England secured a narrow victory over New Zealand in a closely contested women’s rugby test match, with Zoe Harrison delivering a dramatic interception try in the final moments to seal the win. The match, held recently, extended England’s unbeaten streak to 41 games after a challenging encounter against a resolute Black Ferns side determined to play for victory.
The match saw New Zealand adopt an aggressive approach, refusing to settle for a draw even after England’s Harrison missed a crucial penalty kick late in the game. Instead of playing conservatively, the Black Ferns opted to keep the ball in play, launching a daring attack from their own line. This bold decision paid off when Amy du Plessis’s pass found Harrison, who capitalized on the opportunity to score the decisive try.
New Zealand captain Georgia Ponsonby described the match as a hard-fought contest played “neck-and-neck,” acknowledging that her team narrowly missed their target despite their bravery and determination to win. New Zealand’s early game plan focused on fast, direct play through the center and exploiting defensive gaps at the back of England’s lineout, where wing Jess Breach was active in the defensive alignment.
England head coach John Mitchell acknowledged the intensity of New Zealand’s approach in the first half, noting that the Black Ferns “threw the kitchen sink” at the Red Roses. That aggressive phase helped New Zealand to a 12-7 lead by halftime, with tries from Amy du Plessis and Ayesha Leti-I’iga contributing. Leti-I’iga had an earlier try disallowed before crossing successfully following a well-timed dummy by Hannah King.
England responded in the second half with greater precision and defensive resilience, traits highlighted by England captain Megan Jones. Ellie Kildunne scored a try early in the half by evading her defender and linking up with Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, giving England the lead for the first time. Breach later extended England’s advantage with a try scored from a short-side attack.
The match remained tight as New Zealand pressed back into England’s red zone, with Du Plessis connecting on a long pass to Mererangi Paul, who scored and brought the scores level at 19-19 following Braxton Sorensen-McGee’s conversion. The final sequence saw Du Plessis attempt to capitalize on Harrison's missed penalty, but the England fly half turned the tables with a last-minute interception, culminating in her match-winning try.
The final score read England 26, New Zealand 19. England’s tries were scored by Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Ellie Kildunne, Jess Breach, and Zoe Harrison, with three conversions successful. New Zealand’s tries came from Amy du Plessis, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, and Mererangi Paul, with two conversions by Sorensen-McGee. The match was officiated by referee C. Munarini from Italy.