England's Red Roses clinched a breathtaking win over the Black Ferns thanks to a last‑minute try by Zoe Harrison, who also added the conversion to seal a 26‑19 triumph. The match, staged at Sydney's Allianz Stadium in front of nearly 60,000 spectators, lived up to its billing as a showdown between the two top‑ranked women’s rugby nations, with the lead swapping sides three times before the decisive fourth try. The first half saw New Zealand take a 12‑7 edge. After Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald crossed for England, the Black Ferns responded swiftly: centre Amy Du Plessis turned a loose ball into a try, and winger Ayesha Leti‑I'iga added another, pushing the visitors ahead.
England entered the break still trailing, but the second half told a different story. Ellie Kildunne burst through the defensive line early in the second period, giving the hosts the lead. A subsequent try from Jess Breach, capitalising on a yellow‑card dismissal of Black Ferns prop Veisinia Mahutariki‑Fakalelu for a high tackle on Marlie Packer, extended the advantage to 19‑12.
New Zealand, however, fought back. Mererangi Paul sliced through the English defence with ten minutes remaining, leveling the score at 19‑all.
With the match hanging in the balance, Harrison’s penalty attempt from 40 metres fell short, leaving the outcome uncertain. Rather than opting for a safe touch‑line kick, New Zealand chose to run the ball from their own 22, hoping to snatch a win.
In a dramatic turn, Du Plessis’ pass was intercepted by Harrison inside the New Zealand 22. She sprinted to the try line, grounded the ball, and then slotted the conversion, sending the Twickenham crowd into a frenzy and sealing the Red Roses’ 26‑19 victory. The win extended England’s unbeaten run to 41 matches, following a dramatic 26‑26 draw with Canada a week earlier that had ended a 39‑game winning streak. For New Zealand, the loss was a setback after an immaculate run of seven Test victories this year, the last of which had seen them defeat England in the 2022 World Cup final.
Both sides displayed moments of brilliance. Early in the game, Leti‑I'iga appeared to give the Ferns the lead within the first ten minutes, but a video review ruled her try out for a double‑movement.
England’s opening try eventually came from Moloney‑MacDonald, who finished a well‑timed pass from Kildunne. The Black Ferns answered with Du Plessis’ opportunistic effort after chasing down a wayward clearance from Lucy Packer, and later Leti‑I'iga’s try, set up by a crafty inside pass from fly‑half Hannah King, restored their lead before halftime.
The second half was a showcase of England’s growing defensive solidity under the guidance of legendary defence coach Shaun Edwards. After Kildunne’s trademark wide‑angle try, the Red Roses capitalised on Mahutariki‑Fakalelu’s yellow card, with Breach diving into the corner for England’s third try.
When New Zealand returned to full strength, they pressed hard and earned Paul’s try, forcing a dead heat. When the final whistle approached, Harrison’s missed penalty seemed to hand the game to the visitors, yet her subsequent interception turned the tide.
Rather than settle for a draw, New Zealand’s decision to keep the ball in hand backfired spectacularly, underscoring how a single moment can decide a high‑stakes encounter. Post‑match reactions highlighted the intensity of the contest. England captain Megan Jones praised the Black Ferns for their early challenge and lauded her side’s character and defensive effort: “It was an amazing Test match.
We’re playing the top teams now and you get everything thrown at you. Today we prevailed and stayed on top. Massive credit to our defence – that’s my favourite part of the game.” Harrison reflected on her winning effort, noting the importance of pressure: “I told the team we create our own luck. We put a lot of pressure on them, and when they tried to play their game, we capitalised.
It was an amazing way to finish.” England head coach John Mitchell described the match as “topsy‑turvy,” commending New Zealand’s relentless attack while emphasizing the pivotal role of England’s defence in the second half. New Zealand captain Georgia Ponsonby, though disappointed, expressed pride in her squad’s performance, calling the game “the Test match of our dreams” despite feeling unlucky at the end. Black Ferns coach Wendy Hansen echoed that sentiment, saying the biggest feeling was pride and that the match highlighted both the excitement of their brand of rugby and the areas needing improvement. She stressed that the team remains humble on their journey toward sustained greatness.
Looking ahead, the WXV Global Series will continue next month with the North American leg, giving John Mitchell’s side further opportunities to test their mettle. England will face Canada twice in upcoming Tests before travelling to the United States for a final match, while New Zealand will regroup and aim to bounce back in the next phase of the competition.