Skipper Sarah Hunter believes that grit and determination paved the way for England to book their place in a fifth successive Women’s Rugby World Cup final.
Hunter and co overcame France 20-3 in the semi-finals on Tuesday and they can now look forward to taking on four-time world champions New Zealand at Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 7.45pm).
Despite scoring 159 points in their first three games, the 2017 Six Nations champions relied on their defensive abilities to ensure victory against Les Bleus.
A tight first half saw the teams score three points apiece and the Red Roses’ dogged defending ensured they protected their narrow lead after Sarah Bern scored the first try of the match.
This determination was demonstrated by fly-half Megan Jones, whose last-ditch tackle on Julie Annery ensured the French player’s foot was out of touch as the ball went down, preventing what would have been a certain try when England were only ten points ahead.
“They [France] were fantastic and have given us the greatest test. I think both sides were going for it,” said Hunter.
“We pride ourselves on our defence and Megan certainly made a fantastic tackle but all through the night, people were putting their bodies on the line.
“Our defence won that game.”
Speaking about the challenge of facing New Zealand in the final, Hunter said: “I am ecstatic to make another World Cup final.
“It is going to take another step up on Saturday but we have the belief and the strength in the squad to go and do that.”
After their semi-final loss, France, who were Six Nations winners in 2016, will face the United States in the third-place playoff.
Although they were unable to resist New Zealand, falling to a 45-12 defeat, the States will still provide Les Bleues with a tough test.
France, who have reached the semi-finals in the last five tournaments, have played a fantastic World Cup so far, and look certain to enter the 2018 Six Nations in top form.
Meanwhile, hosts Ireland were unable to overcome Australia in a 36-24 defeat and are now set to face Wales in the seventh-place play-off.
Despite struggling against a very physical Australia side, Ireland finished the game with pride, with both Sophie Spence and Paula Fitzpatrick scoring tries late on for the hosts.
Coach Tom Tierney admitted that his side struggled with Australia’s physicality, describing them as: “a very big, physical Australia team who were very direct.”
He said: “That took a lot out of us. Instead of one person making a tackle, it was two or three people, and suddenly, then you become very narrow.”
However, Tierney was eager not to let his team’s morale drop ahead of their seventh-place playoff against Wales. He said “We’ve got to take something from it. We’ve got to build ourselves back up. We’ve got to go again on Saturday.”
Wales succumbed to a heavy 52-0 against Canada.
Having already faced off earlier in the tournament, the Welsh were optimistic after taking Canada all the way in a 15-0 defeat, but their second meeting unfurled much more emphatically.
Wales coach Rowland Phillips was able to draw some positives from the game but admitted that his team were second best for the majority of the match.
He said: “We picked up a lot of momentum and confidence from the first Canada game but other than the lineout, we came off second best in all areas.”
Meanwhile, Italy have secured themselves a place in the ninth-place playoff against Spain after they beat Japan 22-0 in Belfast, their first win of the tournament.
Speaking after the game, second row Valentina Ruzza described the win as “beautiful.”
She said: “They were very hard, they were very tough. We were looking for this [a win at the competition] and we have to keep working.”
