In a dramatic climax at Allianz Stadium, England's Red Roses clinched a 26-19 win over the Black Ferns thanks to a last‑minute try by fly‑half Zoe Harrison. The match, attended by almost 60,000 spectators, lived up to its billing as a showdown between the two highest‑ranked women’s rugby nations, with the lead swapping sides three times before England’s decisive fourth try. The first half ended with New Zealand holding a 12-7 advantage. After Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald’s early breakthrough for England, the Black Ferns responded with a try from Amy Du Plessis and a further score by winger Ayesha Leti‑I'iga, putting the hosts under pressure.
England entered the break trailing, but the second half saw a resurgence. Ellie Kildunne burst through the defensive line to give England the lead, and Jess Breach extended it to 19-12 after New Zealand prop Veisinia Mahutariki‑Fakalelu received a yellow card for a high tackle on Marlie Packer. The visitors, however, fought back, with Mererangi Paul diving over in the final ten minutes to level the scores at 19‑19.
Harrison’s attempt to win the game with a 40‑metre penalty fell short, but she redeemed herself moments later. Intercepting a pass inside the New Zealand 22, she sprinted to the try line, converted the score herself, and sealed an epic comeback that took England’s unbeaten run to 41 matches, following a dramatic 26‑26 draw with Canada a week earlier.
The Red Roses entered the fixture after their 39‑game winning streak was snapped by World Cup runners‑up Canada at Sandy Park. New Zealand, the last team to defeat England in a World Cup final in 2022, arrived in fine form, having won all seven of their test matches that year.
The visitors started strongly, testing England’s newly refined defensive system under the guidance of legendary coach Shaun Edwards. Early drama unfolded when Leti‑I'iga appeared to give New Zealand the lead within the opening ten minutes, only for her try to be disallowed after a video review showed a double‑movement. England’s first points came when Moloney‑MacDonald crossed after a pass from Kildunne, setting an early tone for the hosts.
The Black Ferns answered quickly. Du Plessis chased down her own kick from Lucy Packer’s clearance and scored unopposed, narrowing the gap.
Later, Leti‑I'iga finally broke through after a clever inside pass from fly‑half Hannah King, putting New Zealand ahead just before the half‑hour mark. England weathered the pressure, surviving a near‑miss when a New Zealand knock‑on inches from the try line could have widened the deficit. After the break, John Mitchell’s side emerged with renewed vigor. Kildunne showcased her trademark speed, sprinting down the wing for a try that re‑established England’s momentum.
A yellow card reduced New Zealand to 14 players, and Breach capitalised by diving over in the corner, restoring a 19‑12 lead for the Red Roses. When the Black Ferns returned to full strength, they responded with Paul’s try, completing a dramatic 19‑19 tie. Both teams had chances to clinch the match.
Harrison’s long‑range penalty missed, and rather than settle for a draw, New Zealand opted to run the ball from their own 22, hoping to snatch victory. Instead, Du Plessis’s pass was intercepted by Harrison, who surged over for the winning try and then added the conversion, igniting the Twickenham crowd.
England captain Megan Jones praised the effort: "What an amazing honour to play the Black Ferns. They set a challenge from the start; we responded well and embraced it.
It’s a massive test against the top teams and today we prevailed, staying on top. Credit to our defence – my favourite part of the game – and to the girls for showing character." Reflecting on her own heroics, Harrison said, "I told the team we create our own luck, and that was my moment. We kept the pressure on them, they gave us a spectacular game, and our defensive pressure created the opportunity.
It was an incredible way to finish." Head coach John Mitchell admitted the match was a roller‑coaster: "It was topsy‑turvy. I have to commend the New Zealand girls – they threw everything at us and we gave them a lot of possession.
Simple half‑time messages reminded us that a single moment can turn a game, and our defence held firm." New Zealand captain Georgia Ponsonby, who was on the bench for the final minutes, expressed pride despite the loss: "It was neck‑and‑neck the whole way through. We gave everything, it was the Test match of our dreams, and although we were unlucky at the end, I’m hugely proud of my team. We came to win and be brave, and that’s exactly what we did." Black Ferns head coach Wendy Hansen echoed that sentiment, noting the pride in the squad’s performance and the broader journey ahead: "We have an amazing group – athletes, coaches, families – working hard. This week was a big test, a line in the sand that showed where we are special and where we need to improve.
It’s an exciting space; we chase performance, stay humble, and know greatness is within reach." The WXV Global Series will resume next month with the North American leg, giving Mitchell’s side two more Tests against Canada followed by a match against the United States in successive weeks. Both teams will look to build on the lessons from this high‑octane encounter as they continue their campaigns in the evolving landscape of women’s international rugby.