If anyone thought a noise at Twickenham would not reach the decibel levels of the full-time whistle of the Rugby World Cup final last year then they were firmly wrong. Zoe Harrison’s last-gasp winning try against New Zealand was met with ear-bursting cheers and brought 59,871 fans to their feet with their hands in the air.
It was extra sweet for the Red Roses fly-half who had moments earlier missed a match-clinching penalty, but as the Black Ferns looked for their own victory moment, Harrison intercepted the ball to put her name up in lights.
The Red Roses ability to continue their unbeaten streak mimics how Neo dodged bullets in the blockbuster the Matrix. Last Saturday they drew against an impressive Canada team looking to avenge last year’s World Cup result and against New Zealand at a hot and humid Twickenham they pulled off a comeback win.
The Black Ferns, the last team to beat England back in 2022, held a half-time lead after a display of resilient attack, but their rivals had an extra edge in the second 40.
Maddie Feaunati, who was qualified for New Zealand but opted for the England jersey back in 2024, was a highlight for the Red Roses. The No 8 is ever dependable for John Mitchell but at HQ she sparked attack with lengthy breaks and turned over the ball in defence. Marlie Packer, promoted from the bench just before kick-off because of an injury to Sadia Kabeya, also had a good outing before being forced off with an injury of her own.
New Zealand were in great form heading into the match, winning their past eight matches, and had a positive first half but discipline let them down in the second including a yellow card for Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu. Despite losing to England for the fourth time in a row there were bright sparks which lit up this Test match, namely Amy Du Plessis. The centre was hugely physical in defence and imaginative in attack, her first-half try the best score of the game.
This was a barnstorming Test match, one that fans could not take their eyes off with the teams matching each other pound-for-pound. The tension started before kick-off as the haka was met by a response from England who stood in a V shape facing New Zealand before walking towards them to form a united line.
In the early stages it was all New Zealand but Ayesha Leti-I’iga, the winger who scored twice against England in the 2022 Rugby World Cup final, had an early try ruled out after repeated Black Ferns attacks. Their inability to capitalize on momentum meant England were the ones to break the deadlock. A huge attack, initially inspired by a 40m break by Feaunati, ended minutes later with a great run-in by Claudia Moloney-MacDonald.
Jess Breach stopped a certain try with a powerful tackle on Leti-I’iga a metre from the line and England twice turned over Black Ferns ball in the 22, but a piece of individual brilliance from Du Plessis got New Zealand on the board. She caught a long ball from Lucy Packer and responded with her own kick from the halfway line and chased it. No one from England was covering the back left corner and Du Plessis scored, the stands of Twickenham falling silent.
That set a fire under New Zealand who scored through Leti-I’iga next and for the second time in this WXV Global Series England headed into half-time down at the break. To start the second, Ellie Kildunne and Breach connected well to see the star full-back over.
Packer had been impressive in defence but was subject to a high tackle which saw her off of the pitch, replaced by Abi Burton, with Mahutariki-Fakalelu given a yellow card. A player up, England were quick to score through Breach.
The England bench also played a part with the replacement prop Hannah Botterman forcing penalties but New Zealand were the next over with Mererangi Paul. Braxton Sorensen-McGee slotted the penalty to even the score at 19-19 – it couldn’t be another draw for the second game in a row for England? Harrison made sure it wasn’t with an excellent read to rescue the win.
