England captain Meg Jones says consecutive physical matches with Canada and New Zealand have given the Red Roses sharper preparation as they head into further fixtures in Canada and the WXV Global Series.
England endured two demanding tests in successive weeks — a tight draw with Canada followed by a 26-19 win over New Zealand at Allianz Stadium.
Zoe Harrison scored a late match-winner to secure the victory against the Black Ferns.
Jones believes being pushed into uncomfortable situations is valuable preparation for upcoming matches in Canada and longer-term selection battles.
# What happened England captain Meg Jones says back-to-back bruising matches against Canada and New Zealand have made the Red Roses stronger. England were held by Canada in one game and then edged New Zealand 26-19 at Allianz Stadium, with Zoe Harrison scoring a dramatic late match-winner.
# Why the sequence matters
# The New Zealand match in brief The game against the Black Ferns was a close contest. England came through by seven points, sealed by Harrison's late score. That result followed a week in which England had been held by Canada, so the Red Roses left that sequence feeling battle-tested rather than complacent.
# Immediate next steps England are set to play two matches in Canada next month. Jones sees the recent tough matches as direct preparation for those fixtures. The wider competitive context is the WXV Global Series window, which is also being used by coaching staff to assess players for longer-term selection decisions, including 2029 World Cup considerations.
John Mitchell and the coaching setup are treating the new-look WXV Global Series as a platform for selection and development. Mitchell has challenged players to view the Series as the beginning of their fight for World Cup places, making performances in these fixtures more than one-off results.
# Practical takeaways for readers
# Bottom line Meg Jones sees consecutive, hard-fought matches as a beneficial form of preparation. England's narrow win over New Zealand and the earlier match with Canada provide the coaching staff and players with clear data on where the team stands as it moves through the WXV Global Series and toward future selection windows.
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