England’s ridiculous 39-match winning streak is officially OVER! It all went down Saturday at Sandy Park, where the Red Roses battled Canada to a wild 26-26 draw. This wasn’t just any draw, either: it was the first time any team has avoided defeat against England since New Zealand beat them way back in the 2022 World Cup final. Talk about a statement!
Pure Bedlam in Exeter
Man, if you weren’t watching this one, you missed some absolute fireworks. The 14,573 fans in Exeter saw both teams trade four tries apiece in what felt like a heavyweight boxing match. England’s Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Hannah Botterman were answering Canada’s Lizzie Gibson and DaLeaka Menin punch for punch in that pulsating opening 25 minutes. England even had to come from behind twice! Moloney-MacDonald, after getting one try chalked off, finally put England ahead for the first time in the 32nd minute with her second score of the match. But Canada, who also saw an Asia Hogan-Rochester solo effort disallowed for a forward pass, hit right back. Menin crashed over just before halftime, keeping things tied up at 19-19. You couldn’t ask for more drama!
The Streak Had to End Sometime
Let’s be real, this 39-game run was legendary. It kicked off in March 2023 and included four straight Women’s Six Nations titles, two WXV1 successes, and a home World Cup triumph in 2025. That’s a dynasty, right? Even with all that dominance, England hasn’t been completely unchallenged. Just a week ago, Australia led them 10-5 at halftime, the first time England had trailed at the break since 2020. France has always been tough in Six Nations deciders, and Canada themselves gave England a scare in a WXV meeting in 2024. The difference this time? Canada *sustained* the pressure. They led twice, got pegged back, then rallied again even when England was pushing hard with replacements. Bryony Field restored England’s lead in the second half, but Canada’s Olivia Apps, set up by Sophie de Goede, scored right under the posts to level it. England looked like they could snatch it in a chaotic final 10, even getting held up over the line, but a costly turnover and loose carry sealed the draw.
So, the streak is over, but England’s unbeaten run now stands at 40 Tests, which is still insane. What a wild ride! These two teams aren’t done, either. They’re set to reignite this rivalry with two more Tests in Canada in October. Before that, England faces New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham next Saturday, September 26. You *know* that one’s gonna be a must-watch, especially after this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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