The England women’s rugby side, known as the Red Roses, turned a modest first‑half into a dominant display, scoring seven tries after the break to defeat the Wallaroos 48‑15 in their opening match of the WXV Global Series at Salford’s CorpAcq Stadium. The opening 40 minutes belonged largely to the visitors. Australia’s defence held firm, limiting England to a single penalty from Samantha Wood and a converted try by Faliki Pohiva, which left the Wallaroos clinging to a 10‑5 lead at the interval.
The only moment the Red Roses got on the scoresheet before halftime came when Wood was sin‑binned for a deliberate knock‑on, allowing centre Abi Burton to dive over from close range. Holly Aitchison’s conversion attempt was missed, and the half closed with England trailing – a rarity for the side, marking the first time in seven years they had been behind at the break, the previous occurrence dating back to 2019.
The second half saw England rediscover the form that has made them world champions and the current No. 1 ranked team. Within minutes of the restart, a well‑executed line‑out maul was driven over by May Campbell, with Aitchison adding the conversion to give the hosts a 12‑10 lead.
The momentum then swung dramatically in England’s favour. Over the next ten minutes, the Red Roses crossed the try‑line four times, each time showcasing a different facet of their attacking arsenal. First, Campbell’s try was followed by a brilliant kick from Aitchison that skipper Meg Jones chased down and grounded for a second try. Next, debutante Bryony Field steered a powerful maul over, and shortly thereafter, winger Mia Venner sprinted into the corner to score.
Finally, Sadia Kabeya powered through the Australian defence under the posts, completing the blitz. Zoe Harrison’s accurate boot converted each of these scores, propelling England to a 34‑10 advantage with just under twenty minutes remaining. Australia managed to add a consolation try in the 61st minute when Eva Karpani, who had earlier been sin‑binned for an infringement during the build‑up to Venner’s try, broke through from a line‑out steal and touched down.
However, the Red Roses responded immediately. Substitute No 7 Lucy Packer exploited a breakdown, driving over for another try, and Harrison’s conversion stretched the lead to 41‑10.
After serving her ten‑minute penalty, Karpani returned to the field and managed to cross the line again, but England’s relentless pressure was not over. Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald capped the scoring on the right wing, sprinting to the corner and forcing a defensive error that allowed her to finish the move. Harrison, ever reliable with the boot, slotted a final touch‑line conversion, sealing a comprehensive 48‑15 victory for England.
In the post‑match interview, Abi Burton, who was named Player of the Match, reflected on the team’s performance: “It was a tough contest; they made us work for every point. We knew we weren’t at our best at half‑time, so we had to come out with more physical intensity because the Wallaroos were firing on all cylinders.
The cohesion clicked in the latter stages. There’s a lot more to come from this group – we have a few teething issues to sort out, especially with a shortened pre‑season. It’s about adapting quickly and staying ready for the next test. We’re a different mix of players in some areas, but the core message remains the same: be the best version of ourselves and stay as cohesive as possible.
The Red Roses are constantly evolving.” England’s next challenge in the series 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 second‑half display against Australia has reaffirmed England’s status as the benchmark in women’s rugby and set the tone for what promises to be an exciting WXV campaign.