Canada's Red Roses end 41-match unbeaten streak with loss to England, while France's young squad suffers heavy defeat to New Zealand.
Canada ends unbeaten streak
Canada's Red Roses lost 24-21 to England in Toronto, ending a 41-match unbeaten run. Shoshanah Seumanutafa scored a late try, and the match attracted 18,621 spectators.France suffers heavy defeat
France's team faced an 81-12 loss to New Zealand's Black Ferns in Hamilton. They conceded 13 tries and were trailing 43-0 at halftime, showing significant struggles against the opposition.Canada's performance against England
Canada previously drew 26-26 with England in September. In Toronto, they managed to contain England's strength despite the dominance of English scrums. DaLeaka Menin was named player of the match, and Seumanutafa scored after coming on early due to an injury.Rugby Canada's funding efforts
Rugby Canada is fundraising for a million Canadian dollars to improve preparation for the World Cup. England has 32 full-time contracted players, while Canada had previously lost 21-5 to France in La Rochelle.France's strategic approach
France's coach François Ratier fielded a young team with an average age of 24. More than half of the 23 players had five or fewer caps. The team was missing several key players as Ratier aimed to test new strategies for the upcoming World Cup cycle.New Zealand's dominance
New Zealand dominated the match with 63% of possession and 77% of territory. They made 23 breaks compared to only two for France. The French did not enter New Zealand's 22-meter area until the 58th minute, scoring only two tries.Challenges for France's coach
Ratier's strategy faces questions after France conceded seven tries before halftime. Defensive issues, especially against New Zealand's rhythm changes, highlight the need for adjustments. The team must find a balance between learning and competing effectively.Upcoming matches for both teams
Canada will face England again on October 23 in Ottawa, aiming to confirm its recent achievement. France will play the Black Ferns again on October 24 in Whangarei, needing to regain control to truly compete.