World champions England and hosts New Zealand will battle for the International Women's Rugby Series 2017 title on Saturday as they continue their preparations for Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland in less than two months' time.

The Red Roses backed up their convincing victory over Australia on the opening day by edging Canada 27-20 in round two, while the Black Ferns registered a 44-17 win over trans-Tasman rivals Australia.

New Zealand 44-17 Australia

Kendra Cocksedge backed up her player-of-the-match performance in the opening day victory over Canada with another fine display, but it was two other mainstays of the Black Ferns team, Selicia Winata and Portia Woodman, who stole the headlines with a brace of tries apiece.

Making the most of a strong trailing wind in the first half, the Black Ferns built up a 34-5 lead at half-time, Woodman opening the scoring with only six minutes on the clock after she used her pace to get around Samantha Treherne. Two minutes later Winiata followed her over the line when Honey Hireme charged down Ash Hewson's attempted clearance, gathered the loose ball and then put the winger away.

Hireme then laid on a try for hooker and captain Faio'o Fa'amausili which took the score out to 22-0. Prop Toko Natua was next to cross the whitewash before Wallaroos wing Cobie-Jane Morgan got on the end of a searing break from Fenella Hake to temporarily halt the one-way traffic.

After going close on two occasions, New Zealand finally fashioned another try from a solid scrum platform, former World Rugby Women's Player of the Year Cocksedge dummying her way over by the posts for the last score of the half.

With the weather conditions deteriorating at Rugby Park in Christchurch, attacking opportunities became few and far between and the Black Ferns had to settle for just two more tries, through Woodman and Victoria Latu, with Cheyenne Campbell scoring two tries for Australia in between.

England 27-20 Canada

Lydia Thompson scored two tries for the Red Roses while Abbie Scott and Kay Wilson also went over, with seven points coming from the boot of Emily Scarratt, as the world champions battled to a hard-fought victory over Canada in a repeat of the WRWC 2014 final.

Winger Magali Harvey kicked 10 points for Canada, who sit on place below England in the World Rugby Women's Rankings, while Carolyn McEwen and Karen Paquin scoring tries but they could not find a score in the closing stages.

England took the lead in the 10th minute when centre Emily Scarratt made a break from her own 22 before feeding Thompson, who marched into Canada’s 22. The ball was recycled and Marlie Packer then offloaded to Scott, who showed great strength to power over for her second try in as many matches.

Four minutes later Canada got themselves on the scoreboard through a Harvey penalty but the Red Roses hit straight back, the ball going through the hands to Thompson who outpaced her opposite number and dived over in the corner.

Canada scored their first try of the match in the 21st minute when, after multiple phases, prop McEwen barged her way over. Harvey slotted the conversion to reduce the deficit to two points but Scarratt nailed a penalty on the stroke of half-time to take the score to 15-10.

With England piling on the pressure at the start of the second half, Canada flanker and Olympic bronze medallist Paquin intercepted a long pass in her own 22 and raced away to run under the posts. Former World Rugby Women's Player of the Year Harvey added the conversion to edge Canada ahead for the first time with 50 minutes gone.

However it was then the turn of Red Roses winger Thompson to produce a moment of magic, beating several defenders on her way to the try line, but onces again Harvey responded with a penalty to keep Canada in touch. 

England scored their fourth try on the hour mark when Scarratt broke through the Canadian defence once again and threw a long pass out to Wilson, who collected the ball and crossed in the corner to score her 11th try in her last five international matches. 

The International Women's Rugby Series concludes on Saturday when Australia tackle Canada at Smallbone Park in Rotorua and England face New Zealand at Rotorua International Stadium as part of a double header with the Maori All Blacks' meeting with the British and Irish Lions.

The women's matches will be streamed live on worldrugby.org.