England’s remarkable 39-match winning streak ended at Sandy Park on Saturday as they were held to a 26-26 draw by a relentless Canada side. Despite the stalemate, John Mitchell’s team remains undefeated in 40 consecutive Tests, continuing a run that dates back to the 2022 World Cup final against New Zealand. The result also marked the first time in 13 encounters that England has failed to beat Canada on home soil.
In a pulsating atmosphere, 14,573 spectators witnessed both teams score four tries apiece. England twice trailed in the opening 25 minutes, with tries from Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Hannah Botterman balancing scores from Lizzie Gibson and DaLeaka Menin. Moloney-MacDonald later secured her second of the afternoon following a powerful break by Sadia Kabeya, giving England a lead they struggled to maintain.
Canada’s resilience was evident throughout the contest. After Asia Hogan-Rochester had a solo effort ruled out for a forward pass, Menin powered over just before the interval to keep the visitors in touch. The second half saw further back-and-forth action; Bryony Field restored England’s advantage before Canadian scrum-half Olivia Apps crossed under the posts, set up by a dynamic run from captain Sophie de Goede.
The closing 10 minutes were marked by chaotic tension, with England coming agonisingly close to a late winner only to be held up over the try line. A late turnover and a handling error ultimately denied the hosts a final score, allowing Canada to escape with a hard-earned draw.
Match Scoring Summary
- England Tries: Moloney-MacDonald (2), Botterman, Field
- England Conversions: Harrison (3)
- Canada Tries: Gibson, Menin (2), Apps
- Canada Conversions: De Goede (3)
Match Officials
- Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
- Assistant Referees: Aurelie Groizeleau (France), Alexandra Ferre (France)
- TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Team Lineups
England: Kildunne; Breach, Jones (capt), Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Harrison, L Packer; Botterman, Field, Muir, Talling, Ives Campion, Burton, Kabeya, Matthews. Replacements: Campbell, Carson, Bern, Burns, Feaunati, M Packer, Robinson, Aitchison.
Canada: Gallagher; Hogan-Rochester, Symonds, Tessier, Williams; Perry, Apps; Nelson, Idowu, Menin, De Goede (capt), Royer, Smith, Omokhuale, Gibson. Replacements: Boag, McDonald, Rempel, Forteza, Buisa, Senft, Pelletier, Bauder. The report also notes that prior to Saturday’s game, England had won every match they had played since their 2022 World Cup final loss to New Zealand. The report also notes that who they beat in last year’s World Cup final, with the two sides sharing four tries apiece in front of a raucous 14,573 crowd in Exeter, the Red Roses were unable to escape the clutches of a relentless Canada. The report also notes that having won each of their previous 13 home meetings, the draw also ended England’s 100% home record against Canada.
Important Details
- The report also notes that canada (19) 26.
