England slipped to their first back-to-back defeats in a decade after losing 31-22 to Canada in the WXV Global Series.
Maddie Feaunati gave the Red Roses a promising start in Ottawa with a try in the opening 10 minutes, converted by Zoe Harrison.
But the visitors were unable to avenge last week’s 24-21 defeat in Toronto, which brought their four-year unbeaten run to an end.
England overturned a half-time deficit to briefly take a 17-12 lead after the break.
Amy Cokayne was among the try scorers, having missed three home matches last month with a calf injury before returning against Canada last week.
Image:
Canada’s Sophie de Goede scores a try against England as teammate Julia Omokhuale follows.. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
But Canada reclaimed the advantage minutes later before extending their lead to 31-17, with captain Sophie de Goede completing a hat-trick as the hosts pulled clear.
Emma Sing crossed for England in the game’s dying minutes to reduce the deficit but it was ultimately too little too late.
De Goede rounded out her stellar performance with three successful conversions, while Harrison kicked the only penalty goal of the match in the 42nd minute.
De Goede said afterwards: “It’s so amazing. It shows we can consistently perform at this level and now we just need to do it for another two, three years to the next World Cup [in 2029 in Australia].
England captain Meg Jones added: “We’re not broken, we just need to grow from this.”
England wrap up their WXV Global Series campaign with a match against the USA in New Jersey on Friday.
Wales beat Japan as New Zealand overcome France
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Also in the WXV, series Wales took a 17-0 win over Japan in scrappy game played in difficult conditions in Tokyo.
Scrum-half Seren Lockwood scored the first try just before the half-time break but Welsh centre Freya Bell suffered a severe knee injury.
Kelsey Jones drove over for another try before Lockwood touched down for her second to close off the game.
Japan and Wales will play again in Kumagaya City on October 31.
In Whangarei, Braxton Sorensen-McGee settled a 31-12 win for New Zealand over France with a 75-metre counter-attack try with 10 minutes left.
England’s WXV Global Series results and schedule