Canada opened the door to avenge their Rugby World Cup final loss to England by halting the Red Roses' remarkable 39‑Test winning streak in a nail‑biting 26‑26 stalemate at Exeter's Sandy Park. The match, part of the WXV Global Series, unfolded just eight days shy of the one‑year anniversary of England's 33‑13 triumph at Twickenham, and it delivered a spectacle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. From the first kick‑off, both sides displayed an attacking intent that resulted in eight tries before the game even entered its closing minutes. England’s wing Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald struck early, crossing the line twice in the opening half, while Canadian prop Daleaka Menin mirrored her effort with two scores of her own.
Additional points came from England’s forward Hannah Botterman and Canada’s versatile Lizzie Gibson, leaving the score tied at 19‑19 at the interval after a six‑try first half. The second half began with Bryony Field, making her first start for England, grounding a rolling maul for her second Test try. The try seemed to set the stage for a classic Red Roses surge, a pattern the team often displays when they build momentum in the latter stages of a match. However, the Canadians refused to yield.
Scrum‑half Olivia Apps orchestrated a swift counter‑attack, threading the ball through England’s defensive line and finishing with a try that, after Sophie de Goede’s conversion, leveled the score at 26‑26. England continued to press deep into Canadian territory, applying sustained pressure and creating several opportunities that could have tipped the balance in their favour.
Yet, the Red Roses could not breach the final defensive wall, and Canada, determined to avoid a loss on English soil for the first time, managed to hold the draw as the clock ran out. Looking ahead, England will aim to rebound when they host New Zealand— the team that denied them the 2022 World Cup title— at Allianz Stadium next Saturday. Following that encounter, the Red Roses will travel to Canada for further Tests in Toronto and Ottawa, while Canada prepares to face France in their upcoming fixture. A detailed chronology of the match highlights the ebb and flow of momentum.
Canada seized an early lead after five minutes when Lizzie Gibson dived over, though Sophie de Goede missed the conversion. England answered five minutes later with a well‑executed move that saw Moloney‑MacDonald score, but Zoe Harrison also failed to add the extra points.
The seesaw continued when Menin restored Canada’s advantage in the 14th minute, this time with a successful conversion from de Goede, only for Botterman to breach the line shortly after, prompting Harrison to level the scores once more. Moloney‑MacDonald’s second try of the half gave England a brief edge, but Menin responded with her own second try just before halftime, restoring parity at 19‑all. In the second half, Field’s maul try in the 53rd minute gave England a seven‑point cushion, yet four minutes later Apps completed a crisp Canadian attack, and de Goede’s conversion brought the visitors back level at 26‑26.
Despite England’s dominance in Canadian half‑field territory during the closing stages, they could not find the decisive score to extend their unbeaten run. The match ended in a draw, a result that both teams can take pride in given the quality of play and the high stakes involved. England head coach John Mitchell reflected on the experience, stating, "We are in a Test series, which is really good for us.
We need to get better, and there is a greater purpose than this one Test match. This is ideal for us and allows us to stay focused." Player of the match Daleaka Menin shared her perspective: "It was a big challenge, I am a little tired. We didn't get exactly what we wanted but it was a great game of rugby. We have two more against them so we will see what happens.
This week we were really trying to push ourselves. We really wanted to prove something here. This is just the start of this journey." England captain Meg Jones summed up the team's performance: "It was amazing Test match rugby.
That is what we want, it was a battle. Our discipline let us down, we didn't get in the right areas, and execute. We have got two more shots [at Canada]. We are just looking to grow each time we play because the game gives you the best feedback.
We will go again next week."