WXV Global Series: England and Canada Draw 26-26 - A Step Towards Greater Things for the Red Roses
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England's draw with Canada in the WXV Global Series offers a glimpse into what could be for the Red Roses. Head coach John Mitchell believes this result is merely a stepping stone towards greater achievements.
Greater things to come from England - Mitchell
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[Video: Highlights of England 26-26 Canada]
By Elizabeth Botcherby and Alastair Telfer, BBC Sport journalists
Published 40 minutes ago
England had been on an incredible winning streak, having won their previous 39 Tests. However, Canada, previously defeated 13 times by the Red Roses on English soil, held them to a thrilling 26-26 draw at Exeter's Sandy Park.
Despite the result, Mitchell remains optimistic:
"It was just a matter of scoring across the white line," he said. We were applying huge pressure. We just didn't convert."
Extending the Unbeaten Run
England's unbeaten run now stands at 40 matches, a record they aim to extend with upcoming WXV Global Series games against New Zealand, further fixtures against Canada, and another against the United States.
Mitchell's Philosophy:
"There was such good stuff in there. I'm very patient because we're just starting... There's a greater purpose and one Test match is not going to take us away from our purpose."
A Competitive Battle
The opening minutes of the game mirrored last year's World Cup final, with Canada scoring first followed by an immediate English response. However, unlike that victory, England could not maintain their lead, as the teams traded tries and England struggled to convert pressure into points.
Captain Meg Jones praised the intensity of the match:
"It was definitely tit for tat... It was two good teams going at each other."
Mitchell's Outlook:
"We're in a Test series. It's 1-1. That's it."
Winning Run Under Middleton and Mitchell
England's remarkable 39-game winning run began under former head coach Simon Middleton, who led them to a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023. John Mitchell took over midway through the 2023 WXV1 campaign.