While Mitchell will no doubt take away some positives – among them Holly Aitchison’s acting and Maud Muir’s action-packed performance – he has a lot going for him.
The main thing will be to improve the solidity of set pieces and the offensive fluidity of his team.
England suffered early in the lineout, unable to launch their rolling maul from two promising attacking positions before being pushed back over their own line, only for Kathryn Treder’s attempt to be ruled out for an obstruction call.
The scrum was also under pressure.
Muir was scathed as the experienced Hope Rogers battled for set-piece supremacy.
And all the while, the hosts were advancing on the gain line, buying territory with brutal physicality – an aspect of the game that is usually England’s trademark.
The United States was rewarded when Rogers burrowed under Maddie Feaunati for a close-range score that sparked lasting celebrations.
Jones went over after fullback Emma Sing hit a good line to restore a 10-point lead at the break, but the stats under the scoreboard favored the United States, with the hosts enjoying more territory and possession and making more meters with the ball in hand at the interval.
Moloney-MacDonald’s third and fourth scores soon after the restart put England 20 points ahead and the result beyond doubt.
The United States, which came into the match on a five-game winning streak, including wins over Ireland and South Africa, held firm, however.
While England’s stamina and depth were telling, with Hannah Botterman impressing off the bench, Ellie Kildunne moving in from the backfield during her introduction and four tries scored in the final quarter, the hosts’ energy was impressive.
Even with replacement fullback Mona Lisa Tupou sent to the bin for a scrum infraction, their toughness and physicality remained high and were rewarded by Zackary’s late score.
While attendance and playing surface area appear patchy at the 25,000-capacity Sports Illustrated Stadium, organizers hope to have a more impressive platform in place by the time the Women’s Rugby World Cup is held in the United States in 2033.
Gn sports
