Zoe Harrison’s decisive try in the dying moments of the match saw England’s Red Roses snap back to winning form in a nail‑biting showdown against the Black Ferns. The English fly‑half intercepted a New Zealand pass inside the defending 22, turned the play around and, after a flawless conversion, sealed a dramatic 26‑19 triumph. Nearly 60,000 spectators packed into Allianz Stadium for what quickly became a classic encounter between the world’s two top women’s rugby nations. The scoreboard swung back and forth three times before the Red Roses broke the deadlock for a fourth, match‑winning try.
The first half ended with England trailing 12‑7. New Zealand answered Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald’s early breakthrough with scores from centre Amy Du Plessis and winger Ayesha Leti‑I'iga, putting the Black Ferns ahead. In the second half, the English side reclaimed the lead when Ellie Kildunne burst through a gap and grounded the ball.
A subsequent try by Jess Breach, capitalising on a yellow‑card offence by Black Ferns prop Veisinia Mahutariki‑Fakalelu for a high tackle on Marlie Packer, extended the advantage to 19‑12. The visitors refused to bow out and, with ten minutes left, Mererangi Paul crossed the line to level the scores at 19‑19.
England seemed to have missed a final chance when Harrison’s 40‑metre penalty fell short, but the drama was far from over. Instead of opting for a touch‑kick and settling for a draw, New Zealand chose to run the ball from their own 22, seeking a winning score. Harrison read the play, intercepted a pass from Du Plessis, sprinted into the corner and dived over for the decisive try.
Her teammates swarmed her, and the Twickenham crowd erupted in celebration. Captain Megan Jones summed up the atmosphere: “It was an incredible honour to face the Black Ferns.
They challenged us from the first whistle, we responded, and we stayed true to that challenge. The defence was our strongest asset today, and the character the girls showed was outstanding.” Harrison reflected on her own moment: “I told myself to create my own luck, and that’s exactly what happened. We kept relentless pressure on the Ferns, and when they finally gave us a chance, we took it. Finishing the game that way was perfect.” Head coach John Mitchell praised the contest: “It was a topsy‑turvy match.
The New Zealand girls threw everything at us, and we gave them a lot of possession. The half‑time message was simple – a single moment can change everything, and our defence held firm when it mattered most.” New Zealand captain Georgia Ponsonby, who watched the final minutes from the bench, said: “I felt immense pride. It was a neck‑and‑neck battle, and the girls gave everything.
We came here to win and to be brave, and I think we did just that, even if the result didn’t go our way.” Black Ferns coach Wendy Hansen added: “My biggest feeling right now is pride. We have an amazing group of athletes, coaches and families, and we’re only at the start of a new chapter for Black Ferns rugby. This match was a big test, a line in the sand that shows where we’re strong and where we need to improve. It’s an exciting place to be.
We’ll keep chasing great performances while staying humble.” The match marked England’s 41st unbeaten game, extending a streak that began after a dramatic 26‑26 draw with Canada a week earlier. The Red Roses entered this fixture after their 39‑match winning run was halted by Canada at Sandy Park, while the Black Ferns arrived on the back of an unbeaten run of seven tests this year.
The opening stages saw New Zealand appear more intent, testing England’s newly refined defensive structures under legendary coach Shaun Edwards. Leti‑I'iga seemed to have put the Ferns ahead within the first ten minutes, but a video review ruled her try out for a double‑movement.
England’s first try came when Moloney‑MacDonald finished a slick move from Kildunne, signalling that the hosts were finding their rhythm. The Black Ferns answered quickly.
Du Plessis chased down her own kick after Lucy Packer’s poor clearance and scored unopposed, while Leti‑I'iga later broke through on a clever inside pass from fly‑half Hannah King, giving New Zealand a half‑time lead. In the second half, England’s Kildunne produced a trademark sprint, outpacing the Ferns on the wing for the side’s second try. After Mahutariki‑Fakalelu’s yellow card reduced New Zealand to 14 players, Breach added a third English try in the corner, stretching the lead to 19‑12. When the Ferns returned to full strength, they fought back.
Paul’s try, the culmination of sustained pressure, restored parity at 19‑19 and set the stage for the final drama. With the scores level and time winding down, Harrison’s missed penalty seemed to hand the game to New Zealand, but her interception turned the tide. The final try not only clinched the match but also reinforced England’s reputation as the dominant force in women’s rugby.
Looking ahead, the WXV Global Series resumes next month with a North American leg for Mitchell’s side. England will face Canada twice in upcoming tests, followed by a clash with the United States in successive weeks, continuing their quest to maintain the longest unbeaten run in the sport’s history.