Mitchell stresses value of tight Tests after England’s late New Zealand escape

England head coach John Mitchell has emphasised the importance of learning to win close Test matches after the Red Roses needed a last-play try to overcome New Zealand at Allianz Stadium. In comments reported by BBC Sport, Mitchell pointed to England's limited opportunities to face New Zealand and Canada as he assessed a second successive tight contest in the WXV Global Series.

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Mitchell said his half-time message was that the match would change once England secured possession, and he wanted them to attack their opportunities. New Zealand led 12-7 at the interval. He praised his players for seeking space, including from deep positions, while maintaining their effort without the ball. He had previously said the competition would give players new opportunities, with no trophy awarded at its conclusion.

New Zealand coach Whitney Hansen also backed an attacking decision, despite the way the match ended. Her side tried to move the ball from deep with time expired and the scores level, only for Zoe Harrison to intercept and score. Hansen said New Zealand had not wanted a draw and supported the decision to throw the pass, stressing that assessing performance remained important regardless of the result.

Harrison's intervention followed a missed late penalty and came a week after Canada ended England's record 39-match winning streak with a 26-26 draw at Sandy Park. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Harrison said England had been determined to avoid another draw. She also welcomed the closeness of the contest as a positive for women's rugby, with 59,871 spectators watching at Allianz Stadium.

Captain Meg Jones said England expected close games as the women's game improved and remained committed to competing as strongly as possible. Mitchell's side were missing several established players, including World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford. The match was only the third outing of the season for England's players, according to BBC Sport.

The result was New Zealand's fourth consecutive defeat by England, but Mitchell said the Black Ferns were moving in a positive direction. Their domestic Super Rugby Aupiki competition became fully professional and full-time this year. The wider WXV Global Series runs from 2026 to 2028, involving the world's leading 12 teams with the stated aim of increasing competitive opportunities before the 2029 World Cup.