Can the Black Ferns end the Red Roses’ unbeaten run?

The Black Ferns’ ultimate test of the Whitney Hansen era so far comes Sunday morning, New Zealand time, when they arrive at Twickenham to face the formidable Red Roses. The Red Roses machine spluttered for the first time in four years against Canada in Exeter, with the two sides playing out an enthralling 26-all draw. It marks the first time since the 2021 (played in 2022) Rugby World Cup Final that the Red Roses failed to win a game. And while a draw is not a loss, the Red Roses will be hurting to see their winning streak come to an end just one test shy of 40 consecutive wins. On the other hand, the Black Ferns will be aiming to replicate the efforts of that 2022 side. It all begs the question: Are the English vulnerable, or will normal service resume on their hallowed ground this Sunday?

Recent results obviously favour the English, with them winning all three meetings since the 2021 World Cup Final, 33-12, 24-12 and most recently 49-31 in 2024. Much has changed in what has nearly been two years since the two teams last met; England are now World Champions, and the Black Ferns have a new coaching team. Whitney Hansen has led the Black Ferns to seven consecutive wins and is undefeated during her time as head coach. Hansen understands what it takes to beat the English, having served as an assistant to Wayne Smith during the 2022 season.

After a disappointing World Cup semi-final exit in 2025, the Black Ferns have bounced back massively so far in 2026. As is expected with the Black Ferns, their attack has been awesome. It is probably fair to say it has not quite come together for an entire 80 minutes yet, but when it does they can score points from anywhere, and quickly, Scotland and the Wallaroos bore the brunt of that. But the most impressive part of the 2026 Black Ferns has been their defence and physicality. Against the French in Lyon, this was at its best. The 28-14 scoreline does not reflect how comfortable the Black Ferns were throughout the game, and the physicality and fitness of the Black Ferns defence did not allow the French to play the expansive attacking game they are renowned for. The Black Ferns made 11 dominant tackles compared to 6 for the French. In Hansen’s seven tests in charge, the Black Ferns have made 108 dominant tackles, 25 of which came in their mammoth effort against Canada. Compare this to the Black Ferns last seven games of 2025, where they made 82 dominant tackles. The numbers show a clear change in how the Black Ferns are approaching their physicality and defence. The 25 dominant tackles against Canada are particularly worth noting, as their physical presence, forward pack and ruck speed were what the Canadians built their semi-final upset on a year ago. The Red Roses forwards are the best in the game, and to have a chance at upsetting them the Black Ferns will need to front up and win the physical battle.

There are certainly obvious chinks in the Black Ferns armour despite this. Disciplinary issues have plagued the Black Ferns over recent years, and that has not changed this year. The Black Ferns have conceded nine cards in seven tests, one red and eight yellow, and conceded a whopping 17 penalties against the Women Boks in South Africa, with four of those yellow cards coming in that test alone. Alarmingly, one of the biggest trouble areas, discipline-wise, has been at the lineout maul. The Red Roses lineout maul, or the “White Anaconda” as Rikki Swannell labelled it back at that 2021 World Cup, is ominously good, and they will be licking their lips seeing the Black Ferns struggle to defend this area legally. The Black Ferns also have a big question mark on their in-game kicking. Zoe Harrison, England’s fly-half, is the best kicker in the women’s game and has the ability to decide a game with her boot, particularly against a team who play such a possession heavy game like the Black Ferns. With Renee Holmes spending a year with the Black Ferns Sevens, the Black Ferns best answer to the English kicking game is not in camp. Hannah King, Maia Joseph and Braxton Sorensen-McGee will inherit the majority of the kicking duties, but it remains unknown as to whether they have the capability to match Harrison’s ability off the boot. The injury cloud over Kaipo Olsen-Baker also provides uncertainty for the Black Ferns. Olsen-Baker suffered a shoulder injury in the second Laurie O’Reilly test in Auckland, and the Black Ferns are sweating on her being available for the Twickenham test. Olsen-Baker has been the Black Ferns best player in recent years, and is probably in the conversation for World Rugby Player of the Year alongside England’s talismanic skipper Meg Jones and Canada’s livewire Olivia Apps. A strong outing against the World Champions would certainly help that cause.

As for the English, they know their strengths and are so good at unlocking them. Expect to see the English attack the set piece time, through their scrum and lineout maul. Their scrum in recent weeks has been on another level, with Maud Muir at tighthead showing why she is the best in the world. The English particularly target the opposition feed scrums, and their ability to win penalties and regain possession at scrum time ultimately put them in the position to overturn their first half-time deficit in six years against Australia two weeks ago. The lineout maul has been a staple of this English sides dominance since 2018, but the lineout has not been at it’s best to start their 2026/27 season. Statistically, it has not been awful, but rarely are they getting clean, quality ball from their lineout, which is therefore disrupting their maul opportunities. Usual hooker Amy Cokayne is another under an injury cloud, while experienced locks Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan are on maternity leave, as is Amy Cokayne’s usual replacement Lark Atkin-Davies. The lineout has struggled to click into gear with these personnel disruptions, with May Campbell and Delaney Burns particularly struggling off the bench against Canada in the closing minutes of their draw. Superstar front-rower Hannah Botterman, who’s 2026 has been hampered by injuries, left the field against Canada looking a bit uncomfortable, and England will be hoping she avoided another injury. Botterman’s ability in the scrum is elite, but she is also the English pack’s biggest turnover threat, and they struggled throughout the Six Nations to affect turnovers at the breakdown without her. Mackenzie Carson is no slouch as a replacement for Botterman, but certainly does not offer the same skillset in the loose around the park. If the English cannot disrupt the Black Ferns ruck speed and allow them to have possession, the Black Ferns attack has shown it will punish them.

There are a number of interesting selection calls for both Whitney Hansen and John Mitchell to make. The aforementioned Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Amy Cokayne and Hannah Botterman will all certainly feature should they be fit, but there are headaches if not. For the Black Ferns, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u you would expect to suit up in the number eight jersey with Mia Anderson at six if Olsen-Baker is not fit. As for the Red Roses, Bryony Field has impressed in her first two caps filling in for Amy Cokayne, and Saracens teammate May Campbell will most likely retain her spot on the bench. The loosehead position would be filled by Mackenzie Carson should Botterman not be able to suit up, with Liz Crake coming onto the bench. Carson would be expected to play big minutes, as she did in the Six Nations grand slam decider against the French, where she went 79 minutes before Crake was introduced for the closing seconds.

Aside from the injuries, the biggest selection question is around if, and if so how, will the Black Ferns use Mo’omo’oga Palu. Palu’s size and strength may be the Black Ferns answer to Maud Muir at scrum time despite playing on the other side of the scrum. Or would she be better suited to come off the bench for the closing twenty minutes to wreak havoc with her carries around the field? We saw how destructive she could be with her first test try coming from a midfield double tackle bust against the Scots.

For the Red Roses, what does Mitchell do with Maddie Feaunati? Feaunati was incredible during the Six Nations, but was demoted back to the bench with the return of vice-captain Alex Matthews last week. This led to England employing a 6-2 split on the bench, with experienced campaigner Marlie Packer rounding out the forwards contingent in the 21 jersey. Feaunati continued her form off the bench against Canada, and may have done enough to force her way into the starting eight jersey, against the country she spent half of her life living in, playing against former Hurricanes Poua, Wellington Pride and Otago Spirit teammates.

One thing can be said for sure, the Black Ferns and Red Roses are going to put on a hell of a show in front of a 60,000 strong crowd at Twickenham. The greatest rivalry in the women’s game never fails to treat us as fans, and the sides seem to be the most equal they have been in a few years heading into this game, which promises to be an absolute ripper. Can the Black Ferns end the Red Roses record unbeaten run and replicate the heights of the 2021 Rugby World Cup Final, or will the English juggernaut march on once more? Roll on Sunday.