England’s 41-match unbeaten run has come to an end after they were stunned by a late rally from Canada as the Red Roses fell 24-21 in their WXV Global Series clash in Toronto.
Shoshanah Seumanutafa came off the bench to score the winner in the 77th minute to hand England their first defeat since the 2022 World Cup finals.
After a draw in their previous game last month at ExeterCanada looked to challenge early as they opened the scoring through Savannah Bauder in the 15th minute.
Quickfire tries to tackle Maddie Feaunati and Zoe Harrison just before half time England lead 14-5 at the break.
The points continued to flow as both teams went through soon after play resumed, but DaLeaka Menin’s 63rd-minute try kept the door open for Canada.
A wild home crowd erupted for Seumanutafa’s match-winner soon after, with Canada able to hold on from there and snuff out England’s historic run.
Speaking after the match, England manager John Mitchell said he was focused on getting what he could from the loss.
He said: “We are not driven by the result. We are disappointed with the result but there were some very good things in our performance tonight. So we will stick to our processes.
“I think (the loss) frees us and allows us all to find more.
“I know this group has more to them, but sometimes it takes the context we just got to dig deeper and find something more.
“Maybe everyone in the group can probably revisit their ‘whys’ and reset them as well because I’m sure they’re changing and evolving as they experience what we’re going through.”
The opener of a two-match Rugby Rematch tournament between the rising rivals drew an electric crowd to BMO Field as Canada returned to home soil for the first time since last year’s World Cup runner-up finish to the Red Roses.
“I think it’s a little bit more than just the score in the end because we won on so many levels today,” Canada’s Justine Pelletier said.
“Off the field, just the crowd, being at home, and there’s a lot going on around. And I think the win at the end on the field was just the cherry on (the top).
“It was good to beat England, but I think for a few years we knew we could beat them. It was just a matter of time and a matter of putting every detail together.”
“What we always remember is that we’re on top and when you’re on top, people want to knock you down as quickly as they can,” England captain Megan Jones said, adding that the team took “huge pride” in their unbeaten run.
Canada’s last win over England came in 2016 in the Women’s Rugby Super Series.
Mitchell’s team will face Canada again next Saturday in Ottawa before wrapping up the Global Series opener against the USA in New Jersey on October 30.
WXV Global Series: England schedule and results
