Canada complete double over John Mitchell’s England

WXV WRAP: Canada produced another statement performance, defeating reigning world champions England 31-22 in Toronto to secure a second consecutive victory over John Mitchell’s side.

Elsewhere, the Wallaroos finished their year on a high with another win over Scotland, in a match that also marked the farewell of veterans Cecilia Smith and Emily Chancellor.

New Zealand, meanwhile, celebrated their 150th Test in style, marking the milestone with a victory.

Australia 38-31 Scotland

A gritty yet compelling encounter ended with Australia securing a 38-31 win over Scotland, in what ended up being a bittersweet farewell for Cecilia Smith, who was sent off in the final minutes. It didn’t take long for the Wallaroos to go ahead, as Amelia Whitaker crossed the whitewash after a series of quick phases. Samantha Wood claimed the extras in an energising start for the locals.

Scotland came close to drawing level, but Tania Naden nailed a sensational turnover just a few metres from the line to deny the visitors any points. On the next play, the Australians got their second from opposite winger Maya Stewart, who had to rush to the in-goal area after a Faitala Moleka pass.

After a difficult first 15 minutes, Scotland finally had their moment in the sun, managing to score their first try through captain Rachel Malcolm, who dived over from close range. From then on, Scotland felt more comfortable and pushed the hosts, who were on the back foot, conceding several penalties and getting boxed in inside their 22.

With a handful of minutes to the break, Cecilia Smith and Waiaria Ellis were sent to the sin-bin after a high tackle and a cynical foul, and Scotland used the player advantage to take the lead. First, Holland Bogan steered a driving maul to glory, with Katie Buchanan dotting down the third and Helen Nelson added the conversion to give the visitors a 17-14 lead at half-time.

The restart didn’t bode well for Scotland, as they lost Chloe Rollie to the sin-bin and conceded a try from Moleka, who ran an astonishing line to ground the ball next to the goalposts, giving Wood an easy conversion. Eva Karpani was brought in a few minutes later, earning her 50th cap for Australia, with the experienced prop helping her side find the whitewash once again.

From a quick lineout, the Wallaroos ran a smart play that unleashed Piper Duck out wide for the flanker dove in the corner. As Wood converted another kick, the locals led 28-17 with half an hour to go. Scotland looked to be back in contention when Meryl Smith unleashed an overhead pass to set up Rhona Lloyd in the corner, but the Australians swung back again from a try by Siokapesi Palu Sekona and a penalty and conversion from Sammie Wood’s tee.

With the Wallaroos went back to 14 after Eva Karpani was yellow-carded for a high tackle, Scotland did all they could to turn the tide, but their attempts were thwarted by a defence that gave up no space inside the 22. In the final six minutes, Scotland were down to 14 players when Rhona Lloyd was sent to the sin bin after a series of penalties. However, the home side collected another sin-bin when Cecilia Smith received her second yellow, reducing Australia to 14 players until the final whistle.

Scotland managed to squeak out their fifth try through Malcolm, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the Wallaroos’ lead, who nailed a jackal on the final play to keep their winning streak going.

Canada 31-22 England

Canada delivered another stellar performance to beat England 31-22 at Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium, to go two-for-three against the world champions and finish the test season on a high. Canada could have landed the game’s first hit, but missed their chance to make the most of a 22-metre lineout, with England regaining possession and laying the groundwork to reach the Canadian in-goal area.

Following an offside penalty, the Red Roses went for a lineout, and after several phases, No.8 Maddie Feaunati crashed over the line to give her team their first lead. Zoe Harrison was successful from the tee.

Canada mounted a sensational comeback, scoring two tries in under 10 minutes. Julia Omokhuale went first, with the flanker claiming the fruits of a spectacular team play that pushed England back for 10 consecutive phases. De Goede added the extras and, one minute after the restart, clinched her side’s second, after a brilliant pick-up from Gabrielle Senft.

The tourists had a several chances to level the score, but a run of handling errors ultimately ended England’s ambitions and gave Canada some breathing space. Despite both teams coming close to the whitewash, the scoreline stayed the same, and referee Aurélie Groizeleau sent the teams to a 15-minute break with the hosts leading 12-7.

England put points on the board early in the second half through Zoe Harrison, as the flyhalf converted a straightforward penalty to cut the home side’s lead to two. England started to boss the set-piece before finally breaking through the Canadian blockade to score their second, through Amy Cokayne.

Just when it seemed the Red Roses were in control, Canada fought their way back into the contest, with Olivia Apps and Florence Symonds carving open the English defence. From a ruck, Sophie de Goede caught the opposition off guard, running unopposed to the try line. England’s lack of discipline kept racking up penalties, rolling out the red carpet for Canada to strike again, which they eventually did from a driving maul.

DaLeaka Menin dived from close range, and Canada’s comfortable lead would grow again in the 63rd minute. After a turnover, Taylor Perry spotted Savannah Bauder on the wing and sent the ball her way. The winger ran more than 50 meters, beat Emma Sing, and crossed the try line.

England managed to grab a third try with no time left on the clock, but it was only ever a consolation, as the hosts wrapped up the entertaining affair with a 31-22 win.

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New Zealand 31 – 12 France

Braxton Sorensen-McGee’s stunning solo effort 10 minutes from time ensured New Zealand marked their 150th test match with a victory over France – playing their 300th international – in Whangārei.

Her gliding 75m score was the second of three in a devastating five-minute spell. Until then, the match could have gone either way.

France, determined to prove last week’s 81-12 scoreline was a one-off, had taken the lead in the fourth minute, hooker Mathilde Lazarko coming up with the ball following a classic lineout-maul move.

Patient build-up work, with forwards making inroads into the French defence, paid dividends for the hosts after 15 minutes, when winger Mererangi Paul darted through on a cut-back line. Sorensen-McGee converted from a difficult angle to take the Black Ferns ahead.

But Les Bleues – more direct and pragmatic than last week – hit back early in the second quarter. A quickly taken penalty was booted into wide open spaces deep in New Zealand territory, where a knock-on handed them an attacking opportunity they did not waste. Flyhalf Carla Arbez’s crossfield kick found winger Anaïs Grando, who skipped past three defenders to score.

Wing Shyrah Tuliau Tua’a got New Zealand back on level terms after half-an-hour, finishing another patient build-up in the corner. Again, Sorensen-McGee converted to give New Zealand a 14-12 lead at the break.

After determined on-the-line defence had denied France’s returning prop Ambre Mwayembe 15 minutes into the second half, the Black Ferns finally broke clear as replacement back-row Amarante Sititi – on for the injured Kaipo Olsen-Baker – scored 13 minutes from time to give them a seven-point lead.

France were still in the game, but Sorensen-McGee’s 75m one-woman highlight-reel score followed three minutes later. And Paul finished a sweeping multi-pass move to score her second almost from the restart to put the result beyond doubt.