Mitchell said: “There was such good stuff in there. I’m very patient because we’re just starting and we’re still alive in this Test series.

“I’m a realist. There will be greater things come as a result of this. There’s a greater purpose and one Test match is not going to take us away from our purpose.”

For the opening 10 minutes, the match followed the script of last year’s World Cup final between the two sides, with Canada breaking the deadlock and England immediately hitting back.

But unlike last September, when they roared on to win 33-13, the Red Roses could not maintain control, with the two teams never separated by more than one try and England unable to convert 20 minutes of sustained pressure into the crucial score.

While acknowledging England would have to review their “game management”, captain Meg Jones hailed the spectacle the two sides delivered.

“It was definitely tit for tat and definitely a game of momentum swinging,” said centre Jones. “It was two good teams going at each other.

“It was an amazing contest and competitive as we imagined. This is the first Test. We get another two shots at it [against Canada].”

Echoing Jones’ defiance before October trips to Toronto and Ottawa, Mitchell added: “We’re in a Test series. It’s 1-1. That’s it.”