Locked at 19 and given one final possession after England No 10 Zoe Harrison’s attempt at a match-winning penalty fell short, the Black Ferns chanced their arm from deep inside their own territory.
But as they looked to swing the ball wide, a pass from centre Amy du Plessis was picked off by Harrison, who did score the match-winning points in the end, her try – and subsequent conversion – sinking the New Zealand side in the most heartbreaking fashion.
“What an amazing effort out there today and I think after a really short time of this new era and what we’re trying to put together, we’re showcasing some amazing moments of rugby in there, we created a spectacle for everyone to watch,” Hansen said in her post-match interview broadcast by Sky Sport.
“It’s tough always when we don’t capitalise on those moments that are there and I think there were a few today we needed to finish and didn’t. That’s the way it goes sometimes, but I’m incredibly proud of our courage, particularly of Amy du Plessis. We didn’t want to go down as a draw.
“After watching last week, we knew we were going to fight to the death so I love that she threw that pass. She saw it was on and if it comes off it goes the other way.”
For Hansen’s side, there will be plenty for the Black Ferns to take away from the contest, and their wider European tour, as they continue to build with a new group.
England were forced into a late change prior to kickoff as loose forward Sadia Kabeya was ruled out. That saw veteran Marlie Packer start in the No 7 jersey, adding more than 100 matches of international experience to the starting line-up.
Amy Du Plessis scored a brilliant individual try for the Black Ferns against England. Photo / Photosport
The Black Ferns, playing England for the first time since 2024, started the contest well as England struggled with their execution early on.
Some wayward moments from the hosts welcomed the Black Ferns into attacking territory, but early on they were not able to beat the English defence. When it looked like left winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga had scored the first try of the game, it was brought back as she did not release the ball before getting up and playing it again. A small error, but a big consequence as a try under the posts was wiped from the record.
Instead, it was the hosts who opened the scoring after marching deep into Black Ferns territory – with the help of some penalties. With a lineout 5m out, England tried to set up a maul but were held by the Black Ferns.
Instead, they went wide where fullback Ellie Kildunne found left winger Claudia Moloney-MacDonald after brushing through the attempted one-on-one tackle of Black Ferns counterpart Braxton Sorensen-McGee with ease.
It was a piece of individual brilliance from du Plessis that got the visitors on the board. As England kicked clear to relieve some pressure on their line, the Black Ferns centre cleaned up the loose ball around halfway. She quickly identified some space in behind the defence, and drilled the ball down into the corner.
Du Plessis then won the race to the ball, getting there just as it had rolled into the in-goal area and planting it for a five-pointer in the 25th minute.
The Black Ferns then took the lead into halftime after some smart attacking play from first five-eighths Hannah King, who showed some footwork to step between two English defenders, getting through the line easily before sending Leti-I’iga through to score.
England reclaimed the lead in the second half, first through some smart play from Kildunne, who scooted off down the blindside from 22m out as Leti-I’iga had committed to a tackle and Sorensen-McGee was up in the defensive line.
The next came after the Black Ferns had lost tighthead prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu to a yellow card from a high shot on Packer, who could not continue in the contest. Mahutariki-Fakalelu made a considerable effort to get low, however, so the card remained just a yellow.
The English took advantage at scrum time while they had the numbers advantage, and right wing Jess Breach scored from close range after a big scrum from her team to give the hosts the lead again.
A 70th-minute try to Paul saw the Black Ferns draw level, before England had a chance to kick for the win in the final minute.
Although the penalty attempt missed, Harrison’s intercept secured a fourth-straight win for England over their Kiwi rivals.
“It was a hell of a test match. It was everything we could have hoped for and more,” Black Ferns captain Georgia Ponsonby said in her post-match interview broadcast by Sky Sport.
“[I’m] just immensely proud. Obviously gutted that we came so close and fell short, but what a test match. We obviously didn’t get to play the Roses last year, so just grateful we got to come up against them and test our game and see where we stood against them.
“I think we’re bloody close.”
Black Ferns 19 (Amy du Plessis, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Mererangi Paul tries; Braxton Sorensen-McGee 2 cons)
England 26 (Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Ellie Kildunne, Jess Breach, Zoe Harrison tries; Harrison 3 cons)
HT: 12-7
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.