• USA 12-55 England

• Claudia Moloney-MacDonald runs in four tries

England have seen a lot of records crumble around them in this WXV Global Series but the world champions were not going to let a 35-year winning streak go against the USA. The last time the Eagles claimed a victory over the Red Roses was in the 1991 Rugby World Cup and since then England have won all 22 matches they have played. The Red Roses got back to winning ways and while their recent losses to Canada displayed the top sides had caught up with the world No 1 team, Friday’s outing against the USA evidenced that outside the top three there is still a gap to be closed.

The USA headed into the match in good form with five consecutive wins, including victories over Wales and Ireland, and their No 8 Freda Tafuna has been one of the standouts across all of the teams during the WXV. However, England were able to contain the bright spark and despite good performances from Alev Kelter and Hope Rogers, the hosts did not have enough firepower.

The Pennsylvania center found rugby early and is nominated for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year. In New Jersey, the Red Roses will present her stiffest Test yet

Going into their WXV Global Series game against England’s world champion Red Roses in Harrison, New Jersey, on Friday, the US Eagles women have five successive wins and a squad mixing great experience with great youth. Among potentially great younger players is the first American ever nominated for a major World Rugby award.

“I keep getting told like, ‘Oh, don’t let your head get too big,’” laughed Bella Vogel, the 19-year-old center or fly-half from Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, nominated for Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Still a student at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, she has had an extraordinary season.

USA v England and USA men v Australia XV will be broadcast in the US on Paramount Plus and in the UK on the England Rugby YouTube channel and BBC iPlayer.

Martin Pengelly writes about rugby in the US on Substack, at The National Maul.

The Chiefs’ latest Wallaby on dealing with English weather, the positive side of rehab and Australia’s World Cup chances

The list of Australian rugby players who have found a spiritual home in Exeter is a long and illustrious one. Dean Mumm, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Scott Sio, Greg Holmes, Julian Salvi, Ben White, Mitch Lees, Lachie Turner, Len Ikitau … almost without exception they have pitched up in the south-west of England and relished the experience. As Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby, drily observes: “They seem to like the pasties and the cider.”

Perhaps the surfing opportunities and the area’s beguiling beaches have also played their part, although Baxter has his own subtly different theory. “Maybe Exeter and Devon is more like Australia than anywhere else in England. There’s plenty of open space and we tend to be a relatively old school type of club. The Australian guys really seem to like that environment.”