Zoe Harrison’s decisive try in injury time propelled England’s Red Roses back to winning form in a dramatic showdown against New Zealand. The fly‑half seized an intercepted pass inside the Black Ferns’ 22‑meter line after their attempt to counter her missed penalty, then added the conversion to clinch a spectacular 26‑19 triumph.
Nearly 60,000 spectators at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium witnessed a pulsating contest between the two top‑ranked nations, with the lead swapping three times before the Red Roses broke the deadlock for a fourth, match‑winning try. England entered halftime trailing 12‑7.
New Zealand had responded to Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald’s early try with points from Amy Du Plessis and Ayesha Leti‑I'iga. The second half saw England surge ahead when Ellie Kildunne burst through the defense, and Jess Breach extended the advantage to 19‑12 after a yellow card was shown to Black Ferns prop Veisinia Mahutariki‑Fakalelu for a high tackle on Marlie Packer. The Black Ferns, however, fought back, leveling the score at 19‑19 when Mererangi Paul crossed the line with ten minutes remaining.
England appeared to miss a final chance when Harrison’s long‑range penalty fell short, but her timely interception turned the tide, securing the win and stretching England’s unbeaten streak to 41 matches following last week’s dramatic 26‑26 draw with Canada. The Red Roses arrived at Twickenham after their 39‑game winning run was halted by World Cup runners‑up Canada at Sandy Park a week earlier. New Zealand, the last side to defeat England in the 2022 World Cup final, entered the match in fine form, having won all seven of their test matches to date.
The visitors began with greater intent, testing a England side that, for the first time, benefited from the guidance of legendary defence coach Shaun Edwards. Winger Leti‑I'iga seemed to give New Zealand the early lead within the first ten minutes, but her try was disallowed after a review showed a double‑movement. England found their rhythm when Moloney‑MacDonald scored the opening try off a pass from Kildunne, setting a positive tone.
The Black Ferns responded robustly: centre Du Plessis reduced the deficit by chasing down her own kick from Lucy Packer’s errant clearance and grounding the ball unchallenged. Later, Leti‑I'iga broke through after a clever inside pass from fly‑half Hannah King, putting New Zealand ahead just after the half‑hour mark.
The Red Roses endured further pressure before the break and escaped further setback when a New Zealand knock‑on occurred inches from the try line. After the interval, John Mitchell’s side emerged with renewed vigor, rewarding Kildunne with a trademark try as her speed out‑wide proved too much for the Black Ferns to contain. Following a yellow card that reduced New Zealand to 14 players, Breach added England’s third try in the corner, extending the lead to 19‑12.
When the Ferns returned to full strength they again threatened, and Paul’s finish from sustained pressure restored parity at 19‑all. Both teams then searched for a decisive breakthrough.
Harrison’s 40‑meter penalty attempt fell well short, prompting New Zealand to forgo a safe touch‑line kick and instead run from their own 22, seeking a win. Du Plessis attempted a pass that was intercepted by Harrison, who sprinted to the try line and was swarmed by jubilant teammates and a roaring Twickenham crowd. England captain and centre Megan Jones reflected on the performance: "What an amazing honour to play the Black Ferns.
They set a challenge from the start; we responded well and rose to it. It was a fantastic test match. We’re now playing the top sides and being tested in every facet, and today we prevailed and stayed on top.
Massive credit to our defence – my favourite part of the game – and to the girls who showed great character." On Harrison’s winning effort, Jones added: "I told her, ‘you create your own luck in this game’, and that was her moment. We kept the pressure on them; they wanted to play and gave us a spectacle. We capitalised on that defensive pressure and finished in an amazing way." England head coach John Mitchell praised the contest: "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 messages at half‑time – a game can turn on a single moment – and huge credit to our defence for holding firm." New Zealand captain Georgia Ponsonby, speaking from the bench, said: "The feeling at the end is pure pride. It was neck‑and‑neck the whole way through and the girls gave everything.
It was the test match of our dreams in many ways. We were unlucky at the end, but I’m incredibly proud of my team. We didn’t come here to lose; we came to win and be brave, and I think we did exactly that." Black Ferns head coach Wendy Hansen expressed her perspective: "Honestly, the biggest feeling right now is pride. We have an amazing group of athletes, coaches and families working hard, and we’re at the beginning of a new chapter for Black Ferns rugby.
This week was meant to be a big test, a line in the sand that showed us where we excel and where we need to improve. It was exciting to watch, and while we always want to win, we’re focused on delivering great performances, staying humble and continuing the journey." The WXV Global Series will resume next month with the North American leg for Mitchell’s side, followed by two more tests against Canada and a match against the United States in successive weeks.