England women’s rugby team produced a commanding second-half display to defeat Australia 48-15 in the opening match of the WXV Global Series at CorpAcq Stadium in Salford. The Red Roses reversed a challenging first-half performance to extend their record winning streak to 39 matches.
A Tale of Two Halves
The match told contrasting stories across its two periods. Australia held the upper hand at the interval, establishing a 10-5 lead that left England trailing at the break. However, Head Coach John Mitchell’s side orchestrated a remarkable turnaround after the restart, dominating the second half with clinical attacking rugby.
The transformation was emphatic, with England crossing the try line seven times in the second 40 minutes. Multiple players contributed to the scoring feast, with May Campbell and Meg Jones among the try-scorers who tormented the Australian defence. Other England players making decisive impacts included Abi Burton, Bryony Field, Mia Venner, Sadia Kabeya, Lucy Packer, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, and Samantha Wood.
Harrison’s Frustration
Fly-half Zoe Harrison, instrumental in England’s attacking play, expressed exasperation at one moment during the contest. Of a particular decision, Harrison remarked that it was “the worst decision someone has ever made,” highlighting the intensity and competitive nature of the encounter.
The victory marks an emphatic start to the WXV Global Series for England, whose ability to adjust between halves proved decisive against Australia, with Australian players Faliki Pohiva and Asoiva Karpani unable to prevent the Red Roses’ second-half onslaught.