The Aporia
On Saturday, England hosted New Zealand in a WXV women's rugby match at Twickenham Stadium, with over 59,871 spectators watching the highly anticipated rivalry. Despite leading throughout most of the game and taking a deserved halftime lead after two tries from Amy du Plessis and Ayesha Leti-I'iga, the Black Ferns struggled in the second half as England's Jess Breach and Ellie Kildunne scored to regain the lead. The match was tied at 19-19 until the final minute when Zoe Harrison of England intercepted a pass from New Zealand deep inside their own 22-yard line, diving over for a crucial try that sealed the victory for England with a scoreline of 26-19. This win extended England's unbeaten streak to 41 tests and ended New Zealand’s undefeated record under new head coach Whitney Hansen. The game highlighted the historic rivalry between these two teams, with England playing a pivotal role in supporting women’s rugby in New Zealand when other opportunities were scarce for the country.