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international women
Here it is. After four years, the English Red Roses ended their 41-game unbeaten run. Canada in Toronto.
It was a tough fight WXV Global Series a game played by women Rugby World Cup 2025 finalists at BMO Field, but the hosts won one thanks to Shoshanah Seumanutafa’s 77th-minute try and a great defensive decision.
Here’s how England’s players assessed their first defeat since 2022.
15. Ellie Kildunne â 5.5
A disappointing night for Ellie Kildunne. The 2024 Women’s Rugby Player of the Year has turned the ball over more than any other England player â all four times in the opponent’s 22m as the Red Roses charged for the white. She carried the ball more yards than anyone else on the BMO Field turf, but didn’t get any points on the board for her efforts.
14. Jess Breach â 5
After providing the decisive pass for Claudia Moloney-MacDonald’s deflected try in the opening exchange, we saw little else from Jess Breach in the game. Made seven moves and over 20 meters from the sole.
13. Megan Jones â 5.5
Usually so involved in everything England does, Megan Jones has been remarkably quiet in Toronto. The Red Roses captain didn’t have much of an impact on proceedings – apart from Zoe Harrison residing in the sin bin when she took over kicking duties. Despite this, England did not score when Harrison was not on the pitch. In total, Jones carried the ball eight times and made seven tackles.
12. Tatjana Heard â 5
It may not be the return that Tatjana Heard predicted for England. Dropped from the squad for the Black Ferns game at Allianz Stadium, Heard was mostly seen in defense and made 10 tackles when England didn’t have the ball, with her eight carries yielding just 11 metres.
11. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald â 4.5
An unusual evening. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald’s first action of the game was to dunk the ball in the act of scoring a goal. She turned the ball over twice, missed four matches and allowed a penalty. Her five carries 13 meters.
10. Zoe Harrison â 5.5
In the opening exchanges, it seemed like we were going to get a vintage Zoe Harrison performance. In full time you wouldn’t be able to say that was the case. Her territory kicks, restarts and spot kicks were metronomic as usual, but Saracens The fly-half spent 10 of the first half in the sin-bin as England took penalties.
9. Lucy Packer â 5
A very quiet afternoon for Lucy Packer. Something symptomatic of the whole England team. The scrum-half struggled to keep England moving forward and saw opportunities that her team-mates kept missing.
1. Hannah Botterman â 6
A pretty well-rounded performance Bristol Bears loosehead. Hannah Botterman was solid in the faceoff and was a useful tool offensively and defensively.
2. Amy Cokayne â 6
It was a solid first game back from injury for Amy Cokayne. There wasn’t much the bitch did wrong on her 96th cap and she contributed to England’s 100 per cent success in their own line-up – something the team needed with Bryony Field and May Campbell leading the way in September.
3. Sarah Bern â 6
He won the first penalty of the game and continued to dominate from that point on. He hasn’t been seen with the ball as much, but he’s provided expertise in a lineup that hasn’t been as tight as usual this fall. He scored a try to keep England ahead early in the second half in an impressive display of explosiveness.
4. Morwenna Talling â 6
As usual, Morwenna Talling was one of the best for the Red Roses, even in defeat. Brava made 18 catches and 12 carries.
5. Lilli Ives Campion â 5
It Wasn’t Afternoon Lilli Ives Campion. As we’ve come to expect from the 21-year-old lock, her line calling was strong, but that was the biggest impact she had on the game.
6. Abi Burton â 5.5
Abi Burton worked so hard for England in defeat. She made a combined 20 tackles in the game â her efforts only mirrored by those of Canadian captain Sophie de Goede. The back row also made eight carriers, but only eight meters.
7. Alex Matthews â 5
In all, Alex Matthews made 17 tackles at BMO Field on Friday night. The Red Rose veteran also made seven carries to make 28 yards. Like many of her teammates, Matthews was stifled by Canada’s defense and was unable to make an impact on the game.
8. Maddie Feaunati â 5
It was a great start by Maddie Feaunati that faded as the game wore on. The Exeter Chiefs the back line made 21 meters from 12 carries to register their team’s first try from the base of the scrum. As you’d expect, her work rate was relentless, although England didn’t benefit from it.
Substitutions â 4.5
England’s bench has been their biggest secret weapon for so long. On a chilly Friday night in Toronto, one of the Red Roses’ biggest assets failed to land a meaningful blow and saw the visitors’ understanding of the match fade as Canada snapped a four-year world champions unbeaten run.
