Maia Roos: Black Ferns ready to go to ‘dark places’ against Red Roses

Maia Roos, Santo Taumata, Georgia Ponsonby, Ruahei Demant and Ayesha Leti-I’iga are the only players in the current Black Ferns squad to have beaten England in a Test match.

On 12 November 2022, in the Women Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park, the Black Ferns won a glorious 34-31 upset of the Red Roses, who had won a world record 30 consecutive Test matches.

Roos started the final and was later nominated for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year for her performances at the tournament.

Three times in six matches she topped the Black Ferns tackle count. Additionally, she scored tries in pool wins against Wales [56-12] and Scotland [57-0] and helped the Black Ferns win 46 out of 53 of their own lineout throws.

Roos had debuted for the Black Ferns in a 56-15 loss to England in 2021 at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton. Hooker Amy Cokayne, as she did in the aforementioned Rugby World Cup final, scored three tries.

Since 12 November 2022 – 1415 days ago – Roos has boosted her Test cap tally from 14 to 45. Meanwhile, England are unbeaten in 40 consecutive Tests, with three convincing wins against New Zealand: 33-12 in Auckland in 2023, 24-12 in London in October 2024 and 49-31 in Vancouver in 2024. In that Vancouver Test, England scored nine tries but only kicked two conversions.

However, after 39 wins in a row, 2025 world champions England were held to a shock 26-26 draw by Canada in Exeter last Saturday. New Zealand have won all sevens tests by a combined score of 336-101 in 2026.

Are England ripe for the taking?

“Canada’s result shows the growth of rugby at this level. It was a big occasion and an even match,” Roos told RugbyPass.

“Canada was very physical, which is a strength of ours. They kept the ball alive and got in behind the Red Roses, playing on top of the defence. We’ll have to be similar.”

Roos sat out the 52-20 win against South Africa on 5 September in Johannesburg. While an eight-tries-to-four victory looks resounding, alarmingly the Black Ferns conceded 17 penalties to six, surrendered four yellow cards, and gave up three tries from lineout drives.

They were stuffed in the scrums, a renowned strength of England.

“That was a hiccup,” Roos conceded. “South Africa were very strong in their set-piece. I’m confident we’ll be better and have proved that against France and Scotland. We have processes in place and roles assigned to do it right.

“Stopping the maul is first and foremost about discipline. Then it’s all trust and heart. Sometimes you have to be prepared to go to the dark places.”

Roos expanded her expertise in scrum and lineouts during a stint with Trailfinders Women in England’s world-leading Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).

She ranked second for most lineout steals despite coming home early during the minimum 16-game season to compete in Super Rugby Aupiki. She also grew as a leader, learning to mediate conversations and then come up with simple solutions rather than talking all the time.

“England was the first time I’d lived away from home. That exposure to a new culture and style of rugby was awesome. It was cold and dark, but it helped me grow as a player and a person,” Roos said.

“The emphasis they put on set-piece over there was awesome for a lock. Liana [Mikaele-Tu’u] was one of the top lineout forwards there, which wasn’t something she’d done in New Zealand before. I definitely learned some things I didn’t know. Barney Maddison was a great coach. He’s a lock, too.”

Her Red Roses teammates at Trailfinders included Meg Jones, Abi Burton and Haidee Head.

Meanwhile, the Black Ferns and England have jousted 33 times since their first Test in 1997. New Zealand have won 19 times, England 13, with a draw back in 2011. The Black Ferns hold the edge on aggregate points, 734 to 596, but England are seeking four consecutive wins for the first time.

England’s first-ever match at Allianz Stadium was on 15th February 2003, when they whitewashed France 57-0. Since then, they have won 25 of 27 internationals, with their only two defeats to France in 2013 and 2015.

The Black Ferns have lost all four Tests they’ve played at Twickenham against England. Their only win at the home of rugby was in last year’s third-placed play-off against France [42-26] at Women’s Rugby World Cup 205.

England are unbeaten in 53 successive home internationals. Their last loss at home was to the Black Ferns 25-20 at the Stoop in London on 19 November 2016. Kendra Cocksedge scored 20 of the Black Ferns 25 points.