WXV International Collection
Canada (5) 24
Tries: Bauder, Corrigan, Menin, Seumanutafa Cons: De Goede (2)
England (14) 21
Tries: Feaunati, Harrison, Bern Cons: Harrison (3)
England head coach John Mitchell challenged his Pink Roses to “discover one thing extra” after their 41-match unbeaten streak – courting again nearly 4 years – led to dramatic trend as Shoshanah Seumanutafa’s late attempt handed Canada an exhilarating 24-21 victory in Toronto.
Canada, who beforehand snapped England’s 39-match successful run with a 26-26 attract Exeter in September, are the primary crew to defeat them since November 2022, after they misplaced to New Zealand within the World Cup last.
Taking part in in entrance of 18,621 followers, a file for a standalone girls’s fixture in North America, the consequence additionally marks England’s first defeat by Canada since 2016 and their first in opposition to their hosts on Canadian soil, having gained their earlier 11 away matches.
Canada’s Savannah Bauder took benefit of Zoe Harrison’s yellow card to open the scoring within the fifteenth minute, nevertheless it was England who took a 14-5 half-time lead, hitting again late within the first half by means of Maddie Feaunati and Harrison, with Laetitia Royer within the sin-bin for the hosts.
Sarah Bern cancelled out a trendy solo attempt from the hosts’ Alysha Corrigan early within the second half to protect England’s nine-point lead earlier than Canada’s DaLeaka Menin crashed over for a transformed rating simply after the hour mark to arrange a tense finale.
Three minutes from time, Canada mounted an assault from midway after a fumble put Harrison’s clearing kick below strain, and alternative Seumanutafa charged down the left wing to finish the comeback.
“We’re disenchanted by the consequence however there was some superb issues in our efficiency. So we’ll stick with our processes,” stated Mitchell, following his first defeat since being appointed in late 2023.
“I assume [the loss] frees us up and permits us to seek out extra. I do know this group has acquired extra in them. Generally it requires the context that we have simply acquired to dig deeper and discover one thing extra.”
The 2 sides will renew their rivalry in Ottawa on Friday, 23 October (within the early hours of Saturday on UK time) earlier than England conclude their 2026 WXV International Collection in opposition to the USA in New Jersey on Friday, 30 October (21:15 GMT).