England saw their remarkable 41-match unbeaten run brought to a dramatic end in Toronto, falling 24-21 to Canada after conceding a late try. Shoshanah Seumanutafa crossed the line in the closing minutes of the contest to seal the historic victory for the hosts, handing the Red Roses their first defeat since the World Cup final in November 2022.
A crowd of 18,621 spectators packed the venue, setting a new attendance record for an independent women's rugby fixture in North America. The atmosphere fueled a resilient Canadian performance that ultimately shattered an undefeated streak lasting nearly four years. It also marked England's first loss to Canada since 2016 and their first defeat on Canadian soil following eleven consecutive away wins.
The match began with early pressure from the hosts, as Savannah Bauder capitalized on a yellow card shown to Zoe Harrison to open the scoring in the fifteenth minute. England responded before the interval while Canada played a player down due to a sin-binning, with Maddie Feaunati and Harrison both crossing the try line to establish a 14-5 advantage at halftime.
Alysha Corrigan ignited the second half with an impressive solo effort for Canada, though Sarah Bern quickly answered for England to restore a nine-point cushion. However, the hosts refused to fade, and DaLeaka Menin powered through a defender to score shortly after the hour mark, tightening the score and setting the stage for a tense conclusion.
With only three minutes remaining on the stadium clock, a handling error disrupted a clearing attempt by Harrison, handing Canada prime field position near the halfway line. The subsequent attacking sequence culminated with replacement back Seumanutafa sprinting down the left flank to complete the comeback and secure the win.
Head coach John Mitchell acknowledged the disappointment of the outcome but praised aspects of his team's execution. He noted that the defeat would remove the pressure of the streak and challenge the group to dig deeper moving forward. The setback follows a series of recent warning signs for the world champions, who showed vulnerabilities during their home matches in September, including a narrow draw against Canada in Exeter and a tense victory over New Zealand.
For many players in the English squad, the loss represents unfamiliar territory, with several individuals having never experienced an international defeat prior to this match. Captain Meg Jones urged her teammates to remain united, emphasizing that the team retains its world champion status and must quickly adapt to the constant target on their backs.
The two national teams will meet again in Ottawa for the next fixture of their series. England will then conclude their schedule in New Jersey against the United States.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
