Shoshanah Seumanutaf’s 77th-minute try ended England’s 41-match unbeaten run. Canada beat the world champions 24-21 at BMO Field in Toronto.
It was a mesmerizing 80 minutes on the shores of Lake Ontario for women Rugby World Cup The 2025 finalists met for the second time in a month.
A total of 18,621 supporters made their way to BMO Field for WXV Global Series match, setting a new attendance record for a stand-alone women’s rugby match in North America. It was also the largest attendance for a Canadian Test match in more than a decade.
In the first 10 minutes, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald thought she had opened the scoring, only for the TMO to spot clear air between her hand and the ball as she tried to score. Soon after, Zoe Harrison was sent to the sin bin for repeated fouls as Canada pushed forward.
The extra space eventually allowed Savannah Bauder to go down. It was Canada’s last positive moment in the first half, which resulted in a yellow card for Laetitia Royer England strike opportunity through Maddie Feaunati and Zoe Harrison. Harrison converted both tries.
Although Canada trailed at the break, they stayed firmly in the contest as the Red Roses squandered opportunities through individual errors and a lack of clinical finishing.
England had to pay for those mistakes in the second half. Alysha Corrigan’s try to open the half was a brilliant statement of intent from Kévin Rouet’s side, even if Sarah Bern went over the try line just three minutes later.
As the game wore on, Canada’s belief continued to grow. The roar of the home crowd was so loud that it shook the television cameras. By the last half hour, Toronto had become an incredible place for the Red Roses to play.
To take control, Canada turned to one of its most trusted contractors. DaLeaka Menin headed over the try line in the 63rd minute and Sophie de Goede’s conversion put the hosts within two points.
De Goede also played a part in the winner. Her carry attracted defenders before she passed the ball to Gabrielle Senft, who in turn found Seumanutafa outside the goal. The back, introduced early after Alexandra Tessier went down for a head injury assessment (HIA), pounced in the corner to send BMO Field into raptures.
Moments later, the ball was kicked into the stands. Canada made no secret of their ambitions to beat England in the WXV Global Series, and they did it in style.
This result came for the Red Roses
Going 41 matches unbeaten is a remarkable achievement, underlining just how dominant England have been. But there were signs in their previous three WXV Global Series matches that their winning streak was in jeopardy. In Toronto, that vulnerability was finally exposed.
Canada’s ability to stay in contention was a major reason for the result. They defended long, recovered turnovers at key moments and capitalized on the kind of individual mistakes rarely associated with Women’s Rugby World Cup champions 2025
Against Australia in Salford, England, trailed at halftime for the first time in five years. Against Canada in Exeter, their winning streak was extended to 38 games before finally coming to an end in Toronto. It took a moment of individual brilliance against the Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium to secure victory in that competition. England have been impressive this autumn, but they have also shown they can be challenging.
In the wider context, women’s rugby is starting to look increasingly competitive. Canada will enjoy next week’s clash in Ottawa, while USA Female eagles will also be watching closely. The two teams are scheduled to end their calendar years against each other at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Friday, October 30.
The physicality was on another level
The physicality in Toronto was impossible to ignore. It was one of the deciding factors in a contest where both teams were forced to work relentlessly without the ball.
Canada made 165 tackles to England’s 218, with both teams conceding more than 20. In many ways, the match resembled their 26-26 draw three weeks earlier at Sandy Park, with an intensity that made for compelling viewing.
Canada had six players tally in double figures, led by Sophie de Goede with 20. She also kicked conversions and orchestrated play all over the court, emphasizing her impact on both ends of the game.
England don’t often face that level of physicality, and their recent matches offer some evidence of that. It wasn’t until the Wallaroos began to tire in Salford that the Red Roses were able to pull away.
It will be intriguing how England respond to this defeat. They have defensive guru Shaun Edwards in camp, a coach known for getting the best out of his teams. It would be a surprise if he didn’t help John Mitchell’s players find an answer in Ottawa.
Toronto should be on the calendar again
For most of the last 12 months, we’ve been praising the exhibitions added to the calendar.
Aviva Stadium, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Principality Stadium and Stade Atlantique have hosted major events in the past year. BMO Field may not have been enjoying the sun, but the atmosphere was electric.
The tone was set early on when Claudia Moloney-MacDonald gave up a try, prompting the home fans to lock eyes with the camera and celebrate the decision with unbridled enthusiasm. Then the towels twirled through the air every time Canada scored a goal. It was remarkable that the Canadian team went a decade without playing in Toronto.
Canadians have a reputation for being friendly people. There was nothing pleasant about the atmosphere on Friday for the Red Roses. The fans lit red flares when their players arrived, creating a spectacle worthy of the contest that followed. The stadium shook every time Canada made a break or pass on the scoreboard. It was enchanting.
You have to hope Toronto stays on the agenda. BMO Field could become a real long-term home for Rugby Canada.