Harrison's late try wins thriller for Red Roses over New Zealand

Tries:

Moloney-MacDonald (13), Kildunne (45), Breach (54), Harrison (81)

Conversions:

Harrison (14,46,82)

>Tries:

du Plessis (25), Leti-I'iga (32), Paul (70)

Conversions:

Sorensen-McGee (32,71)

> England vs New Zealand Women

WXV Global Series 3:00pm Saturday 26th September

>at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham @adam_j_williams

>Zoe Harrison's converted try in added time saw England's Red Roses return to winning ways in thrilling fashion over New Zealand.

>Fly-half Harrison intercepted a pass inside the New Zealand 22 as the Black Ferns tried to counter her missed penalty attempt before adding the conversion to seal an epic 26-19 victory.

>A crowd of nearly 60,000 at Allianz Stadium were treated to an absolute thriller between the world's top two sides, where the lead changed hands three times before the Red Roses crossed for a fourth decisive try.

>England had trailed 12-7 at half-time after New Zealand responded to Claudia Moloney-MacDonald's try with scores from Amy Du Plessis and Ayesha Leti-I'iga.

>But in the second half, England regained the lead when Ellie Kildunne burst clear and then Jess Breach stretched their lead to 19-12 as they took advantage of a yellow card for Black Ferns prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu for a high tackle on Marlie Packer.

>New Zealand weren't done though and levelled the scores at 19-19 when Mererangi Paul crossed with 10 minutes to play.

>England looked to have missed their chance for victory when Harrison's penalty dropped short of the posts, but her timely interception was the final act and ensured England bounced back to winning ways and extended their unbeaten run to 41 matches following last week's thrilling 26-26 draw vs Canada.

>The Red Roses came into this fixture at Twickenham having seen their 39-game winning run halted by World Cup runners-up Canada at Sandy Park seven days earlier.

>New Zealand, the last side to beat England back in the 2022 World Cup final, were in fine form having won all seven of their Test matches this year so far.

>It was the visitors who started with greater intent and gave England, who for the first time were benefitting from the tutelage of iconic defence coach Shaun Edwards, plenty to think about.

>Winger Leti-I'iga looked to have given them the lead in the opening 10 minutes only for her try to be ruled out for a double-movement on review.

>England did finally find their groove when Moloney-MacDonald crossed for the opening try from Kildunne's pass and it looked to be setting the tone.

>But the Black Ferns responded stoutly. First up, centre Du Plessis reduced the deficit when she chased down her own kick forward from Lucy Packer's poor clearance and dotted down unopposed.

>They would then take the lead soon after when Leti-I'iga scored just after the half-hour when she received fly-half Hannah King's clever inside pass following a burst through the England defence.

>The Red Roses had to withstand more pressure before the break and were fortunate to escape falling further behind when New Zealand knocked-on inches from the tryline.

>John Mitchell's side came out after the break fired up and were rewarded by Kildunne scoring a trademark try as she had too much pace for the Black Ferns to handle out wide.

>After a yellow card for tight-head prop Mahutariki-Fakalelu reduced them to 14 players, Breach went over for England's third try in the corner and a 19-12 lead which looked set to be further built on.

>But when New Zealand were back to full strength, they were threatening again and were rewarded with their third try as winger Paul finished off concerted pressure to make it 19-19.

>Chances looked to have gone begging for both sides to win it, no more so than when Harrison's penalty attempt from 40 metres back was well short of the posts.

>Instead of kicking for touch and taking the draw, New Zealand chose to run it from their own line and go for victory.

>But an intercepted pass from Du Plessis was pounced on by Harrison, who crossed to then be mobbed by her team-mates and lauded by a jubilant Twickenham crowd.

>"What an amazing honour to play the Black Ferns. They set down a challenge for us from the beginning; we responded really well and we accepted that challenge.

>"An amazing Test match for us. We're playing the top teams now and you're just going to get everything thrown at you, tested in every avenue and today we prevailed and were able to stay on top.

>"Massive credit to our defence, probably my favourite part of the game. But credit to the girls, they showed a lot of character today."

>On Zoe Harrison's winning try: "I just said to her, 'you create your own luck in this game', and that was her moment.

>"We were putting so much pressure on them. They clearly wanted to play and huge credit to them for putting on a spectacle. But we were just able to capitalise and the pressure we put on them in defence gave us that opportunity and it was an amazing way to finish."

>"It was topsy-turvy. I just need to commend the New Zealand girls; they threw the kitchen sink at us and we just gave them too much possession.

>"It was just simple messages at half-time to say that the game can turn on a moment and there's just so much credit to the defence as they held in there."

>"I was on the bench at the end, but the overwhelming feeling at the end is just pride. It was neck and neck the whole way through and the girls just put so much on the line.

>"It was an absolute tussle, the Test match of our dreams in many ways. We were just really unlucky towards the end, but I'm so hugely proud of my team.

>"We didn't come out here to lose, we came to win and be brave and I think that's exactly what we did."

>"To be really honest, the biggest feeling I've got at this moment is pride.

>"We have an amazing group of people, athletes, coaches and family, who work really hard and we're at the beginning of a journey of what Black Ferns rugby looks like.

>"We always said this week was going to be a real big test for us, it was going to draw a line in the sand and give us some things and show us how we're special and built different.

>"Those watching the game will have seen it was exciting and but it also showed us how and where we can and need to be better.

>"It's an exciting space to be in. Obviously, you always want to win but for us, it's about chasing a performance and we know we've got greatness in us, but we'll continue to stay humble on that journey."

>The WXV Global Series resumes next month with the North American leg of the competition for John Mitchell's side.

>Two more Tests against World Cup runners-up Canada are followed up by a match against USA in successive weeks.