season” with Everton so far.
“I’ve got the mentality,” added Dewsbury-Hall. “I’ll keep pushing and pushing and see what happens.”
England have made medical checks on Cole Palmer as Thomas Tuchel considers whether to select the Chelsea forward in his next squad.
The 24-year-old missed all four games during the previous international window with a minor injury.
He completed 90 minutes for Chelsea against Brentford before those matches, and started for the Blues in the first game afterwards.
Tuchel, who names his squad to face Croatia and Spain on Friday, said at the time that Palmer was “playing with discomfort and pain” but was “missing too many opportunities” with England.
Whether he is recalled will be a key theme on Friday. While it is normal for England medics to check on players under consideration, it also underlines that Palmer remains on Tuchel’s radar despite his stark comments last month.
In addition to deciding whether to select Palmer, head coach Tuchel has a number of other dilemmas to resolve.
Bukayo Saka’s injury absence opens the door to another attacker, with his Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke pushing for a recall following a string of impressive performances.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has not played since mid-October and is not fit for selection, while Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is a major injury doubt.
Defenders Ben White and Djed Spence are pushing for recalls after missing out on the previous squad through injury.
The likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and many others are now stonewall selections – but the intrigue is around the remaining few spots still seemingly up for grabs.
Will some old faces earn a recall or will there be new faces soon pulling on the England shirt? BBC Sport runs down some of the potential candidates for selection.
Great Britain sprint star Amy Hunt visited England’s training base on Wednesday, watching a session and chatting with the team over lunch before Sunday’s Nations Championship match against Australia.
The 24-year-old, who won four gold medals at last summer’s European Championships in Birmingham, is the latest in a string of sporting celebrities to give Steve Borthwick’s squad insight into their careers.
“She seemed buzzing to be here and we love spending time with people who have achieved something in another sport,” back row Ben Earl told BBC Sport.
“Fraser Dingwall told me she has a degree from Cambridge and I always think it is amazing that people can study and achieve something in sport at the highest level.”
“We always get great energy when you get in winners and people who are trying to inspire others by what they do, which is what our lads want to do,” said defence coach Richard Wigglesworth.
“She’ll create some good connections.”
Emma Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open, visited before the team’s win over New Zealand last autumn, while England football manager Thomas Tuchel and Olympic champion skeleton racer Matt Weston dropped into Pennyhill Park during this year’s Six Nations campaign.
The new head of English rugby league has backed a call for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to approve a £30m five-year community funding plan for the sport.
Former England international Jon Wilkin has appealed directly to Burnham and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, both rugby league fans, to pledge government money to a rugby league-based social impact project.
Ian Nolan, the new chief executive of the Rugby Football League, has supported Wilkin’s plea, issued on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Rugby League show on Monday.
That initiative is designed to help create sporting, educational and employment opportunities in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, and is being led by the Australian Rugby League Commission – the country’s rugby league governing body.
Wilkin has argued that a similar plan for the north of England would benefit deprived communities.
He said: “Australia has recognised rugby league’s potential as a vehicle for social change, committing hundreds of millions to developing communities, especially across the Pacific. Why shouldn’t Britain show the same ambition for the north?
“The infrastructure already exists, the clubs, the foundations, the school and community relationships are already well established. What’s missing is a coordinated strategy and meaningful government investment.
“The ask would be simple: For the government to establish a £30m five-year Northern Rugby League social impact partnership, bringing together the RFL, professional clubs, community foundations, local authorities and government departments.
“The programme would target disadvantaged northern communities.”
Nolan, a former Manchester United executive who took up his role with the RFL on 1 October, suggested the social benefits of such an initiative would be felt more quickly because rugby league clubs are already established in their communities.
“When the government normally invest in community hubs and new things to generate something, they tend to be brand new,” he said. “And it’s really difficult then to attract people to go there because it’s a new habit, it’s a new place.
“But rugby clubs are already established in the most deprived towns in the UK. And that’s the difference. People already go there. Families already rely on them for even just moving around.”
BBC Sport has contacted the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for comment.
Last week, player Rob Hawkins said England “were not playing to our standards” in their opening 98-18 win over Wales and rated the team five out of 10.
Asked how he would rate England’s showing against the USA, Billington told Premier Sports: “At least a seven. All week, we have been banging on about playing the way we want to play, and the boys really stuck to their principles.
“I’m over the moon for the guys to put on such senior performances.”
Finlay O’Neill was named player of the match as he recorded 38 points, with two tries and 15 conversions.
“It was a good team effort, not just myself,” O’Neill said. “We talked about how we could improve, and I think we did that.
“We need to take the positives – [there are a] few areas to work on but I think we can be very happy with that performance.”
The four semi-finalists have now been set, with the final group games to decide who faces who in the knockouts.
In Pool A, Ireland ensured they will qualify alongside England with a 68-28 victory over Wales.
Ireland, who are ranked third in the world, will face the English in their final group game on Friday in Wollongong (06:00 GMT).
In Pool A, two-time champions France and hosts Australia both booked their passages through while scoring triple figures.
France, who were losing finalists against England in 2022, thrashed New Zealand 120-10.
Australia beat Scotland 104-24, and will play the French on Friday to determine the pool winners.
Scotland, New Zealand, Wales and USA all go into a ranking competition to determine fifth through to eighth place.
Wales will face USA in Pool A on Friday, while Scotland play New Zealand.
In the 1820s, a young painter left London to live in Shoreham in the west of Kent. In his waterside cottage, Samuel Palmer – remembered now as a key figure of British Romanticism – depicted moonlit cornfields, apple trees bowed under fruit and hills swollen with light. He dubbed the area his Valley of Vision. Two centuries on, Palmer’s own vision of Shoreham – and the surrounding Darent Valley – as a demi-paradise isn’t too far from the canvas.
I’ve lived in the area for five years and can’t quite believe how few people come to Shoreham. It feels like a secret yet is less than an hour from London by train. The village itself sits on the River Darent, remarked on by Edmund Spenser in his poem The Faerie Queene for its gentleness and clear water: “The still Darent, in whose waters cleane, ten thousand fishes play and decke his pleasant streame …”.
Lullingstone Country Park on the Darent Valley Trail. Photograph: AMcCulloch/Alamy
This 21-mile chalk stream glides into the Thames from Westerham and can be explored by the scenic waymarked Darent Valley Path. Shoreham is a pretty place. The road into the village drops to a stream under a weeping willow, flanked by two good pubs, and it makes a good base for exploring. Lopsided Tudor chimneys and pastel cottages lean over the lanes, and the Grade I-listed church of St Peter and St Paul keeps watch over the churchyard. It’s no surprise artists still come here to capture Palmer’s magic.
Neighbouring Otford and Eynsford are minutes on the train (or a short drive). Otford is the antique-hunter’s village, with waterside houses, the ruins of a 16th-century palace and a listed duck house on the pond – check out the labyrinthine Otford Antiques and Collectors Centre. Eynsford has the history: Lullingstone Roman villa with its beautifully preserved painted walls; Lullingstone Castle, favoured by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn; and the ford, ringed by half-timbered houses.
Don’t miss
My top recommendation is cream tea at the Shoreham Aircraft Museum. The valley saw heavy aerial combat in the second world war, and this volunteer-run museum remembers it. You enter through the garden door of artist and proprietor Geoff Nutkins’ home, past overgrown flowerpots, witty hand-painted boards and an antique Hovis sign above a converted bakehouse, now a tearoom frozen in the early 20th century. The delicious puddings and doorstop sandwiches come from Nutkins’ own kitchen. (My Tunisian girlfriend describes it to friends as “exotically English”.) The £5 ticket to the museum buys entry to a lifetime’s collection, plus the story of his work building memorials to lost servicemen from both sides.
Take a hike
A path near Shoreham. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian
Bring comfortable shoes. The beautiful gentle four-mile stretch of the Darent Valley Path from Shoreham to Eynsford suits all abilities, and is as good on a crisp winter day as in July, following the river through empty woodlands and rolling hills. It’s just four minutes by train if you’d rather ride back.
A 20-minute stroll from the churchyard in Shoreham brings you to Castle Farm (five minutes by car), one of the UK’s largest lavender growers. The farm shop, under rafters hung with hops, sells lavender oils, teas and ice-cream made from the harvest. Stock up on a box of gypsy tarts, a Kentish staple made with condensed milk and muscovado sugar. Grab some lavender honey, too (the farm keeps beehives). A coffee shed serves lavender teas and coffees. In summer you can picnic among the rows, à la Provence, or book to join in the harvest.
The Samuel Palmer in Shoreham. Photograph: Nathaniel Noir/Alamy
In Shoreham stop by The Crown for lunch. This dog-friendly locals’ pub has an intimate dining room and serves hearty, locally sourced classics such as fish and chips and a handmade pie of the day. Portions are large, but leave space for dinner at The Samuel Palmer. The beamed, fire-lit bar serves traditional pub favourites and small plates, while the bright, kid-friendly restaurant at the back presents chef Kieran Farquhar’s elevated seasonal discovery menu at £48 a head. At Mount Vineyard, the on-site restaurant has a pizza menu, and a quaint cafe by the vines serves coffee and handmade pastries.
In Otford try The Bull, with its pretty gardens. In Eynsford, The Malt Shovel is a favourite locally for lunch, with big portions and fair prices.
Where to stay
My pick is White Hill Woods, five minutes’ walk from Shoreham station, which has a log cabin for families (from £150 a night), and a shepherd’s hut for couples and solo travellers (from £100 a night, both two night minimum). There is a heated pool or just relax in the forest. Book ahead, as it’s popular with repeat visitors.
Getting there and around
There is a twice-hourly train from London Blackfriars to the villages, which takes about an hour, and using it to hop between them takes minutes. The Line 2 bus from Swanley to Sevenoaks runs along the road between the villages. Drivers will have no trouble parking, even on weekends.
In some ways, wheelchair rugby league is the same as the running game. Teams of five players have six tackles to score. Tackles on the ball carrier are made by pulling off a tag attached to each player’s shirt. A try scores four points, with two points for penalties and conversions, which are taken by punching the ball off a tee over the posts.
The game is played with an oval ball and lasts for 80 minutes, with a maximum of two non-disabled and three disabled players allowed on the field at any one time.
But unlike the running game, the balance of power lies not in Australia and the Pacific Islands, but firmly in Europe.
England’s main title rivals are France. The old enemies have met in the past three finals, the French winning in 2013 and 2017 before being beaten 28-24 in Manchester four years ago.
Ireland, ranked third in the world, are also genuine contenders and began their World Cup campaign by thrashing the USA 110-10.
But Australia, who are hosting every match in Wollongong, have their strongest ever squad and thumped New Zealand 112-14 in their Group B opener. An Australian sweep of the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments, all taking place concurrently, for the first time by any nation is not out of the question.
Bayley McKenna is their first non-disabled captain, having picked up the sport in 2006 to support his father, who was paralysed in an accident.
McKenna is far from the only non-disabled person in this tournament – England’s Brown is too, he likewise entered the sport alongside a disabled family member, his brother.
Non-disabled players are crucial to the sport’s survival, helping teams fill their squads and boost interest. But McKenna was targeted by social media abuse during the last World Cup by those who thought he shouldn’t be playing in a wheelchair sport.
“I would have copped about a dozen messages from people all around the world saying, ‘you’re a fraud, you shouldn’t even be in the chair, this is a sport for disabled people’,” he told ABC, external.
“These guys were coming at me, like, ‘you’re lucky you’re not out there on the street by yourself’.
“There is such a stigma around able-bodied athletes playing in wheelchairs. It is ridiculous. I’d be lying to you if I said I was going into this World Cup not expecting it.”
Australia gave England a couple of good games in a two-match Test series last year, indicating the big two in wheelchair rugby league may not be so exclusive for long.
So don’t turn away, England fans. The Rugby League World Cup has plenty left to give.
Since Joe Root returned as Test skipper, England have not picked a frontline spinner and have instead favoured a four-man pace attack of Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.
South Africa’s victory in the third Test suggests they will need an alternative before long.
Off-spinner Simon Harmer, who once considered playing for England before opting for the country of his birth, took 10-120 to bowl the Proteas to victory in Cape Town – the venue of the third Test against England.
Newlands is not typically a spinner’s surface but it turned big from the third day. The overall average amount of turn throughout the Test (4.35 degrees) was the fourth-highest in Cape Town on record. The Test a place ahead on the list was last year, against Pakistan.
Harmer was helped by having left-arm pace bowlers Starc and Marco Jansen creating footholes outside the right-handers’ off stump throughout. Starc will not be a factor against England but Jansen will.
England’s spin issues are longstanding, meaning there is no easy answer.
And whether they pick Shoaib Bashir, return to Jack Leach or Mason Crane or hand a debut to Nottinghamshire’s Liam Patterson-White – the recent recipient of an England development contract – they will have stiff competition.
Since Harmer returned to Test cricket in 2022, no spinner has a better average anywhere in the world.
Captain Meg Jones says England are aiming to expand their attack to stay at the head of rugby’s world order.
The Red Roses’ four-year, 41-match unbeaten run was ended by a pair of defeats by Canada earlier this month, while New Zealand threatened victory at Allianz Stadium last month, only to be undone by Zoe Harrison’s final-play try.
For so long the runaway leaders at the top of the world rankings, England could even have dropped to third with a combination of a 15-point defeat against the United States on Friday and a New Zealand win over France on Saturday.
That never looked likely as the Red Roses ran in nine tries in victory over the USA in New Jersey, but Jones says competition is becoming more fierce at the top of the game.
“Teams are getting better, that’s the nature of it,” Jones said.
“It happened in the men’s game, it’s happened in the women’s game, and we’ve just got to start being probably more unpredictable.
“We’ve learned loads on this tour, and gained so much feedback from where we want to keep growing, getting better and keep pushing.”
While Mitchell will undoubtedly take positives – Holly Aitchison’s play-making and Maud Muir’s all-action performance among them – he has plenty on his to-do list.
Top will be to tune up his team’s set-piece solidity and attacking fluency.
England suffered at the line-out early on, unable to fire up their rolling maul from two promising attacking positions before being shoved back over their own line, only for Kathryn Treder’s try to be ruled out for a obstruction call.
The scrum was also, initially at least, more closely contested than expected.
Muir was pinged as the experienced Hope Rogers grappled for set-piece supremacy.
And, all the while, the hosts were making headway at the gainline, buying territory with brute physicality – an aspect of the game which is usually England’s trademark.
The United States got their reward as Rogers burrowed beneath Maddie Feaunati for a short-range score that sparked lasting celebrations.
Jones went over after full-back Emma Sing hit a good line to restore a 10-point lead by the break, but the stats below the scoreboard favoured the United States with the hosts enjoying more territory and possession and making more metres with the ball in hand at the interval.
Moloney-MacDonald’s third and fourth scores soon after the restart put England 20 points clear and the outcome out of doubt.
The United States, who came into the match on the back of five-match winning run that includes successes over Ireland and South Africa, hung tough however.
While England’s endurance and depth told, with Hannah Botterman impressing off the bench, Ellie Kildunne weaving up from backfield on her introduction, the tide turning in the scrum and four tries scored in the final quarter, the hosts’ energy was impressive.
Even with replacement prop Mona Lisa Tupou being sent to the sin bin for a scrum infringement, their resistance and physicality stayed high and was rewarded with Zackary’s late score.
With both the attendance and the playing surface appearing patchy at the 25,000-capacity Sports Illustrated Stadium, organisers will hope to have a more impressive platform in place by the time the Women’s Rugby World Cup is held stateside in 2033.
