Shoshanah Seumanutafa was the try-scoring heroine as Canada came from behind to end the 42-match unbeaten run of world champions England in front of a passionate crowd in Toronto to kick off the weekend’s WXV Global Series in dramatic fashion.
Canada 24 - 21 England
Replacement Seumanutafa dived over in the corner two minutes from time as Canada ended England’s 42-match unbeaten run in an enthralling and intense encounter in front of a record crowd at Toronto’s BMO Field.
She had come on earlier than expected, after key player Alex Tessier was injured in the 16th minute. Her decisive score was a fitting finish to a dramatic match, and took Canada into a 24-21 lead for the first time since 34th minute.
England - scoreless in the opening 30 minutes - had scored twice before the break as their forward power told. Maddie Feaunati and Zoe Harrison touched down in the 33rd and 38th minute respectively, off the back of powerful scrums to give England the lead at the break, after Savannah Bauder had got the home crowd roaring with a try in the 16th minute of a match that was a fitting sequel to the epic draw in September in Exeter.
Until those closing minutes before the break, Canada had largely nullified England’s power advantage up front, and had enjoyed some success out wide - Bauder’s try came after their forwards had tightened up England’s defence, leaving wide-open spaces out wide.
And their defence - Rachel Smith’s under-pressure ruck steal 5m from her line was a highlight - had been rock solid. But with second-row Laetitia Royer sin-binned following repeated Canadian infringements in the 30th minute, England took full measure of their numerical advantage.
Feaunati crashed over off the back of a scrum that was marching forwards, and Harrison powered through Kiki Idowu after Jess Breach had put the Red Roses on the front foot.
And the second-half roared into life early as Sophie de Goede’s fast hands gave Alysha Corrigan just enough room to kick, gather, and score to cut the gap to just two. But England hit back almost at once to extend their lead back to nine points through Sarah Bern. It looked as if the Red Roses had the upper hand, but Canada were not willing to go quietly into the Toronto evening.
Tireless tighthead DaLeaka Menin - player of the match for the second time in two meetings between these sides - started and finished a move that cut England’s lead again just after the hour, before Seumanutafa’s late score settled matters.
Australia xx - xx Scotland
Match report to follow
New Zealand xx - xx France
Match report to follow
USA xx - xx Italy
Match report to follow