Red Roses' second-half blitz earns 48-15 win over Australia in WXV Global Series opener

Seven tries in the second half saw England open their WXV Global series with a win over Australia; Next, England meet Canada in a repeat of their 2025 World Cup final at Sandy Park in Exeter on September 19; they round off the home leg of the series against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium

The Red Roses scored seven tries in the second-half to race to a 48-15 victory over Australia in their WXV Global Series opener at the CorpAcq Stadium in Salford.

Despite a scintillating second 40 from the hosts, the first half was all about Australia as they showed defensive strength to hold on to a 10-5 lead at half-time thanks to a Samantha Wood penalty and a converted Faliki Pohiva effort.

When Wood was in the sin bin for a deliberate knock on was the only time the Red Roses got on the board as Abi Burton went over from short range. Holly Aitchison was unable to add the extras.

Remarkably, it was the first time the Red Roses had trailed at half-time in seven years, the last time coming all the way back in 2019.

However, it was in the second half that England got back to their usual best and with tries from May Campbell, Meg Jones, Bryony Field, Mia Venner, Sadia Kabeya, Lucy Packer, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, plus a conversion from Holly Aitchison and three from Zoe Harrison, they made it 39 matches in a row unbeaten.

The Wallaroos did get a second-half try thorugh Eva Karpani, who was earlier sent to the sin bin for an infringement in the build-up to Venner's try but it was merely a consolation as the Red Roses showed just why they are currently the No 1 ranked team and world champions.

Next up for England is Canada on September 19 in Exeter, before they face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on September 26.