After subjecting the Black Ferns to their first ever successive losses, RBS 6 Nations holders England were looking to make it a whitewash in the finale at Esher on Saturday but were held 8-8 by the wounded world champions.

England’s Natasha Hunt cancelled out Renee Wickliffe’s try while Katy McLean and Kelly Brazier exchanged penalties to ensure England finished the series unbeaten to exact revenge for last year’s World Cup final defeat but fail to make it three in a row.

But Street, who has shuffled his pack throughout the trio of fixtures, believes England have emerged from that minor setback a better side and it is a testament to his charges that they were ruing the chance to make more history.

“It’s been a fantastic couple of weeks,” said Street. “What was particularly pleasing was the fact we used everyone in the squad, and everyone can say they played in a winning England side against New Zealand.

“I think it’s a sign of how far we’ve come that we’re disappointed not to have won all three games against New Zealand.

“We have beaten them with two different sides essentially, which is fantastic. We have great strength in depth. It’s an exciting time for women’s rugby in England.

Prior to the series the Black Ferns had lost just three games in 21 years, a statistic Street was desperate to change.

He also admitted the 13-10 defeat in the World Cup final last September was always in the back of his mind, and revenge has been a long time coming.

“We knew their record, so to win two games in four days against them was really special,” he added.

“After the disappointment of the World Cup, it could have been a real down year for us, but we’ve gone from strength to strength.

“It’s been a 14-month process since then and we wanted to be better by the time these Tests came around.

“We stewed on that game long and hard after the World Cup and we wanted to perform better this year, and that’s what we’ve done.”