England have slipped to their first back-to-back defeats in a decade following a disappointing 31-22 loss to Canada in the WXV Global Series. The result in Ottawa deals another heavy blow to the Red Roses, coming just a week after their 24-21 defeat in Toronto, which had already brought an impressive four-year unbeaten run to a dramatic end.
The latest encounter in the Canadian capital began with plenty of early promise for the touring side. Maddie Feaunti gave England a strong start within the opening 10 minutes by crashing over for the game’s opening try. The score was successfully converted by Zoe Harrison, giving the visitors an early advantage and setting a positive tone as they sought to bounce back from the heartbreak of the previous week’s narrow loss.
However, Canada proved resilient opponents once again, refusing to let the early deficit derail their game plan. Despite their best efforts, the English visitors were ultimately unable to avenge last week’s result in Toronto, leaving them searching for answers as a historic era of sustained dominance begins to face mounting challenges.
The match saw a fluctuating momentum shift in the second half. England managed to overturn a half-time deficit through a spirited surge after the interval, briefly taking a 17-12 lead. Among the try scorers during this crucial period was Amy Cokayne, who made a vital contribution to the team’s efforts. Cokayne had previously missed three home matches last month due to a calf injury before making her return to the pitch against Canada in the opening fixture last week, and her presence was keenly felt as England fought to wrestle control of the match.
The advantage was not to last, however, as a determined Canadian side quickly reclaimed the upper hand minutes later. The hosts capitalized on defensive lapses and mounted sustained pressure, eventually extending their lead to 31-17. At the heart of Canada’s commanding finish was captain Sophie de Goede, who delivered a stellar individual performance by completing a hat-trick of tries to pull her team clear of the chasing visitors.
De Goede also showcased her accuracy with the boot, rounding out her memorable outing by slotting three successful conversions. Harrison added the only penalty goal of the match for England shortly after the half-time break in the 42nd minute, but it ultimately proved insufficient to stem the tide of Canada’s second-half onslaught.
As the clock wound down, England continued to fight until the final whistle. Emma Sing crossed the try line for the visitors in the game’s dying minutes, successfully reducing the deficit and offering a late glimmer of hope. However, the score came far too late in the contest to mount a full comeback, and the final whistle confirmed a nine-point victory for the hosts.
The consecutive defeats mark an unfamiliar territory for the Red Roses, who have not experienced back-to-back losses in ten years. The rare setback highlights the narrowing gap at the elite level of international women’s rugby as teams prepare for future global competitions.
England will now look to regroup quickly as they wrap up their WXV Global Series campaign with a final match against the USA, scheduled to take place in New Jersey on Friday. The team will be aiming to draw a line under their recent disappointments and finish their tournament journey on a positive note across the Atlantic.
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