The England women's rugby side, known as the Red Roses, delivered a spectacular second‑half performance that propelled them to a 48‑15 win against the Wallaroos in the opening match of the WXV Global Series at Salford's CorpAcq Stadium. While the first thirty minutes were dominated by the visitors, the English side turned the tide after the break, scoring seven tries and re‑establishing their reputation as the world’s top‑ranked team. In the opening exchanges Australia seized an early advantage. A penalty awarded to the Wallaroos after England were penalised for a holding offence saw Samantha Wood slot the ball through for three points within the first four minutes.
A short time later, Faliki Pohiva crossed the line and Wood added the conversion, giving the visitors a 10‑5 lead at the half‑time whistle. The Red Roses were unable to register a score before the break, a rarity that had not occurred in seven years – the previous instance dating back to 2019. The turning point arrived when Wood was sent to the sin‑bin for a deliberate knock‑on. With England reduced to fourteen players, Abi Burton took advantage of the numerical edge, diving over from close range to give the hosts their first points of the match.
Holly Aitchison attempted the conversion but missed, leaving the score at 10‑10. The second half unfolded as a completely different narrative.
England’s forwards quickly established dominance in the set‑piece, winning a series of line‑outs that allowed the back row to launch powerful mauls. The first of these culminated in a try for May Campbell, who powered over the line after a well‑executed maul. Aitchison’s successful conversion nudged England ahead 12‑10, and the momentum had firmly shifted. What followed was a blistering spell of attacking rugby.
Within a ten‑minute window the Red Roses crossed the try line four times: 1. May Campbell’s early maul try.
2. Meg Jones, the team captain, finished a sweeping move that began with a high kick from Aitchison; although the initial attempt had been ruled offside on review, the second effort was clean and resulted in a try. 3. Debutante Bryony Field steered a driving maul into the in‑goal area and touched down.
4. Mia Venner sprinted down the left wing and dived into the corner for a try.
Holly Aitchison added the conversion for Campbell, while Zoe Harrison took over the kicking duties, successfully converting the subsequent three tries. By the 61st minute England had built a 34‑10 lead, and the scoreboard reflected the growing gulf between the two sides.
Australia’s response was limited to a consolation try by Eva Karpani, who, after serving a ten‑minute sin‑bin for an infringement in the build‑up to Venner’s try, managed to cross the line from a line‑out steal. The Wallaroos also saw a try from Brittany Merlo disallowed after the video referee ruled a line‑out infringement, further dampening their hopes.
England continued to exploit their superiority at the breakdown. Replacement No.7 Lucy Packer capitalised on a turnover, grounding the ball after a quick ruck, and Harrison added another conversion, extending the margin to 41‑10.
Shortly thereafter, Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald showcased her speed on the flank, finishing a sweeping move that saw her sprint to the corner and touch down. Harrison’s final conversion from the touchline sealed the final score of 48‑15. The match statistics highlighted England’s dominance: seven tries, a near‑perfect conversion rate after the initial miss, and a defensive record that limited Australia to just two scores after the half‑hour mark. The Red Roses also recorded their 39th consecutive unbeaten match, underscoring their consistency at the elite level.
Post‑match, player of the match Abi Burton spoke to BBC Sport, reflecting on the team’s performance and the challenges ahead: "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 get 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 forward, England’s next challenge comes against Canada on 19 September in Exeter, followed by a high‑stakes clash with New Zealand at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on 26 September. The dominant display against Australia provides a strong platform for the Red Roses as they continue their campaign to retain the world championship title and maintain their No.1 world ranking.