England v Canada ends in stalemate as France defeat Australia

SATURDAY WRAP: A relentless test between England and Canada ended in a stalemate, before France overcame their own indiscipline to beat Australia in a dramatic encounter, while New Zealand proved too strong for a determined Scotland in the WXV Global Series.

England 26 – 26 Canada

Canada’s tighthead prop DaLeaka Menin scored a brace as England’s long winning run came to an end in Exeter, but they remain unbeaten in 40 matches after an entertaining, all-action match against Canada ended in a draw.

The two sides went into the break at Sandy Park tied at 19-19 after a pulsating 40 minutes of rugby in which both sides were not afraid to move the ball quickly and challenge the opposition defence, scoring three tries each – and having one more apiece chalked off.

They were still tied at 26-26 as an equally enthralling second period entered the final quarter and fans braced for a ferocious final 20 minutes.

Canada’s No.8 Lizzie Gibson had been first on the board, powering over in the sixth minute of the match after a patient series of attacks from close range.

But the visitors’ lead did not last long. As England’s forwards folded repeated attacks on Canada’s line, Zoe Harrison spotted Claudia Moloney-MacDonald hovering with intent out wide. One long pass later, and the winger was over in the corner.

Menin – later named player of the match following an 80-minute performance in a relentless match- scored the first of a personal double soon after.

More patient attack following a line-out deep in England territory got Canada close, and the front row was unstoppable from a metre out.

Five minutes later, Red Roses loosehead Hannah Botterman twisted and forced her way over next to the posts to level the scores.

Both Moloney-MacDonald and Asia Hogan-Rochester had what would have been brilliant touchdowns chalked off before the England winger carved an Emily Scarratt-patented line for her second of the day to take the home side into the lead for the first time.

Last week, Australia became the first side in six years to lead the Red Roses at the break – Canada could not quite manage to repeat that trick, but Menin’s second on the stroke of half-time meant the two sides went in level. The first half had flown by.

Hooker Bryony Field scored her second test try in just her second international to give England the lead again 14 minutes into what had already built into an equally intense second period.

But Canada were far from done. Out of nowhere, the inspirational Sophie de Goede charged up the wing and released Olivia Apps to score the try that brought them level again on the hour.

With less than 10 minutes to play, England were camped on Canada’s line, loading and reloading under penalty advantage. But the visitors’ defence held firm. The two sides had played one another to a standstill, and neither had the energy for one final winning effort.

A draw was the fairest result. But it was the least wanted one. But it sets up October’s two remaining WXV Global Series matches between the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 finalists perfectly.

Continues below…

#MatchReport: What a way to end a losing run. #Rugby #Sports #WomenInSports #BokWomen https://t.co/9l3UxBQOHV

— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) September 18, 2026

France 29 – 26 Australia

Teani Feleu’s third international try five minutes from time completed a remarkable comeback for an indisciplined France as they came from behind to beat Australia in dramatic fashion, despite picking up five cards and at one point being temporarily reduced to 11.

Feleu, playing in her preferred centre position, burst through the Australian defence’s soft shoulder to score the crucial try as Les Bleues lived up to captain Pauline Bourdon Sansus’s on-camera halftime promise.

“We’re making a comeback – we’re not giving up! It’s up to us to get back on track,” Bourdon Sansus had told French broadcaster France 2 at the break of a dramatic encounter, when her side were – somehow – just seven points adrift of their opponents.

Referee Holly Wood had dished out cards to four France players in the space of five first-half minutes. Prop Ambre Mwayembe was the first to go off for a dangerous tackle in the lead-up to Australia’s first try, for booker Brittany Merlo. A bunker review upgraded Mwayembe’s sanction to a 20-minute red.

Four minutes later, in quick succession, flanker Léa Champon and winger Léa Murie were both yellow-carded for high tackles; this time held the yellow sanction. And second-row Cloé Correa was shown a straight red for putting her hands in the face of an Australian player in a maul.

With Les Bleues down to 11, replacement hooker Tania Naden – on for Merlo, who had suffered a concussion – scored Australia’s second, and full-back Caitlyn Halse added their third shortly before the half-hour.

As the first half drew to a close and France slowly returned to 14 players, they scored twice through Anaïs Grando and Émilie Boulard to cut Australia’s lead to seven points at the interval.

The Wallaroos started quickest after a delayed restart because of a bus fire just outside the ground – Piper Duck extended their lead with nine minutes of the second-half played.

France thought they had cut the deficit again when Elisa Riffoneau went over a few minutes later, but replays showed she dropped the ball over the line. But captain Pauline Bourdon Sansus would not be denied moments later, sniping over after Boulard had got to within a metre.

With less than 25 minutes left on the clock, Australia found themselves down to 14 when second-row Michaela Leonard was sin-binned for a high tackle; it stayed yellow on review.

France’s Charlotte Escudero followed Leonard to the sidelines a few minutes later, the fifth player to be sanctioned for another high tackle. Her card, too, was not upgraded.

Riffoneau’s second, with 13 minutes left, pulled France back to within two points before Feleu’s touchdown settled the match.

Other results:

Samoa 21-61 Spain
Fiji 54-26 Hong Kong China
Brazil 15-17 Netherlands
Italy 55 – 21 Japan
Scotland 14 – 66 New Zealand