Cokayne insists Red Roses are not in 'panic stations' after 41-match unbeaten run ends

England vice-captain Amy Cokayne has urged calm after Canada ended the Red Roses’ remarkable 41-match unbeaten run with a 24-21 victory at BMO Field in Toronto, their first defeat since the 2021 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at Eden Park.

Shoshanah Seumanutafa’s 78th-minute try proved the decisive moment as Kévin Rouet’s Canada side edged a tight WXV Global Series contest. For several members of England’s squad, it was the first Test defeat they had ever experienced in an England shirt — including Jess Breach, who suffered the loss on her 60th cap.

“We know we’re not miles off,” Cokayne said. “We weren’t completely blown off the park. A lot of the stuff was in our control and we maybe let the game slip. Just a few minor errors really that had big consequences. There’s no major panic stations, throw the book out. It was just fine-tuning what we’ve kind of laid the foundations on already.”

Cokayne revealed the squad had already conducted a thorough review of the defeat and identified specific areas for improvement ahead of a swift rematch. “There were tiny little moments or slight execution pieces that we know, with an extra week together, we can get right,” she said. “We’ve got some clear areas that we want to go after and a clear plan.”

As part of England’s leadership group, Cokayne has also focused on managing the emotional response within a squad unaccustomed to losing. “It’s okay to be disappointed. It’s okay to be sad, but when we’ve got a job to do, turning up for training and stuff like that, we’ve got to see that switch. We’ve got to give people the space to feel the way they want to feel, but we can’t wallow in it for too long.”

England face Canada again at Ottawa’s TD Place on Friday, a rare opportunity to respond immediately against the same opposition. Cokayne drew a parallel with the aftermath of the 2021 World Cup final defeat to New Zealand, when England had to wait nearly 12 months before facing the All Blacks again — a rematch they won.

“The unique opportunity that we’ve got now is that previously, when we’ve lost games, we haven’t then had the opportunity to play against the same opposition the next week,” Cokayne said. “I’m sure Canada are just as excited as we are, so it should be a good game.”

England will then conclude their 2025 autumn programme with a trip to New Jersey to face the USA Women’s Eagles on 30 October.