In a pulsating showdown at Allianz Stadium, England’s Red Roses clinched a dramatic 26-19 win over the New Zealand Black Ferns, thanks to a last‑minute try by fly‑half Zoe Harrison. The match, witnessed by almost 60,000 fans, lived up to its billing as a clash between the two highest‑ranked women’s rugby teams in the world, with the lead swapping sides three times before the decisive score. The first half ended with New Zealand holding a narrow 12-7 advantage.
After Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald’s early try gave England an opening lead, the Black Ferns responded through Amy Du Plessis, who chased down her own clearance, and Ayesha Leti‑I'iga, who added a second try to push the scoreline ahead. The second half saw England surge back. Ellie Kildunne broke through the defensive line to score, and Jess Breach extended the margin to 19-12 after New Zealand prop Veisinia Mahutariki‑Fakalelu received a yellow card for a high tackle on Marlie Packer.
With the visitors reduced to 14 players, the Roses seemed poised to seal the game. However, New Zealand fought back. Mererangi Paul crossed for a try with ten minutes remaining, leveling the contest at 19-19.
A subsequent penalty attempt by Harrison from 40 metres fell short, leaving the outcome in doubt. 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, Harrison intercepted a pass from Du Plessis inside the New Zealand 22 and sprinted to the try line, sealing the victory for England and extending their unbeaten streak to 41 matches following a thrilling 26‑26 draw with Canada the week before.
The Red Roses entered the match on the back of a 39‑game winning run that had been halted by Canada at Sandy Park just seven days earlier. Their opponents, the Black Ferns, came in riding a perfect record of seven Test wins in the current year and were the last side to defeat England in the 2022 World Cup final. From the outset, New Zealand displayed greater intent, putting England’s newly appointed defence coach Shaun Edwards to the test.
Leti‑I'iga appeared to give the Ferns an early lead within the first ten minutes, but her try was disallowed after a video‑referee review for a double‑movement. England finally found rhythm when Moloney‑MacDonald scored from a pass by Kildunne, establishing a tone that would ebb and flow throughout the contest. The Black Ferns answered with resilience. Du Plessis capitalised on a poor clearance by Lucy Packer, chasing down her own kick and grounding the ball unopposed.
Later, Leti‑I'iga broke through after a clever inside pass from fly‑half Hannah King, putting New Zealand ahead just before the half‑hour mark. A near‑miss knock‑on by the Ferns inches from the try line prevented the score from widening further before the break. After the interval, John Mitchell’s side emerged with renewed vigor. Kildunne, renowned for her speed, broke free on the wing to score a trademark try, giving England a 12‑12 tie.
The subsequent yellow card for Mahutariki‑Fakalelu reduced the Ferns to 14, and Breach added a third English try in the corner, restoring a 19‑12 lead. When New Zealand returned to full strength, they pressed hard again, and Paul’s try from a sustained pressure sequence restored parity at 19‑all. Both teams then entered a tense period where every attack seemed to stall. Harrison’s long‑range penalty fell well short, and rather than settle for a draw, New Zealand chose to run the ball from their own line, a decision that ultimately backfired.
Harrison’s interception and subsequent dash to the try line ignited the Twickenham crowd, who celebrated as the England players swarmed her in jubilation. Captain Megan Jones summed up the performance: "What an amazing honour to play the Black Ferns. They set a challenge from the start; we responded well and accepted it. It was an incredible Test, playing the top teams pushes us in every aspect, and today we prevailed and stayed on top.
Massive credit to our defence, my favourite part of the game, and to the girls for showing character." Reflecting on her match‑winning effort, Harrison said, "I told her, ‘you create your own luck in this game’, and that was her moment. We put a lot of pressure on them, they wanted to play, and the defence gave us the chance to capitalise. It was an amazing way to finish." England head coach John Mitchell praised the contest, noting its volatility: "It was topsy‑turvy. I must commend the New Zealand girls; they threw everything at us and we gave them too much possession.
Simple half‑time messages reminded us that a single moment can turn the game, and our defence deserved huge credit for holding strong." New Zealand captain Georgia Ponsonby, speaking from the bench, expressed pride despite the loss: "It was neck‑and‑neck the whole way through, and the girls gave everything. It felt like the Test match of our dreams, even if we were unlucky at the end.
We came here to win and be brave, and I think we did that." Black Ferns head coach Wendy Hansen echoed the sentiment, highlighting growth: "My biggest feeling right now is pride. We have an amazing group—players, coaches, families—working hard, and we’re at the start of a new journey for Black Ferns rugby. 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 always want to win, but we’re chasing performance and staying humble on the journey." The WXV Global Series will resume next month with the North American leg, giving Mitchell’s side two further Tests against Canada before a match against the United States in consecutive weeks.
The Red Roses now look to build on their dramatic victory, while the Black Ferns will regroup and aim to convert the lessons learned into future success.