WXV Global Series 2026: Talking points after the Red Roses' four year unbeaten streak ended

By now everyone should have caught their breath back after the latest weekend of WXV Global Series 2026.

No one can say they were not entertained by the action from across the globe. Things started with a bang on Friday night as Canada beat the Red Roses at Toronto’s BMO Field. A result quickly followed by Australia’s 56-12 win and the Black Ferns’ massive 81-12 victory over France.

To conclude the weekend the USA Women’s Eagles stretched their winning run to four games in a row with a 36-27 win against Italy in Texas.

Here are all the talking points from the weekend…

Let’s talk about Toronto

Perhaps the biggest elephant in the room is Canada’s 24-21 victory against the Red Roses in Toronto. If you are late to that result, yes, England’s 41-match winning run has ended.

BMO Field provided a boisterous, unrelenting home venue for Kévin Rouet’s team. From the moment teams stepped inside the venue, it was clear there was a different feeling for both teams. England walked through an almost silent crowd. In contrast, Canada were met by cheers and red flares. During the game, England boss John Mitchell claimed he struggled to communicate with his coaching staff such was the noise.

Having pushed the Red Roses so close in September at Sandy Park with a 26-all draw, there was a sensation that the North Americans were going to get the job done on home soil. Either in Toronto or in Ottawa.

Now Canada’s goal will be to go two-from-two. In contrast, for the first time in four years England are hoping to get back to winning ways. It makes for a hugely intriguing Friday night at TD Place.

“That was our target, to be able to win against England during the October window – I’m just proud of them,” Rouet said at full-time.

“Just after the game I told them, as soon as you do it once, you want to do it twice. That’s something we have to focus on.”

You cannot say that Canada were not worthy winners. Whether it was Alysha Corrigan’s brilliant solo score or Shoshanah Seumanutafa’s late winner, let alone the superhuman efforts of Sophie de Goede. It was the perfect display of rugby between the first and third ranked teams in the world.

Wallaroos are in a rhythm

A win against Scotland this Friday night in Canberra can see the Wallaroos equal the same number of wins they registered in 2025.

Victory at GIO Stadium will also see the side win three games in a row for the first time since their efforts at WXV 2 in 2024. To say the side have found a rhythm at the end of 2026 is maybe putting things mildly.

Until they played Scotland at Hive Stadium at the end of September, Australia had only won once all year. Against Fiji in March. In the months since they had been off the pace in the Pacific Four Series, comfortably lost the Laurie O’Reilly Cup to the Black Ferns and surrendered leads against England and France at WXV Global Series.

Getting off the mark against the Scots in Edinburgh was just reward for plenty of hard work. Made all the more impressive when you consider it is an interim coaching staff led by director of women’s high performance, Tim Walsh.\

Their 56-12 win against Scotland at Accor Stadium on Saturday – one of three warm-up acts for Bledisloe II – you saw a team full to the brim with confidence.

More than just a hugely positive eight-try win in front of home support, the Wallaroos’ biggest players stepped up too. Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart were both try-scorers, while emerging star Amelia Whitaker impressed with her brace.

Then there are the likes of Samantha Wood, Faitala Moleka, Waiaria Ellis and Pia Tapsell, who have all shimmered in the background while others have shone outright. It is hard not to be excited by this emerging crop in gold and green.

The Eagles are the world’s form team

At this moment in time, no WXV Global Series team has won their last four games in a row. Well, apart from the USA Women’s Eagles. They are the form team in the world of women’s Test rugby right now after their 36-27 win against Italy in Texas.

More than anything else, that is testament to the work that Jack Hanratty has done with the Eagles since his arrival as head coach. All of a sudden his squad seem to be very settled, young stars are emerging and players from Emilie Bydwell’s sevens side are getting opportunities too.

If you look at the way the team are playing their rugby too, it is hugely impressive. There is a dynamism across the squad, a lethal element to their attack that was vacant at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. It is hard to quantify exactly how much this USA team has grown in the 12 months since their group stage exit in England. But, rest assured it is plenty.

All of this is before we mention the advent of Freda Tafuna as a genuinely world class back-row. There is no weak part of the 23-year-old’s game. You are not left doubting why she was voted the country’s best college player for two years in a row. And she competes in a position group in which co-captain Georgie Perris-Redding is in the best form of her career, while the likes of Kaipona Bailey, Kate Zackary and Hann Humphreys are all jostling for starting spots.

Then there is the hugely impressive 19-year-old Bella Vogel. So new to Test rugby but also a staple part of it. You cannot feel anything but excitement for what is in her future as a player who looked so comfortable at fly-half for her first caps and is now bossing games from inside centre after the emergence of Life University teammate Nina Mason.

Another game against Italy is next. This time in Nashville, Tennessee, before they conclude the year against England at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey. Just enough time to keep the confidence flowing into 2027.

WXV Global Series results

Week 1

• England 48-15 Australia
• Canada 64-26 Scotland
• New Zealand 28-14 France

Week 2

• Wales 50-19 South Africa
• Italy 55-21 Japan
• England 26-26 Canada
• France 29-26 Australia
• Scotland 14-66 New Zealand
• Ireland 36-40 USA

Week 3

• Italy 29-41 South Africa
• England 26-19 New Zealand
• Wales 24-26 USA
• Scotland 10-30 Australia
• France 21-5 Canada
• Ireland 31-24 Japan

Week 4

• Spain 0-20 South Africa

Week 5

• Canada 24-21 England
• Australia 56-12 Scotland
• New Zealand 81-12 France
• USA 36-27 Italy