| Canada: (12) 19 |
| Tries: Paquin, Corrigan, Beukeboom; Cons: De Goede 2 |
| England: (15) 26 |
| Tries: Packer, Dow 2; Pens: Scarratt 3; Con: Scarratt |
England secured their place within the World Cup closing, exhibiting grit to carry off a decided Canada at Eden Park.
The Crimson Roses had been offered their sternest problem of the 12 months as newbie facet Canada defied expectations to match their three tries in Auckland.
However professionals England stood as much as the take a look at, with Abby Dow scoring a surprising try to three Emily Scarratt penalties sufficient to seal the win.
England will face hosts and holders New Zealand or France within the closing.
The Black Ferns will play France within the second semi-final in a while Saturday and either side are anticipated to offer more durable opposition than Canada.
The Crimson Roses prolonged their profitable file to 30 in a row with the semi-final victory and on 12 November will likely be looking for a primary world title since 2014.
England followers get an uncommon style of nerves
England began the World Cup as agency favourites however as semi-finals weekend approached, the narrative subtly modified with New Zealand’s confidence rising as quick because the questions over England’s forwards-focused sport plan.
Issues had been considerably turbulent for England pre-match as each prop Hannah Botterman and scrum-half Lucy Packer had been late harm withdrawals from the squad.
The Crimson Roses seemed essentially the most fragile they’ve all event as underdogs Canada loved an brisk begin.
Centre Scarratt seemed unusually nervous as she dropped two excessive balls however she quickly rectified issues with a trendy offload to Tatyana Heard that confirmed England’s backs had come to play this time.
England’s opening strive nonetheless got here from their attribute line-out drive as Zoe Harrison kicked to the nook as a substitute of making an attempt to take three factors from the tee.
However the second strive was a wonderful little bit of operating rugby within the solar as Helena Rowland, a energetic presence on the again from the beginning, drew in sufficient defenders, masking half the pitch and creating sufficient room for Dow to go over.
It appeared as if Canada couldn’t deal with an England facet taking part in with extra depth than they’ve all event and that the semi-final was wrapped up after quarter-hour.
However what England flaunted in assault, they lacked in defence. Canada scrum-half Justine Pelletier uncovered them first, discovering a niche and chipping by way of for flanker Karen Paquin to attain.
Quickly after, England once more kicked to the nook after they might have gone for aim however this time they weren’t rewarded as a result of Abbie Ward was held up over the tryline.
As soon as once more Canada gathered momentum and the stress on England mounted as they got a style of their very own maul, pushed again into their very own 22.
Off the subsequent line-out, the Canadians went vast and Rowland was left with an excessive amount of to do as centre Alysha Corrigan scored, with quantity eight Sophie de Goede’s conversion tying issues up at 12-12.
All of the sudden England followers had a sense they haven’t wanted to expertise for a few 12 months: nerves. This time, when England gained a penalty in entrance of the posts, Scarratt took her likelihood to take a slender lead at half-time.
England survive bodily encounter
England had been instantly given the chance to double their lead as Scarratt nailed one other penalty simply after the break.
Quickly after Rowland, such a dependable power on the again for England, went down with an harm that seemed critical sufficient to maintain her out of the ultimate and was stretchered from the sphere, with Ellie Kildunne approaching at full-back.
England’s character was additional examined as they had been repeatedly battered by Canadian forwards much less then a metre from their tryline.
Backed right into a nook, the Crimson Roses produced what might be their finest strive of the 12 months.
Claudia MacDonald started operating the ball out from her personal tryline and as she sliced her method by way of defenders and located an on-running Dow.
Dow was informed she would miss the World Cup due to a damaged leg suffered in April, however seemed as highly effective as ever as she coated half the pitch to attain a strive that may certainly go down in World Cup historical past.
Nonetheless Canada wouldn’t be overwhelmed and England prop Vickii Cornborough was despatched to the sin-bin as she defended within the Crimson Roses’ 22
After a break from Canada fly-half Alex Tessier, England had been compelled into extra dogged defence on their tryline however this time they might not preserve their opponents out and Tyson Beukeboom went over.
De Goede’s conversion bought Canada to inside 4 factors earlier than Scarratt’s third penalty gave England the extra comfy seven-point cushion with which they ended the match.
England gamers ran to hug one another in celebration after surviving a brutal and bodily encounter. With Rowland returning to the pitch to have a good time on crutches, it stays to be seen how energetically the facet will bounce again for the ultimate.
Line-ups
Canada: Alarie; Grant, Corrigan, Kaljuvee, Farries; Tessier, Pelletier; DeMerchant, Tuttosi, Menin, Holtkamp, Hunt, Forteza, Paquin, De Goede (capt).
Replacements: Boag, Kassil, Ellis, Fuamba, Beukeboom, Senft, Svoboda, Holly.
England: Rowland; Dow, Scarratt, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Infante; Cornborough, Cokayne, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter (capt).
Replacements: Davies, Muir, Brown, Galligan, Cleall, Kabeya, Aitchison, Kildunne.
