England’s insane 39-match winning run is finally OVER, snapped by a relentless Canada squad that battled to a shocking 26-26 draw at Sandy Park. This wasn’t just a game, it was a statement.
No Love For The Red Roses At Home
It was a wild 26-26 draw, with both squads trading four tries apiece in front of a pumped-up 14,573 crowd in Exeter. This result isn’t just a tough draw, it’s a historic moment for Canada: they are the first team to keep England from winning since that 2022 World Cup final loss to New Zealand. Talk about a gut punch for the Red Roses! This also ended England’s perfect 100% home record against Canada, a run that saw them win all 13 previous meetings. England had to come from behind twice in a crazy opening 25 minutes, with Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Hannah Botterman answering Canada’s Lizzie Gibson and DaLeaka Menin scores.
Trading Blows Until The Buzzer
The first half was an absolute blur! Moloney-MacDonald even had a try disallowed before she punched in her second of the match in the 32nd minute, giving England their first lead. Canada wasn’t backing down either, though. Asia Hogan-Rochester had a sick solo effort taken off the board for a forward pass, but Menin still crashed over right before the half to keep it knotted up at 19-19. England battled through 10 minutes of pure pressure to kick off the second half, but the slugfest kept going. Prop Bryony Field put the hosts back in front, only for Canada scrum-half Olivia Apps to sneak in under the posts after a ridiculous dancing run from Sophie de Goede. The final 10 minutes were straight-up chaos. England looked like they could snatch the win, getting held up right over the line. But a crucial turnover in front of the posts and a loose carry sealed their fate. Canada just dug deep and battled through to grab that draw.
So, while the win streak is dead, John Mitchell’s squad is still technically “unbeaten” in 40 Tests. It’s a weird one for sure. This draw for Canada is huge, though. They proved they can go toe-to-toe with the best. What a wild ride for England, ending their ridiculous winning streak but still extending their overall unbeaten run. This sets up some serious questions for them going forward.
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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