England produce dominant second-half performance to comfortably defeat Australia at CorpAcq Stadium in the opening game
SokaLive
12 Sep 2026, 17:33
England kicked off their WXV Global Series campaign in sensational style on Friday, securing a commanding victory over Australia after a thrilling second-half surge at CorpAcq Stadium. Head coach John Mitchell watched his side completely overwhelm the Wallaroos following a tightly contested opening forty minutes, ultimately converting territorial dominance into a decisive scoreboard margin. Red Roses captain Marlie Packer led by example at the breakdown, orchestrating a relentless defensive effort that stifled any potential Australian comeback and set the tone for the remainder of the prestigious international tournament.
The emphatic triumph underscores England's status as the team to beat in this elite global competition, building upon their impressive Grand Slam victory during the recent Women's Six Nations. Star fullback Ellie Kildunne proved instrumental once again, carving open the opposition defensive line with her trademark pace to score two crucial tries that broke Australian resistance. Historically, the Red Roses have dominated this fixture, and this latest tactical masterclass extends their remarkable winning streak against the Wallaroos to ten consecutive matches across all major international competitions.
Looking ahead, England will immediately turn their attention to the next fixture of the WXV schedule, where sterner tests await against the world's top-tier southern hemisphere powerhouses. Prop Sarah Bern, who anchored a dominant scrum throughout the seventy-minute contest, emphasized that squad depth will remain vital as the tournament intensifies over the coming weeks. With the Rugby World Cup looming on the horizon, performances of this caliber reinforce the squad's ambition to maintain their position at the absolute summit of the global game.