Canada end England's unbeaten run in Toronto thriller

WRAP: Canada followed up September’s draw against England in Exeter with a first victory over the world champions in 10 years in Toronto, Australia beat Scotland for a second time in two matches, and New Zealand teach a young France side a lesson.

Shoshanah Seumanutafa was the try-scoring heroine as Canada came from behind to end the 41-match unbeaten run of world champions England in front of a passionate crowd in Toronto to kick off the weekend’s WXV Global Series in dramatic fashion.

Later, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a scored four as New Zealand inflicted a heavy defeat on an inexperienced France, while Desiree Miller became the first Wallaroo to reach 20 international tries as Australia beat Scotland.

Canada 24 – 21 England

Replacement Seumanutafa dived over in the corner two minutes from time as Canada ended England’s 42-match unbeaten run in an enthralling and intense encounter in front of a record crowd at Toronto’s BMO Field.

She had come on earlier than expected, after key player Alex Tessier was injured in the 16th minute. Her decisive score was a fitting finish to a dramatic match, and took Canada into a 24-21 lead for the first time since 34th minute.

England – scoreless in the opening 30 minutes – had scored twice before the break as their forward power told. Maddie Feaunati and Zoe Harrison touched down in the 33rd and 38th minute respectively, off the back of powerful scrums to give England the lead at the break, after Savannah Bauder had got the home crowd roaring with a try in the 16th minute of a match that was a fitting sequel to the epic draw in September in Exeter.

Until those closing minutes before the break, Canada had largely nullified England’s power advantage up front, and had enjoyed some success out wide – Bauder’s try came after their forwards had tightened up England’s defence, leaving wide-open spaces out wide.

And their defence – Rachel Smith’s under-pressure ruck steal 5m from her line was a highlight – had been rock solid. But with second-row Laetitia Royer sin-binned following repeated Canadian infringements in the 30th minute, England took full measure of their numerical advantage.

Feaunati crashed over off the back of a scrum that was marching forwards, and Harrison powered through Kiki Idowu after Jess Breach had put the Red Roses on the front foot.

And the second-half roared into life early as Sophie de Goede’s fast hands gave Alysha Corrigan just enough room to kick, gather, and score to cut the gap to just two. But England hit back almost at once to extend their lead back to nine points through Sarah Bern. It looked as if the Red Roses had the upper hand, but Canada were not willing to go quietly into the Toronto evening.

Tireless tighthead DaLeaka Menin – player of the match for the second time in two meetings between these sides – started and finished a move that cut England’s lead again just after the hour, before Seumanutafa’s late score settled matters.

Australia 56-12 Scotland

The Wallaroos won their second game in a row at WXV Global Series 2026, sealing a 56-12 win over Scotland in a fixture the hosts controlled from early on.

The Australians reached half-time with a 35-5 lead in a match that actually saw Scotland score first when Katie Buchanan put on the afterburners and evaded a few tacklers before diving in the corner.

They held that five-point lead until the end of the first quarter, when Australia drew level through Brittany Merlo, the hooker wrestling her way through the opposition to strike from close range. Samantha Wood slotted in the first of six conversions.

From then on until the break, the Wallaroos were relentless, tearing through the Scottish defence with tries from Desiree Miller, Amelia Whitaker and Waiaria Ellis. Australia’s physicality and ability to keep the ball alive and speed it in the right moments overwhelmed the opposition.

The second half opened with another home team finish, again by Desiree Miller, who delivered one of the afternoon’s best performances. After a rough 50 minutes, Scotland finally saw a glimmer of hope as they scored their second try through Rachel Malcolm.

Unfortunately for the visitors, they conceded another five-pointer following an interception by Amelia Whitaker, who outsprinted everyone to slide through the posts, making it easy for Faitala Moleka to convert her first kick of the day.

Scotland eventually stemmed the scoring, holding firm until almost the very last minute. Down to 14 after Eva Donaldson was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle, Australia strung together a couple of phases before Eva Karpani mauled her way to the try line to score in her 49th appearance for the Wallaroos.

With Moleka successfully nailing the extras, Australia bagged their largest winning margin over Scotland, kick-starting the series in great fashion.

New Zealand 81 – 12 France

Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a scored a second-half quadruple, while Maia Joseph, Amy du Plessis, and Ayesha Leti-I’iga added doubles as New Zealand put on a commanding performance against an inexperienced France side.

Flanker Joseph scored her double within eight minutes of kick-off as the Black Ferns raced to an early lead at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium.

Les Bleues, with more than half the matchday 23 boasting five caps or fewer, showed plenty of patience when they did get hands on the ball, but were unable to make inroads due to the home side’s organised defence.

Leti-I’iga’s first came before the end of the first quarter; Du Plessis touched down five minutes later, and scored her second with the clock still yet to pass 30 minutes. Kaipo Olsen-Baker and co-captain Georgia Ponsonby added their names to the scoresheet before the break to cap a dominant opening spell.

Leti-I’iga got her second two minutes after the restart. Tuliau-Tua’a then barrelled through French defenders for her first after a fine pass from Du Plessis. Her second came in the 53rd minute via an interception.

France finally got themselves on the scoreboard just before the hour, Léa Murie dotting down after collecting a crossfield kick. Their effort in the face of Black Ferns’ pace, precision and power deserved some reward.

But normal service was quickly resumed as Ruahei Demant came off the bench to score in the 65th minute, and Tuliau-Tua’a completed her hat-trick four minutes later, then added her fourth barely two minutes after that.

France, however, had the final word to end a difficult day on a positive note. Replacement prop Amalia Bazola-Allières finished off a patient spell with her first international try after Les Bleues had worked their way up the field from deep in their own half.