England’s unprecedented 41-game unbeaten run was broken by Canada 24-21 on Friday and witnessed by the biggest crowd in North American women’s rugby.
Canada, unable to handle England’s scrum, trailed 14-5 at halftime and 21-12 after more than an hour. They did not settle a compelling WXV Global Series contest until a 78th-minute try by Shoshanah Seumanutafa.
“We really had to grind it out and find a way,” Canada captain Sophie de Goede said. “That’s kind of the DNA of our team.”
Canada’s Brittany Kassil celebrates after their WXV Global Series win over England in Toronto on Friday.
Photo: AP
England suffered their first loss since the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, their only previous defeat in 72 matches since 2019.
“Sometimes the flipped coin doesn’t go on the side you want it to go,” England captain Meg Jones said. “It’s just the nature of the beast.”
England showed vulnerability last month at home when they drew with Canada 26-26, ending a 39-match winning streak.
Canada’s Alysha Corrigan runs with the ball during their WXV Global Series game against England in Toronto on Friday.
Photo: AP
That effort gave Canada confidence for the return match at home, including the availability of world player of the year De Goede, rested from their previous match, a loss in France, and wings Asia Hogan-Rochester and Alysha Corrigan after injuries.
The hope drew 18,621 spectators, 7,000 more than the previous biggest crowd for a standalone women’s match in North America.
England should have scored first, but Claudia Moloney-MacDonald dropped the ball over the tryline.
England’s Lilli Ives Campion, top right, wins a line-out over Julia Omokhuale, top left, of Canada during their WXV Global Series game against England in Toronto on Friday.
Photo: AP
Then Canada used numbers after a Zoe Harrison yellow card for fullback Savannah Bauder to score in a three-on-one.
England stumbles continued with three turnovers in the Canada 22, two on the tryline, but after Canada lock Laetitia Royer was sin-binned, England powered ahead with tries by Maddie Feaunati and Harrison before halftime.
Canada closed to 14-12 in the second half when Corrigan collected her own grubber-kick and celebrated before scoring.
However, England moved further ahead 21-12 after 12 phases when prop Sarah Bern smashed over.
Canada were plagued by forward passes, but stayed calm. A missed penalty touch-finder by England was countered and prop DaLeaka Menin, one of three Canada survivors from their last win over England 10 years ago, plowed over to cut the gap to two again.
Another England clearance was returned by Canada from their half, and De Goede and Gabrielle Senft lined up Seumanutafa to beat the cover to the left corner flag and cap a milestone night in Canadian rugby.
They are to play again in Ottawa on Friday.
In Hamilton, New Zealand began a three-game home stand against France with a 12-try, 81-12 demolition.
Winger Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a scored four tries in her home stadium, and there were doubles for scrumhalf Maia Joseph, winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Amy du Plessis.
Joseph opened the Black Ferns’ account from a Du Plessis break inside the first minute and they led 43-0 at halftime and 60-0 before France scored.
France have two more Tests in Whangarei and Christchurch.
In Sydney, Australia took advantage of Scotland’s ill-discipline to enjoy a 56-12 romp.