Black Ferns take world champions to the wire at Twickenham
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; Zoe Harrison 3 cons)
HT: Black Ferns 12-7 England
The Black Ferns took the world champions right to the final whistle at Twickenham, a year on from England's Rugby World Cup triumph at the same ground.
With the scores locked at 19-19 in the 79th minute, England first five-eighth Zoe Harrison missed a penalty from 40 metres out, the ball dropping 10 metres short of the posts.
Rather than settle for a draw, the Black Ferns backed themselves to win it from inside their own 22. Centre Amy du Plessis spotted space on the right edge, but Harrison read the pass, intercepted and ran clear before converting from the sideline.
It was a tough finish to a performance full of intent. The Black Ferns enjoyed two-thirds of possession and territory and forced England to make 283 tackles, compared with 95 by New Zealand. Lock Morwenna Talling (38) and Lilli Ives Campion (32) led England's defensive effort, while player of the match Maddie Feaunati made 23. Georgia Ponsonby and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu topped the Black Ferns tackle count with 11 each.
The Black Ferns attacked from the opening whistle, with quick ball regularly opening holes around the ruck.
Winger Ayesha Leti-I'iga was a constant threat, finishing with 16 carries, 98 metres gained, five defenders beaten and two line breaks. She thought she had opened the scoring in the fifth minute, only for the try to be ruled out on review for a double movement.
England struck first in the 13th minute, a strong lineout maul followed by slick hands to the short side putting winger Claudia Moloney-MacDonald over for her 26th try in 43 Tests.
The Black Ferns hit back strongly. Du Plessis regathered a kick and chase to score, and Leti-I'iga finished in support of a Hannah King break to send New Zealand into halftime with a 12-7 lead.
England fullback Ellie Kildunne levelled the contest in the 45th minute, ripping the ball from a stalled maul on the 22 and darting 25 metres down the short side to score.
Mahutariki-Fakalelu was yellow-carded in the 52nd minute for a high tackle on Marlie Packer, and England made the most of the extra player two minutes later, winning a scrum inside the Black Ferns 22 to send Jess Breach over.
Leti-I'iga kept working. She made another break in the 57th minute and followed it with a try-saving tackle on Moloney-MacDonald to keep the Black Ferns in the contest.
No.8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker (24 carries, 10 tackles) swung momentum back in the 66th minute with an intercept, and a penalty took the Black Ferns into the English 22. The set piece was rock solid all night, with New Zealand winning all 16 of their lineouts and Maia Roos claiming 10.
The Black Ferns probed patiently until a Du Plessis skip pass found Mererangi Paul unmarked for her 19th try in 21 Tests, and the conversion drew the sides level at 19-19.
Discipline is an area the team will look to tidy up, with the Black Ferns conceding 11 penalties to England's eight.
Head Coach Whitney Hansen praised her side's courage and was quick to back her players rather than single out the final pass, while acknowledging the opportunities that went begging.
The referee was Clara Munarini (Italy).
Watch: Post-match press conference
History of the rivalry between the Black Ferns and England
The Black Ferns and England have met 34 times since their first Test in 1997, with New Zealand winning 19, England 14 and one draw. The Black Ferns remain the last team to beat England at home, winning 25-20 at the Stoop in London on 19 November 2016, when Kendra Cocksedge scored 20 of their 25 points. The Black Ferns have won 122 of their 148 Tests.
