England reached the seventh Women’s Rugby World Cup final in a thrilling 35-17 semi-final victory over France on Saturday.
The tournament was a kind of contest that included the hosts who were screaming. Although sometimes uncomfortable for the red roses, the crowds at Ashtongate were on the edge of their seats, and the entertaining battle was a fantastic sight. I’ve successfully cleaned my appetite for next week’s final against Canada.
If England fans were expecting another soft afternoon, they were grossly wrong. France came to visit.
Thanks to the magic from Ellie Kildun, it seemed as if the faithful red roses would get their wish early on. World Player of the Year burst the left wing and no one in the blue could put her gloves.
As Morgan Bourgeois met and tried to cover, everyone in the stadium could see the side steps coming. Even the French fullback herself must have sensed it, but there was nothing she could do to score under the post to stop Kildunne from passing her.
But instead of buckling, France rose to the opportunity. They reached under the skin of the hosts with many niggles throughout the match.
France brought the physicality needed to compete with the best aspects of the world, earning its reward for 23 minutes. After trying to play a vast rugby, they went to Trench and patiently built phases in stages, exhausting the English defenses. The ball worked from right to left and Nascira Condo smartly back to the right to score.
England threatened the attack again, but loose carry and knock-ons were reverted. France came back and choked correctly for the forward pass of the build-up. Anyway, it was another psychological victory for them.
Individuals rose to their foremost for the UK. Meg Jones was immeasurable, and Kildun seemed to cover almost every blade of grass. Everything she did in the attack looked threatening and funny, but the pressure on the unfamiliar scoreboard was the elephant in the room. The red rose was led by just two points on the break.
England started the second half strongly, and it wasn’t long before they made a second attempt. Their driving mall proves that Amy Cocaine is too strong for France from behind the lineouts that go back and forth. It was an appropriate attempt for the situation.
The UK was standing up for scraps. There was a set after Kildun touched her and then pushed Carla Alves into the ground. Strength is a true test of the usually dominant red rose.
However, when they placed another bid for their first-ever World Cup final appearance, France didn’t roll over. They returned to their own basics and advanced to laying the platform before the ball left to Joanna Grises, who was round the corner. Bourgeois slotted out a great conversion and returned it to within two.
It’s time for England to show why they’re the best in the world, and they did just that.
– Canada crowdfunded the road to the World Cup. Now they’re on to the finals
– Amy Cocaine: RAF officers and one-off kiwi power England’s scrum
Exchange brings fresh energy, and its depth proved important in the latter stage.
Scrum Half Natasha Hunt quickly took the faucet along the way, and the host rolled forward. Amazing ruck speed moved them before Abby Ward embarrassed the time mark.
Then, ten minutes later, Kildunne produced another moment of glow, running half the length of France, beating three defenders and scoring in the right corner.
The stadium sighed collective relief. France responded with a second attempt from the condo, but it was too little and too late.
Jones played in two minutes to celebrate England and reached the final, but not without some tense moments along the way.