- England 43-12 New Zealand
- Red Roses cement world No 1 ranking for World Cup
Another day, another giant leap for women’s rugby and the blossoming Red Roses. The full impact of this record-breaking scoreline will not be fully measurable until the live BBC Two television audience figures are collated but outside a World Cup there have not been many feelgood occasions in the English women’s game to beat it.
Even if New Zealand were slightly rusty, not having played an international for more than two years, this was still a rare indignity. Their hosts, in contrast, have now won 15 Tests in a row and cemented their world No 1 ranking before next year’s delayed World Cup. Only one of these two teams will be gleefully awaiting the second Test in Northampton next weekend.
