England draw 26-26 with Canada in WXV to end 39-match winning streak
England's 39-game winning streak ended with a 26-26 draw against Canada at Sandy Park, while New Zealand beat Scotland 66-14 in the WXV Global Series.
England streak halted at Sandy Park
Canada held England to a 26-26 draw at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday, ending the Red Roses' 39-match winning streak. A crowd of 14,573 watched the two teams share four tries each in the WXV Global Series encounter. Canada became the first team to avoid defeat against England since New Zealand won the 2022 World Cup final. The result also concluded England's clean home record against the Canadians, following 13 consecutive home victories in previous meetings between the sides. Flanker Julia Omokhuale and back-rower Sophie de Goede led the Canadian defensive effort throughout the contest. Despite missing out on victory, England extended their overall unbeaten run to 40 consecutive Tests.
Four tries shared in Exeter
Canada opened the match with close-range tries from number eight Lizzie Gibson and prop DaLeaka Menin. England answered when Exeter wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored in the ninth minute, followed by a try from prop Hannah Botterman. Moloney-MacDonald added her second try in the 32nd minute after a run from Sadia Kabeya to hand England a temporary lead before Menin crossed on the stroke of half-time for Canada. In the second half, Bryony Field touched down for England and Canadian scrum-half Olivia Apps leveled the contest following a run from Sophie de Goede. Both sides had additional tries disallowed, including an effort by Asia Hogan-Rochester for a forward pass. Canada repelled England over the line and secured a turnover at the ruck in the final ten minutes to secure the draw.
It was just a matter of scoring across the white line. We were applying huge pressure. We just didn't convert.
- Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scores England's opening try after early Canadian pressure.
- Moloney-MacDonald scores her second try from a Sadia Kabeya break to put England ahead.
- DaLeaka Menin scores her second try for Canada to establish a 19-14 Canadian lead.
- Bryony Field scores for England before Olivia Apps responds for Canada.
- Canada holds England up over the line and secures a ruck turnover to seal the 26-26 draw.
New Zealand dominates Scotland in Edinburgh
At Hive Stadium in Edinburgh, New Zealand recorded a 66-14 victory over Scotland by scoring 10 tries. Prop Mo'omo'oga Palu opened the scoring early before lock Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu added a second for the world number two side. Evie Gallagher scored twice from close range for Scotland to keep the score at 24-14, with Helen Nelson converting both tries. The Black Ferns pulled clear before half-time through tries from Justine McGregor, Elinor-Plum King, Layla Sae, and Amy Du Plessis. Braxton Sorensen-McGee added seven conversions during the match. Substitutes Amarante Sititi and Tara Turner crossed after the break alongside Sae's second try, and Alena Saili added the final try on the last play of the match.
- New Zealand
- 66 points
- Canada
- 26 points
- England
- 26 points
- Scotland
- 14 points
Autumn schedule ahead in the WXV series
The fixture against Canada was only the second match of the season for England's domestic and international players. Head coach John Mitchell indicated that the performance would serve as a building block for upcoming fixtures rather than prompting adjustments to the playbook. England will next host New Zealand on Saturday at 15:00 in their next WXV encounter. Scotland will remain at Hive Stadium to play Australia at 16:10 on the same day. England will also face Canada two more times and play the United States later in the series.
