The Red Roses have won 16 Tests in a row since losing to the Black Ferns in the 2021 Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park.
New Zealand failed to retain the Pacific Four Series eariler this year but were in record breaking form in a one-off test against Australia in July with a 62-0 win against the Wallaroos.
Match Details: Black Ferns v England, Saturday 14 September 2.30pm BST (Sunday 15 September, 1.30am NZT), Allianz Stadium, London. Watch LIVE on Sky Sport in New Zealand.
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) & Chelsea Gillespie (Scotland)
Television Match Official: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Head-to-Head: Blacks Ferns 19, England 11, Drawn 1
In England: Black Ferns 3, England 8, Drawn: 1
BUOYANT BLACK FERNS
The Black Ferns have spent more than a month preparing for this Test with trials against leading boys First XV’s Sacred Heart College and St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, as well as a lengthy spell at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation & Sport (NZCIS). This preparation is a stark contrast to the Covid disrupted preparation for the 2021 Northern Tour in which England won both Tests. The Black Ferns game plan will be about playing quickly, expansively and with calculated freedom. They must be accurate, disciplined and dictate territory. England’s lineout drive is the source of nightmares and the English can hurt on counterattack too.
Size and mobility prevails in the front row with the explosive trio of Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby and Tanya Kalounivale named to start. There is no doubt about their ball-carrying ability but holding it together in the scrum will be a different challenge.
Alana Bremner and Maiakawanakaulani Roos are a world class locking pair while the loose forward trio of Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu (nee Simon) and powerful number 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker should stand up to England’s classy back row.
Halfback Maia Joseph and first five-eighth Hannah King are set to start together for only the second time. By contrast Co-captain Ruahei Demant and Sylvia Brunt are an established combination seeking to involve an exhilarating back three of Katelyn Vahaakolo, Renee Holmes and Ayesha Leti-I'iga who returns for the first time since scoring the winning try in the 2022 Rugby World Cup final.
“Honestly, I’ve learned so much about myself. It’s the break I didn’t know I needed," Leti-I'iga said.
“I’ve been on the go since I was 16. I learned how to look after my body better. I never thought I could be a coach, but I helped my club Ories, and loved it.
“I haven’t been in the new environment for long but the connection with the girls is strong and we’re ready to go to war.”
The Black Ferns bench bristles with energy. Hooker Atlanta Lolohea is a busy and dynamic youngster. Kate Henwood and Amy Rule are rock solid front rowers. Layla Sae was the form loose forward in Super Rugby Aupiki while halfback Iritana Hohaia, midfielder Amy du Plessis and playmaker Ruby Tui will inject zest in the closing stages.
New Zealand has eight players in their starting XV that started the previous Test against England.
OMINOUS ENGLAND
The world’s number one ranked team have won 46 of their last 47 Test matches, including 16 on the trot since the 2022 Rugby World Cup final won by the Black Ferns. England warmed up for this Test with a 38-19 victory over France at Kingsholm. The Red Roses scored six tries against the French who they've beatean 14 times in a row. Captain Marlie Packer and winger Jess Breach scored twice. Both return this week with Packer joinning Emily Scarratt and recalled halfback Natasha Hunt as survivors from the last clash between England and the Black Ferns at Twickenham in 2012.
In a new-look front row, Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern all come in for Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir. Atkin-Davies scored four tries in a WXV1 international against Canada in New Zealand last year. From the bench Cokayne has scored a hat-trick twice against the Black Ferns.
Lock Abbie Ward returns from injury for Morwenna Talling, who is named as a replacement. In the backs the only change is Helena Rowland being named on the bench following her try-scoring return against France.
Maddie Feaunati made her first start for the Red Roses against France. The former Wellington Pride flanker retains her place.
The legend Scarratt earns her 100th start just the second player after Sarah Hunter and Rochelle Clark to accomplish that feat. England coach John Mitchell paid tribute.
"It [100 starts] is a fantastic achievement and we need those kind of people in our game. She is an inspiration to the future and now," Mitchell said.
"She will still stay in the game outside of playing as she is a good person. You can tell her game still means a lot to her.
"Some players, when they get to a point of a series of cumulative injuries, make it a big challenge to come back but she has got some finishing goals [in her career] there which is really important. I am more interested in experience and enthusiasm, she has both."
England’s reputation for formidable forward play proceeds itself but if Scarett links with a potent back three of Abby Dow, Jess Breach and Ellie Kildunne there will be questions asked of the Black Ferns defence. England assistant coach Sarah Hunter (140 Tests, 120 wins) observed after the French Test.
“Yes, we had ambition to play, and that’s what we want to be. We want to attack teams and we want to go for it. But [we need to work out] how we maybe be a bit more controlled in that, make less errors, how we can ramp pressure up on the opposition defensively as well.”
There are 11 players in England’s starting XV that started for England in their November 33-12 win against the Black Ferns in Auckland last year.
TWICKENHAM
With a capacity of 82,000, Twickenham is the largest purpose-built rugby stadium in the world. The 117-year-old stadium is often referred to as 'the home of rugby, 'a fortress England’s men have made their own for over a century.
In recent times the Red Roses have become more frequent tenants, in 2023 attracting a world record crowd of 58,498 when they beat France 38-33 to capture a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.
England played their first international at Twickenham in 2003 and whitewashed France 57-0. Since then, England have won 18 of 19 tests at the venue with their only loss to France (20-30) in 2013.
The Black Ferns have played at Twickenham on three occasions and lost every time. Their first trip in 2009 resulted in a 3-10 defeat, the Black Ferns first loss in 24 Tests and seven years. Two years later the Black Ferns were held scoreless for only the second time in their history. In 2012 the Black Ferns and All Blacks lost at Twickenham on a fateful December 1 afternoon.
The Black Ferns did win at the nearby Twickenham Stoop 25-20 in 2016. Kendra Cocksedge scored 20 points, a record by a Black Ferns player in a Test match in England. There are no survivors from the Black Ferns team in that game for this international
Black Ferns Assistant Coach Tony Christie is buzzing for the occasion, and the expectant crowd of 40,000-plus. He told Radio New Zealand this week.
"It's going to be an awesome occasion to get that many fans in obviously one of the biggest stadiums in the world to show what we can do and the brand we want to play, I think, will not only grow our fan base but also be a memory for our players and management for their life.
There's real excitement to play England compared to the last time where there was a little bit of feeling of a bit more nerves when we played them at home whereas this time, I can just feel in the group there is a real excitement to go and play at Twickenham and put our best foot out there."
MITCHELL FACTOR
John Mitchell was a Waikato legend, the industrious loose forward playing 134 games (67 tries, 84 wins) between 1985 and 1994. Mitchell led the Mooloos to the 1992 NPC title and the famous 1993 Ranfurly Shield win against Auckland, a feat for which he became All Blacks 940. Mitchell played in six wins on the 1993 tour of the United Kingdom, captaining the All Blacks twice.
Mitchell has since fashioned a fine reputation as a coach. Between 2001 and 2003 he coached the All Blacks in 28 tests for 23 victories. He won two Rugby Championship titles and regained the Bledisloe Cup which Australia had held for five years.
Between 2018 and 2023 he was a defence coach with English and Japanese senior men’s sides. In 2024 he took over the Red Roses full time and led England to their 20th Six Nations title earlier in the year.
Mitchell coaches against his native country for the first time. He led England to their 20th Six Nations title earlier in the season.
TEAMS
Black Ferns (15-1): 15. Renee Holmes (18), 14. Ayesha Leti-I'iga (21), 13. Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (17), 2. Ruahei Demant (37, Co-Captain), 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (10), 10. Hannah King (3), 9. Maia Joseph (4), 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker (6), 7. Kennedy Tukuafu (nee Simon) (23, Co-Captain), 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (22), 5. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (25), 4. Alana Bremner (21), 3. Tanya Kalounivale (14), 2. Georgia Ponsonby (24), 1. Chryss Viliko (6)
Reserves: 16. Atlanta Lolohea (1), 17. Kate Henwood (5), 18. Amy Rule (24), 19. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (2), 20. Layla Sae (7), 21. Iritana Hohaia (10), 22. Amy du Plessis (17), 23. Ruby Tui (14)
England (15-1): 15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 44), 14. Abby Dow, (Trailfinders Women, 46), 13. Emily Scarratt (112), 12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 23), 11. Jess Breach (Saracens, 39), 10. Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 31), 9. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 73), 8. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 68 caps), 7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 105, Captain), 6. Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 6), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 65), 4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 54), 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 62), 2. 2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 58), 1. Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 16)
Reserves: 16. Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 75), 17. Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 48), 18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 31), 19 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 14), 20. Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, Debut) 21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 22), 22. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 50 caps) 23. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)