Burton says England's first defeat since 2022 frees Red Roses from fear ahead of Canada decider

England back-row Abi Burton has welcomed the Red Roses’ first defeat in three years as a necessary lesson, saying the 24-21 loss to Canada on Friday has liberated the squad ahead of the decisive third Test in the WXV Global Series.

The result ended England’s 41-game unbeaten run and was also the first time Burton, 26, had lost in an England shirt. Having made her Red Roses debut during the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, she has now played 13 matches for her country — all but one of them victories.

“I’m glad we got to experience that because sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know,” Burton said. “I thought Canada were great. That is the Test match rugby you want to be in where it can go any way. I would rather play in a game like that and lose and learn so much more from it.”

Burton acknowledged the defeat “sucked” but drew on her experience with GB Sevens, where she has faced losses before, to frame the setback constructively. “Adversity breeds a positive place for growth,” she said, pointing to specific areas — late-game management, scrum and lineout execution, and conversion efficiency inside the 22 — that the defeat had thrown into sharp relief in a way that winning rarely does.

Perhaps the most striking consequence of the loss, according to Burton, is psychological. England’s long unbeaten record had become an ever-present pressure, even if the squad rarely discussed it openly.

“There is no more fear of loss or the fear of failure,” she said. “It wasn’t necessarily something we spoke about as a group but it is always on social media, it’s always in the headlines. We have got nothing to lose anymore, whereas before we had a 41-game streak to lose. Now we are not going out trying to not lose anymore.”

Head coach John Mitchell has reportedly shared the same view, and Burton confirmed the response within the group has been positive. The squad will face Canada again on Friday in the third and final Test of the series, with England looking to level the rubber.

“Opportunities have come about for people to play, it’s a shake up,” Burton added. “I think that gives us freedom — we all want freedom to play.”