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international women
Maia Roos, Santo Taumata, Georgia Ponsonby, Ruahei Demant and Ayesha Leti-I’iga are the only players in the current Black Ferns squad to win England in a test match.
On November 12, 2022 in Women Rugby World Cup In the final at Eden Park, the Black Ferns won a magnificent 34-31 against the Red Roses, who won a world record 30 consecutive Test matches.
Roos went on to the final and was later nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year for her performances at the tournament.
Three times in six matches she was the first in the number of tackles of the Black Ferns. In addition, she scored tries in pool wins against Wales (56-12) and Scotland (57-0) and helped the Black Ferns win 46 of 53 of her own lineouts.
Roos made his Black Ferns debut in the 2021 56-15 defeat of England at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton. Hooker Amy Cokayne, as in the aforementioned Rugby World Cup final, scored three tries.
Since 12 November 2022 – 1415 days ago – the Roos have taken their Test tally from 14 to 45. Meanwhile, England are unbeaten in 40 consecutive Tests, with three convincing wins against New Zealand: 33-12 in Auckland 2023 and 24 London 2013 and 24 October in London 24 Vancouver 2024. In that Test in In Vancouver, England scored nine tries but converted only two.
However, after 39 straight wins, 2025 world champions England suffered a shock 26-26 draw. Canada in Exeter last Saturday. New Zealand they won all seven Tests by a combined score of 336-101 in 2026.
Is England ripe for a takeover?
“Canada’s result shows the growth of rugby at this level. It was a great opportunity and a close match,” Roos said RugbyPass.
“Canada were very physical, which is our strength. They kept the ball alive and got in behind the Red Roses, playing on top of the defense. We’ll have to be similar.”
Roos won 52-20 South Africa September 5 in Johannesburg. While an eight-try-to-four win looks sound, it is alarming that the Black Ferns conceded 17 penalties to six, conceded four yellow cards and conceded three tries from lineouts.
They were packed into scrums, a known strength of England.
“It was a hiccup,” Roos admitted. “South Africa were very strong in their line-up. I am confident that we will be better and we proved that against them France and Scotland. We have processes in place and assigned roles to get it right.
“Stopping a maul is first and foremost discipline. Then it’s all about trust and heart. Sometimes you have to be willing to go to dark places.”
Roos expanded her expertise in the scrum and lineouts during her time with Trailfinders Women in England, the world’s leading Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).
She finished second in steals despite coming home early during the minimum 16-game season to compete in Super Rugby Aupiki. She also grew as a leader, learning to mediate conversations and then find simple solutions instead of talking all the time.
“England was the first time I lived away from home. That exposure to a new culture and style of rugby was great. It was cold and dark but it helped me grow as a player and as a person,” said Roos.
“The emphasis they put on the lineup there was great for lock. Liana (Mikaele-Tu’u) was one of the best forwards there, which wasn’t something she’d done before in New Zealand. I definitely learned some things I didn’t know. Barney Maddison was a great coach. He’s a lock too.”
Her Red Roses teammates in Trailfinders were Meg Jones, Abi Burton and Haidee Head.
Meanwhile, the Black Ferns and England have faced each other 33 times since their first Test in 1997. New Zealand have won 19 times, England 13, with a draw in 2011. The Black Ferns hold the edge on total points, 734 to 596, but England are looking for four straight wins for their first win.
England’s first match at the Allianz Stadium was played on 15 February 2003, when they beat France 57-0. Since then, they have won 25 of the 27 national teams, with only two defeats against France in 2013 and 2015.
The Black Ferns have lost all four Tests they have played at Twickenham against England. Their only home rugby win was in last year’s third-place play-off against France (42-26) at Women’s Rugby World Cup 205.
England are undefeated in 53 consecutive domestic matches. Their last home loss was against the Black Ferns 25-20 at the Stoop in London on November 19, 2016. Kendra Cocksedge scored 20 for the Black Ferns with 25 points.
