England has secured back-to-back WXV1 titles with a classy 21-12 comeback victory over Canada that clinches them a 20th successive victory and confirms them as the hot favourites for the 2025 Rugby World Cup next August. In a tightly-fought contest, the Red Roses outlasted the home side with three-tries and stout defence to prevail.
Canada took England close to the wire in the World Cup semi-final in 2022, and had defeated New Zealand to win the Pacific Four Series earlier this year. By notching big WXV victories over France and Ireland, they entered this showdown as world No 2. If anyone could beat England it was Canada, and if it was ever to happen, it was now.
But England were on a march of their own. After an adjustment period in the Six Nations and an easy win over USA in the first round, everything clicked for John Mitchell’s side last Sunday as Jess Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne ran riot with a combined seven tries in an exhilarating WXV 1 victory over their old rivals and the 2022 world champions New Zealand.
Yet Canada dominated early, winning a penalty within 20 seconds of kickoff and laying siege to England’s line. Despite six successive victories, the home side had lost their last 12 against the Red Roses so showed their intent by spurning three points to chase five. After three furious minutes of mauling, Justine Pelletier’s snipe from a metre out secured a 5-0 lead.
The Red Roses bit back in the ninth minute when prop Maud Muir finished a strong charge downfield by Alex Matthews and Helena Rowland slotted the conversion to give England a 7-5 lead. As the game settled, the teams traded attacking thrusts and fatigue became a factor, mistakes keeping both sides’ scoring in check.
Despite England’s 73% possession, Canada’s relentless offloading kept them alive. Inspired, the Vancouver crowd roared as their team assailed England’s line late in the half. But too often they took an inside channel when overlaps existed out wide and each time England’s last line of defence held up would-be try scorers over the line.
Canada carried their momentum into the second half and when England’s Kildunne was yellow carded for a cynical offside play to kill another break, England were in trouble. Canada used the one-woman advantage to rip through the middle with fast passes and runners and captain Tessier iced a brilliant movement in the 51st minute by slicing inside and scoring under the posts to restore a 12-7 lead.
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England had won 49 of their last 50 Tests, including 19 consecutive wins since their shock defeat by New Zealand at the 2022 World Cup final. Canada sniffed the upset and the crowd sensed it too. A torrent of red jerseys poured into England territory and as Kildunne returned, Bo Westcombe-Evans departed for a deliberate knock-on.
Canada continued to stretch the Red Roses and when they finally won a lineout, having lost six in the opening hour, a try seemed certain. But another forward final pass under pressure squandered what might’ve been a 10-point lead. England cashed in on the reprieve, rumbling up the middle to send Sarah Burn over from a low drive.
At 14-12 with 10 minutes to play, Canada’s errors were mounting and England were taking control. A daring 50-22 kick got Canada out of trouble and back on attack but a rush of blood by Tessier to kick crossfield for her winger scuppered the opportunity and Canada’s frustrating inability to win lineouts helped the Red Roses close it out.
Ultimately, star lock Zoe Aldcroft killed the party cold for the home crowd by crossing for England’s third try in the 80th minute. The 2021 World Rugby player of the year was later named player of the match. The eyes of the 16 best women’s rugby teams now turn to the 2025 World Cup, the draw for which will be released next week.
