The England women’s rugby side, known as the Red Roses, unleashed a spectacular second‑half onslaught to clinch a 48‑15 victory against the Wallaroos in the opening match of the WXV Global Series at Salford’s CorpAcq Stadium. After a tightly contested first half that saw Australia cling to a 10‑5 lead, the hosts found a new gear after the break, crossing the try‑line seven times and re‑asserting their status as the world’s top‑ranked side. In the opening 40 minutes, the Wallaroos demonstrated why they are a formidable opponent. A disciplined defensive line held the English attack at bay, limiting the Red Roses to just a single penalty from Samantha Wood.
That kick gave Australia a three‑point edge, which they extended when Faliki Pohiva powered over for a converted try, pushing the score to 10‑5 at the interval. England’s only scoring opportunity in the first half came when Wood was sin‑binned for a deliberate knock‑on; during her temporary absence, scrum‑half Abi Burton capitalised on a short‑range scramble to touch down, but the conversion attempt by Holly Aitchison missed, leaving the half‑time deficit intact. The half‑time whistle marked a historic moment for England – it was the first occasion in seven years that the Red Roses had trailed at the break, the previous instance dating back to 2019. The disappointment was palpable, but the team emerged from the locker room with renewed focus.
Within minutes of the restart, England’s forward pack began to dominate the set‑piece, earning a series of clean line‑outs that set the platform for a cascade of attacking moves. The breakthrough came when May Campbell seized a loose ball from a rolling maul and sprinted to the corner for the first try of the second half. Aitchison’s successful conversion nudged England ahead for the first time, 12‑10. From that point the game turned into a showcase of England’s attacking depth.
Over the next ten minutes, the Red Roses struck four tries, each illustrating a different facet of their play: 1. Meg Jones, the team captain, collected a high kick, evaded a defender and grounded the ball, restoring her confidence after the earlier disallowed effort. 2. Debutante Bryony Field powered through a driving maul, her momentum carrying her across the line.
3. Wing Mia Venner finished a sweeping move that began with a line‑out steal, diving into the corner to avoid the Australian full‑back.
4. Sadia Kabeya burst through a gap near the posts, securing a try that underscored England’s growing physical dominance. Holly Aitchison added the conversion for the first three of those scores, while Zoe Harrison, the reliable kicker, slotted the fourth, extending the lead to 34‑10 with just under twenty minutes remaining. Australia attempted to respond, but a second sin‑bin for Eva Karpani – this time for an infringement during the build‑up to Venner’s try – left the Wallaroos with only fourteen players for ten minutes.
England capitalised again: Lucy Packer exploited a breakdown, scooping the ball and diving over for a try, with Harrison’s boot adding the extra points to make it 41‑10. When Karpani returned, she managed to cross the line herself, converting a line‑out steal into a consolation try for the visitors. However, England’s momentum was unstoppable. Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald showcased her speed on the wing, finishing a sweeping move with a crisp touchline try, and Harrison capped the scoring spree with a flawless conversion, sealing the final score at 48‑15.
The match statistics reflected England’s superiority: seven tries, a near‑perfect conversion rate, and a possession advantage that grew steadily after the half‑time break. The Wallaroos, despite their early defensive resilience, struggled to contain the Red Roses’ varied attacking options – from powerful forward drives to swift back‑line finishes. Post‑match, scrum‑half Abi Burton was named Player of the Match.
In her interview with BBC Sport she reflected on the team’s performance: "It was tough, they made us work for it. We knew we weren't at our best at half‑time, we needed to come out and bring it to them physically because they came out absolutely gunning.
That cohesiveness started to click at the end. There is so much more to come from this team, we've just got a few teething issues to sort out.
It's going to take time for us to get back into it with a shorter pre‑season. But it's about how we adapt quickly and we’re ready for the next test match.
We're a different group of players in some aspects, but the messages have always been the same: be the best versions of ourselves and be as cohesive as possible. It's an ever‑evolving Red Roses team." Looking ahead, England’s schedule remains packed. The Red Roses travel to Exeter to face Canada on September 19 before taking on New Zealand at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on September 26.
The emphatic win over Australia not only reinforces their reputation as world champions but also provides a confidence boost as they prepare for the forthcoming challenges in the WXV Global Series.