Abbie Ward sets England Women on way to record win over New Zealand – The Guardian

Another day, another giant leap for womens rugby and the blossoming Red Roses. The full impact of this record-breaking scoreline will not be fully measurable until the live BBC Two television audience figures are collated but outside a World Cup there have not been many feelgood occasions in the English womens game to beat it.

Even if New Zealand were slightly rusty, not having played an international for more than two years, this was still a rare indignity. Their hosts, in contrast, have now won 15 Tests in a row and cemented their world No 1 ranking before next years delayed World Cup. Only one of these two teams will be gleefully awaiting the second Test in Northampton next weekend.

It might sound greedy to suggest England should have scored more than seven tries but they had the chances to do so. By the end, though, they had inflicted the biggest defeat the Black Ferns have suffered the previous record margin was 21-7 against England a decade ago and showcased both the fitness of the home forwards and their increasing depth behind the scrum.

The eye-catching outcome was even achieved despite the pre-match loss of their vice-captain, Amber Reed, who tweaked a hamstring in training, and the injured Emily Scarratt, with virtually every area of the team contributing. Abbie Ward scored the first two tries and had a third disallowed while Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne were a constant attacking handful.

Zoe Harrison also had a good game at fly-half to earn the player of the match award, assisted by the crisp passing of her half-back partner Claudia MacDonald and a strong all-round display from the inside centre Lagi Tuima.

It was not quite how New Zealand had planned to mark their 100th Test but a healthy crowd of almost 10,000 enjoyed it hugely on a bright, breezy afternoon. One could tell the locals were up for it by the length of the pre-match pasty queues but this was West Country rugby with a refreshing twist. A female DJ on the decks in the main stand, uninhibited dancing in the aisles, some stirring anthem-singing and, even more unusually, an English rugby team leading New Zealand 17-0 at half-time. At least some of that could just catch on permanently.

The England head coach, Eddie Jones, has named an updated 35-man squad for the autumn Tests against Tonga, Australia and South Africa.

The Bristol scrum-half Harry Randall has been withdrawn before the match against Tonga on Saturday because of a hip flexor injury. The Harlequins wing Louis Lynagh and Northampton's Alex Mitchell have both been added.

Forwards: Jamie Blamire (Newcastle), Callum Chick (Newcastle), Tom Curry (Sale), Trevor Davison (Newcastle), Nic Dolly (Leicester), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Ellis Genge (Leicester), Jamie George (Saracens), Jonny Hill (Exeter), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), George Martin (Leicester), Sam Simmonds (Exeter), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol), Will Stuart (Bath), Sam Underhill (Bath)

Backs:Mark Atkinson (Gloucester) Owen Farrell (Saracens), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), George Furbank (Northampton), Louis Lynagh (Harlequins), Max Malins (Saracens), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester), Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Raffi Quirke (Sale), Adam Radwan (Newcastle), Henry Slade (Exeter), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Manu Tuilagi (Sale), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

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It did no harm that England made a near-perfect start playing into the stiff, swirling breeze. Given the chance, they have impressive pace out wide and a lovely flick-on under pressure from Kildunne allowed Ward to release the surging Dow. The winger was finally halted 10 metres out but a pop pass off the floor set Ward galloping clear to the line.

The strong-running locks second try was finished from slightly closer range but again involved Dow making rapid index-linked gains down the left. On a tricky day for every kicker Harrisons conversion was a well-judged beauty and the pressure being applied to the Black Ferns malfunctioning line-out by the athletic Zoe Aldcroft was similarly helpful.

New Zealand simply could not win enough ball to unleash their dangerous winger Ayesha Leti-liga and, with half-time looming, there was a third English try to admire. The tackling was generous but there was no doubting the elusive spirit that helped the 22-year-old Harlequin Kildunne weave her way to the line.

England went off the boil slightly in a sometimes niggly third quarter but they were not finished. After Lark Davies had scored from a close-range maul, there was a lovely debut try for Holly Aitchison, and Dow then scooped up a loose ball to outpace the cover again. Despite a late score from Stacey Fluhler, adding to Alana Bremners earlier touchdown, it was Harrison who had the final word to seal Englands first win against New Zealand since a 29-21 victory in Rotorua in June 2017.

Small wonder the delighted Red Roses coach, Simon Middleton, described it as a massive statement both for his team and the profile of the womens game. Ive spoken to a few people who said: Wow, that was amazing. My phone was going into meltdown after the final whistle, he said.

His captain, Sarah Hunter, sounded similarly thrilled as she headed out to celebrate. Well enjoy this evening because they dont come along very often.

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Abbie Ward sets England Women on way to record win over New Zealand - The Guardian