Summary

  • England beat world champions New Zealand 43-12 at Exeter's Sandy Park

  • Hosts retain world number one spot with record-breaking margin of victory

  • Second row Abbie Ward scores twice as England dominate first half

  • Ellie Kildunne try on stroke of half-time gives hosts 17-0 lead

  • Lark Davies, debutant Holly Aitchison, Abby Dow add tries in second half

  • Player of the match Zoe Harrison goes over for seventh try in final attack

  1. Replacementpublished at 70 mins

    England 29-7 New Zealand

    Vice-captain Poppy Cleall leaves the field and Harriet Millar-Mills heads the other way.

    She's straight into a scrum with England winning a penalty. Think Sandy Park (all 9,748 of them) would like at least one more try from the Red Roses in these last 10 minutes.

  2. Postpublished at 69 mins

    England 29-7 New Zealand

    Zoe Harrison kicks New Zealand back to just outside the 22 but the Black Ferns will go again.

    There are just over 10 minutes left and New Zealand aren't giving up on this one yet.

  3. Postpublished at 67 mins

    England 29-7 New Zealand

    New Zealand's forwards continue to work through the phases.

    They try a maul and... the ball is held up over the line.

  4. Postpublished at 66 mins

    England 29-7 New Zealand

    Maybe it's more to come for New Zealand though.

    They are looming ominously in England's 22.

  5. Postpublished at 64 mins

    England 29-7 New Zealand

    Given New Zealand haven't played for two years, it was hard to know how today was going to go.

    But I'm not sure many people were envisaging England having a lead as large as 22 points. It feels like there's still more to come too...

  6. 'The seas parted'published at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2021

    Natasha Hunt
    World Cup-winning England scrum-half on BBC Two

    The seas parted for Aitchison. She has this awareness of space and it's lovely to see her going over on her debut.

  7. try

    Try - England 29-7 New Zealandpublished at 62 mins

    Holly Aitchison

    Where did that come from?

    It's an incredible try on her XVs debut for Holly Aitchison as she puts her sevens prowess to use. The centre - taking injured star Emily Scarratt's place today - sees a gap and cuts inside, speeding away from New Zealand defenders to surely put this game to bed.

    Zoe Harrison can't make the conversion.

  8. Postpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2021

    England 24-7 New Zealand

    Ok no more tries for now as a wayward pass is picked up by the Black Ferns.

    The visitors put up a testing kick for Zoe Harrison but the fly-half is more than up to the challenge,

  9. Postpublished at 60 mins

    England 24-7 New Zealand

    Maud Muir is straight into the action as England's forwards work through the phases and make it up to the 5m line again.

    One more try would be lovely.

  10. Postpublished at 59 mins

    England 24-7 New Zealand

    Prop Maud Muir is on for her debut.

    The much more experienced forward Alex Matthews comes on with her and gives Muir a reassuring pat on the back.

    What a time to earn your first cap, but from what we've seen of Maud Muir in Premier 15s she is more than up for the challenge.

  11. 'Important score'published at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2021

    Brian Moore
    Former England hooker on BBC Two

    Important England recorded that score to get the points on the board ticking over and now we expect New Zealand to really throw the ball around and try to take England on out wide.

  12. Postpublished at 58 mins

    England 24-7 New Zealand

    Well. Just over 20 minutes left and England have a 17-point lead.

    Surely Red Roses fans can relax a bit now.

  13. try

    Try - England 24-7 New Zealandpublished at 56 mins

    Lark Davies (con Harrison)

    Who needs reinforcements?

    The maul rolls over.

    Hooker Lark Davies is the one with the ball in her hand when England go over. That is her last act of the game as she is replaced by Amy Cokayne.

    Hannah Botterman is also off, with Vickii Cornborough on.

    Zoe Harrison adds two more points.

  14. Postpublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2021

    England 17-7 New Zealand

    Amy Cokayne and Vickii Cornborough are on the touchline ready to shore up England's forwards.

    The Red Roses will have another line-out 5m from the tryline before they get any reinforcements.

  15. Postpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2021

    Brian Moore
    Former England hooker on BBC Two

    Huge wasted opportunity. England had two on one there.

  16. Postpublished at 54 mins

    England 17-7 New Zealand

    New Zealand are still down to 14 with Alana Bremner in the sin-bin.

    This is prime time for England to get a slightly more comfortable lead but another Ellie Kildunne run down the right comes to nothing.

  17. Postpublished at 54 mins

    England 17-7 New Zealand

    England can't make any impact in the scrum and New Zealand clear their lines

    Ellie Kildunne gathers and tries to make something happen, but the Red Roses lose the ball on the floor,

    They'll have another go from the halfway line.

  18. No trypublished at 53 mins

    England 17-7 New Zealand

    The ball was knocked on over the line, so that one won't count.

    But England will get a line-out and they're off again.

  19. Try reviewpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2021

    Wait a minute... The referee is taking a look.

  20. try

    Try - England 22-7 New Zealandpublished at 52 mins

    And they're over!

    What a response from England.