Red Roses player ratings v Black Ferns | WXV Global Series 2026

Drama until the very end. The Red Roses got back to winning ways as Zoe Harrison’s last-gasp try spelled victory for John Mitchell’s team in the WXV Global Series.

The 26-19 scoreline tells some of the story, with the Black Ferns making an excellent account of themselves in front of 59,871 supporters at Allianz Stadium before a final piece of excellent play landed the world champions a victory. It was also an instant response to their 26-all draw with Canada a week ago.

Here is how the Red Roses rated…

15 Ellie Kildunne – 7

Easily her best performance of the WXV Global Series. The full-back was involved early with her assist for Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and was her team’s top ball-carrier. She also scored a try of her own following an interchange with wing Jess Breach. Made three line breaks and a game-high 97 metres.

14 Jess Breach – 7

A strong performance in all areas for the Saracens wing. Her first-half tackle on Ayesha Leti-I’iga stopped a certain try, while her pass to Ellie Kildunne for her 45th-minute try was a bit of bright thinking. Good movement saw her dot down in the 56th minute to give the Red Roses the lead.

13 Meg Jones – 6

Another one of those quieter, brooding games from Meg Jones. She came to life a bit more in the second half as things got tight between the two teams, but, like the rest of her team, struggled to land a knockout blow. Made 13 tackles and completed two line breaks.

12 Helena Rowland – 6

It was not a performance that you have come to expect from Helena Rowland. Instead of a fizzling attacking performance, it was a lot more businesslike, with the inside centre making over 20 tackles. She was also used as a secondary distributor by the Red Roses, whose attack looked bright in places.

11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald – 7

An inauspicious start for Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, whose first significant action in this game was kicking the ball out on the full. Her influence grew as the game went on, with her first try proving this, but her involvement then waned. The Black Ferns also enjoyed some joy on her wing, signalled by Mererangi Paul’s score that allowed Braxton Sorensen-McGee to slot the equalising conversion.

10 Zoe Harrison – 7.5

Until the very last play, it had been a quieter afternoon in the middle of the park for Zoe Harrison. Largely thanks to the New Zealand line speed and pressure, the fly-half had to think quickly. This was to her benefit in the opening 40, when her pass to Kildunne led to Moloney-MacDonald’s try. It was with the clock in the red that her biggest moment came – a long-range penalty missed, but then she found the drive to stay alive, intercepted the ball to score the match-winning points and then converted the kick. Otherworldly.

9 Lucy Packer – 6.5

As you have come to expect from Lucy Packer, it was a really solid afternoon from the scrum-half. She linked up well with Harrison, all while being pursued by Black Ferns defenders. Hardly put a foot wrong.

1 Mackenzie Carson – 6.5

A pretty solid afternoon from Mackenzie Carson at loosehead prop. Across the 80 minutes, the Red Roses boasted a 100% scrum success rate and she also chipped in with a mightily impressive 19 tackles.

2 Bryony Field – 6.5

Continues to impress in a Red Roses jersey. Made 21 tackles in an 80-minute performance at Allianz Stadium. The lineout did not function at its absolute best in this fixture. At full-time, the success rate was 67%.

3 Sarah Bern – 7

Hard not to be impressed by Bern’s performance on Saturday. A player known for her hard-carrying style, the tighthead prop was massively influential in attack. She also made 26 tackles. As mentioned previously, the 29-year-old helped England to a 100% scrum success rate.

4 Morwenna Talling – 7.5

Just massive. At full-time, Morwenna Talling had lodged 37 tackles. That is not a number you see every day. You cannot underestimate that sort of number. For a player that had much of her year cut short by injury, it was a real landmark performance against a Black Ferns team that just would not quit.

5 Lilli Ives Campion – 7

Another solid performance from the second-row forward. Like her lock teammate Talling, Lilli Ives Campion made a bucket-load of tackles. In total, she put the shoulder in 25 times. The only drawback was at the lineout. The set-piece she runs operated at a 67% success rate.

6 Alex Matthews – 6

Not quite the all-action Alex Matthews performance we have become accustomed to seeing over the years. Her most significant involvement was in defence. In total, the two-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner made 24 tackles.

7 Marlie Packer – 6.5

A really solid afternoon for Marlie Packer. Used from the bench in the last two WXV Global Series fixtures, Packer was launched into the starting XV after Sadia Kabeya’s late withdrawal. She made 19 tackles and a handful of carries. She did leave the pitch after Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu’s high tackle but returned to the pitch at full-time.

8 Maddie Feaunati – 8

England’s Player of the Match introduced herself to this game with a massive 40-metre break. Across her 12 carries, Maddie Feaunati was her team’s biggest catalyst in attack and even made 23 tackles. She got to places water does not.

Replacements – 7.5

One thing that England needed in this game was a lift from the bench. They got it. Hannah Botterman’s turnover released a lot of pressure for England. She also, along with Maud Muir, helped the England scrum continue to dominate. Abi Burton provided stability when Marlie Packer left the fray, while Natasha Hunt had energy in abundance too. May Campbell, Haineala Lutui, Tatyana Heard and Emma Sing were unused.