England cruise to win over world champions New Zealand

Women’s Test: England v New Zealand

England (17) 24

Tries: Packer, Dow, Kildunne, Hunt Cons: Aitchison 2

New Zealand (0) 12

Tries: Vaha’akolo 2 Con: Holmes

England comfortably defeated world champions New Zealand at the newly renamed Allianz Stadium to enhance their favourites tag heading into next year’s home Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The game, which was the first played since Twickenham’s naming rights were sold to insurance company Allianz, was played in front of a crowd of 41,523.

Victory extends England’s winning run to 17 matches since their last defeat, which came against the Black Ferns in the World Cup final in 2022.

Despite some early Black Ferns pressure, England defended resolutely and ran in three first-half tries through captain Marlie Packer, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne.

Scrum-half Natasha Hunt added a fourth with a sharp finish, before winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo grabbed two tries for the visitors.

It completes two wins in two warm-up Tests for John Mitchell’s side before they defend their WXV1 title in Canada later this month, after defeating France in Gloucester last weekend.

The Black Ferns will look to avenge the defeat when they meet again on 6 October in WXV1.

The pair have met in the last two World Cup finals and with next year’s final being played on the same south west London stage, this match was a potential dress rehearsal.

The Black Ferns dominated the early exchanges and cut England open multiple times down both wings, only for superb scramble defence from Jess Breach and Ellie Kildunne to stop certain tries.

England dominated New Zealand in their previous encounter at last year’s WXV1, racing into an early lead thanks to three tries in 25 minutes, finishing as comfortable 33-12 winners.

Despite not starting as fast on Saturday, their resilience was rewarded when Packer burrowed over from a maul for the first score at the renamed Allianz Stadium.

Dow, who was the star of the opening period, then broke clear again down her wing to grab a well deserved try after several eye-catching sprints down the touchline.

The world champions only retained eight players from their starting XV that last played the Red Roses, but just as a year they ago struggled to match the hosts’ intensity once they got into full swing.

After another kickable penalty was turned down, full-back Kildunne danced her way under the posts to add England’s third score.

The Black Ferns’ last game was a 62-0 hammering of rivals Australia back in July, and the lack of match time since then showed, with silly handling errors preventing them from threatening England’s line.

Hunt, who will turn 36 before next year’s World Cup, showed all her experience early in the second half with a sharp finish from the base of the ruck.

Since the Black Ferns’ World Cup triumph, three defeats have followed against Canada, France and England – their heaviest being at WXV.

Trying new combinations, injuries and a change of coach has resulted in a dip in form for the Black Ferns, who are known to peak when it matters at World Cup time.

But like all world champions, Allan Bunting’s side refused to go down without a fight, with winger Vaha’akolo showing good pace to finish two tries in the corner.

There was unforced error after unforced error in the second period as the WXV warm-up fixture displayed the intensity of a game which was played just after pre-season.

They will soon play again at WXV, and potentially could meet in London again in another World Cup final next year.

England: Kildunne; Dow, Scarratt, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Carson, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Feaunati, M Packer (capt), Matthews.

Replacements: Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Talling, Brock, L Packer, Harrison, Rowland.

New Zealand: Holmes; Leti-I’iga, Brunt, Demant (co-captain), Vahaakolo; King, Joseph; Viliko, Ponsonby, Kalounivale, Bremner, Roos, Mikaele-Tu’u, Tukuafu (co-captain), Olsen-Baker.

Replacements: Lolohea, Henwood, Rule, Vaipulu, Sae, Hohaia, Du Plessis, Tui.

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)