Zoe Harrison ripped New Zealand’s unbeaten streak right out of their hands! In the 81st minute, with the score deadlocked at 19-19, Harrison snagged an interception and dove over the line for a last-gasp try that sealed a dramatic 26-19 win for England in the WXV Global Series. Talk about clutch!
The Black Ferns’ Flawless Run Hit a Wall
Man, this game had everything. New Zealand, under new head coach Whitney Hansen, had been flawless this year, even beating Canada and France. They walked into Allianz Stadium unbeaten with Hansen at the helm, and you could feel that confidence early. They took a deserved 12-7 lead into half-time after Amy du Plessis and Ayesha Leti-I’iga both dotted down, canceling out Claudia Moloney-MacDonald’s opening score for England. Leti-I’iga especially was causing absolute chaos in that first half after Tyla King broke clear. England’s defense, now with coaching consultant Shaun Edwards, was tested big time. It was a proper battle, with the Black Ferns spending a huge chunk of that first half deep in England’s territory.
England’s Grit Pays Off in the Clutch
But John Mitchell’s Red Roses, who had drawn 26-26 with Canada last weekend, weren’t about to roll over. They haven’t led at half-time in any of their Global WXV Series games this season, and Mitchell had even talked about “rustiness” since their season only kicked off two weeks ago against Australia. Yet, they found a way back. Ellie Kildunne spotted a gap for a try, and Jess Breach had a simple finish that clawed them into the lead. Mererangi Paul then converted a try on 70 minutes to draw it level again at 19-19.
Then came Harrison’s moment. Just moments after missing a penalty that could have put them ahead, she picked off a Black Ferns counter-attack pass. You could almost feel the tension in the 59,871-strong crowd as she hit that line! Her teammates absolutely mobbed her, and honestly, you can’t blame them. England avoided a second successive draw and snapped New Zealand’s perfect run under Hansen. This win means so much for their confidence.
What a finish! England proved they have the guts to close out a tough game, especially after getting some flak for turning down a kickable penalty against Canada. Now, they’re heading to Canada to finish their three-Test series against those World Cup finalists, with games in Toronto and Ottawa. Meanwhile, the Black Ferns are off to Hamilton to face France. This win means everything for England’s momentum. They just took down a New Zealand side that hadn’t lost under their new coach, and it sets up their Canada series perfectly. Can they carry this fire? We’ll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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