For a second week running, Red Roses succumbed to an inspired Canada side to suffer back-to-back defeats for the first time in a decade.

After their 26-26 draw at Sandy Park last month and loss in Toronto last week, England are now winless in three meetings against Canada. Here, Telegraph Sport looks at the key areas where England were outfoxed by an eye-catching Canada outfit.

Leaky defence

While England did well to absorb large amounts of red zone pressure in the first half, it ultimately knackered them. This was particularly pronounced when Canada seamlessly spread the ball to the edges or caught England out with their sparky transition play, calling the Red Roses’ backs into action.

It was perfectly encapsulated by the hosts’ second try, when Lucy Packer, Helena Rowland and Mia Venner all gave chase to Gabby Senft in the build up to Sophie de Goede’s score. None of them laid a glove on either forward.

The problems compounded in the second half when Flo Symonds’s scything run through Emma Sing and Jess Breach was the attacking platform for de Goede’s second, before Savannah Bauder bumped off Sing for Canada’s fifth and final try. It all but confirmed that the vacancy left by retired winger Abby Dow is yet to be filled.

Lack of leadership

For the first time in John Mitchell’s reign, England looked like they lacked a leader on the pitch in Ottawa. This year they have performed admirably in the face of several key players who have been missing through pregnancy and childbirth. But in the pack, vice-captain Sadia Kabeya, usually such a ball-wrecker, was anonymous. Even when Alex Matthews, one of the Red Roses’ most experienced forwards, entered the fray after the break, there was no uplift in England’s intensity.

Zoe Harrison had an off day and was partially at fault for spilling the ball in the build up to de Goede’s first try. Meg Jones and Helena Rowland’s midfield partnership never got going and the captain looked dejected in her post-match interview. “We probably didn’t respond the way we wanted to,” Jones conceded. “We’re not broken, we just need to grow from here.”

Misfiring attack

Canada’s point of difference was how they played flat on the edges. They showcased some exquisite passages of innovative attacking rugby and their forwards were repeated protagonists in such moments, showing versatility. England, by contrast, looked static, lacked dynamism and were clunky in their connections.

With Canada leading 12-7, the visitors had fine field position but Lucy Packer’s pass fizzed past Lilli Ives Campion and trickled towards Jones, who had to backtrack and gather. It was a snapshot of the inaccuracies in England’s usually crisp passing game. Even when Jones made inroads with a rare run after the visitors were held up, England never advanced up the pitch and missed the opportunity to convert pressure into points before half-time.

PWR helping rivals catch up

Kévin Rouet’s Canada side might not have the same depth or level of resource as England, nor the kicking game offered by Harrison. But they have been strategic in the way they have uncovered England’s weaknesses and honed their on-pitch telepathy. Their players and staff have capitalised on the opportunities offered by England’s Premiership Women’s Rugby competition, which was a growing concern for Mitchell before this WXV campaign.

Seven players from Canada’s starring XV in Ottawa play in the PWR, while Rouet has been a welcome addition at Saracens. Alex Austerberry, the Saracens’ director of rugby, and Nathan Smith, the head coach at Loughborough Lightning have both assisted Rouet throughout the WXV campaign and work closely with several of England’s players. Canada have shown there is a blueprint for beating the world champions, which will inspire other nations, the question is whether we will see limits imposed on the number of foreign imports in the PWR.

Valid TMO gripe

There was no television match official at the TD Place Stadium in Ottawa for this huge match between two of the best sides in world rugby, with referee Aurélie Groizeleau taking charge of proceedings on her own. Would it ever happen between sides of equivalent stature in the men’s game? Never.

Mitchell rightly took aim at this afterwards, citing Jess Breach’s would-be intercept try on the hour mark – when England were trailing 19-17 – which was called offside. Sing, though, was lucky to have escaped punishment for pulling Symonds’ hair. with a hair pull on Symonds. “These games are so meaningful and there’s going to be a situation where they can be major turning points,” said Mitchell. “The girls deserve quality decision-making.” When England and Canada serve up such enthralling tussles like the three we have been treated to in recent weeks, it is hard to disagree.