England Succumb to Heartbreaking Loss as World Cup Hopes are Ended by New Zealand in Pulsating Final
- last year
World Cup final agony for England, ecstasy for New Zealand, and a huge shot in the arm for women's rugby which now looks set to go to a whole new level after this astonishing Eden Park clash.
The bare facts are these. Amy Cokayne's hat-trick wasn't enough for the Red Roses to become world champions. Ultimately, they paid the price for Lydia Thompson's 17th minute red card.
In a see-saw battle for the ages, England were ultimately outdone and outscored six tries to five as they suffered their first defeat since 2019.
The Black Ferns ended their incredible 30-match unbeaten run to beat England on the biggest stage, as they had done in the 2017 final. It was the worst possible time for England's unbeaten sequence to shudder to a halt.
Simon Middleton's side had to play more than three quarters of the game with 14 players after Thompson was rightly sent off following a brutal collision with Portia Woodman.
From there, one of the best World Cup finals of all time was played out in front of a record crowd for a women's international. All 42,579 watching in Auckland were enthralled. So too was the terrestrial television audience.
This was just a wonderful rugby occasion and one England looked like they would edge against all the odds.
Cokayne joined 1966 football hero Sir Geoff Hurst in scoring a World Cup final hat-trick for England as she and her fellow forwards mauled their way to a position where victory looked possible.
But they could not deny the hosts who with a player advantage for such long periods, were given the space in which to play their trademark enterprising brand of rugby. England were forced into a key change at the 11th hour.
Scrum-half Leanne Infante was ruled out with ankle and knee knocks with Lucy Packer coming straight into the starting side at No 9. Packer's World Cup has also been interrupted by injury.
That was something of a concern, but after fanning the field to receive the Haka, England's start was fast and clinical. They stole back possession at an early breakdown. Packer did well at the contact area to ensure the ball was retained.
First, it was spread left were Abby Dow broke free. Then, impressively, back right England went with Ellie Kildunne finishing in the corner. Emily Scarratt converted for a 7-0 lead after just four minutes.
New Zealand missed a long-range penalty and although their star wing Ruby Tui made two dangerous runs, England were in control. Hooker Cokayne grabbed their second from a trademark rolling maul and Scarratt improved the effort.
It was all plain sailing. That was until the game changed on its head. New Zealand wing Woodman made a break down the left. Thompson came across to cover but didn't get low enough in the tackle and the pair collided head-on-head.
Referee Hollie Davidson consulted TMO Ben Whitehouse but a red card was the correct decision. Woodman looked to have been knocked unconscious but was able to stand up before leaving the field.
The incident lit the fuse
The bare facts are these. Amy Cokayne's hat-trick wasn't enough for the Red Roses to become world champions. Ultimately, they paid the price for Lydia Thompson's 17th minute red card.
In a see-saw battle for the ages, England were ultimately outdone and outscored six tries to five as they suffered their first defeat since 2019.
The Black Ferns ended their incredible 30-match unbeaten run to beat England on the biggest stage, as they had done in the 2017 final. It was the worst possible time for England's unbeaten sequence to shudder to a halt.
Simon Middleton's side had to play more than three quarters of the game with 14 players after Thompson was rightly sent off following a brutal collision with Portia Woodman.
From there, one of the best World Cup finals of all time was played out in front of a record crowd for a women's international. All 42,579 watching in Auckland were enthralled. So too was the terrestrial television audience.
This was just a wonderful rugby occasion and one England looked like they would edge against all the odds.
Cokayne joined 1966 football hero Sir Geoff Hurst in scoring a World Cup final hat-trick for England as she and her fellow forwards mauled their way to a position where victory looked possible.
But they could not deny the hosts who with a player advantage for such long periods, were given the space in which to play their trademark enterprising brand of rugby. England were forced into a key change at the 11th hour.
Scrum-half Leanne Infante was ruled out with ankle and knee knocks with Lucy Packer coming straight into the starting side at No 9. Packer's World Cup has also been interrupted by injury.
That was something of a concern, but after fanning the field to receive the Haka, England's start was fast and clinical. They stole back possession at an early breakdown. Packer did well at the contact area to ensure the ball was retained.
First, it was spread left were Abby Dow broke free. Then, impressively, back right England went with Ellie Kildunne finishing in the corner. Emily Scarratt converted for a 7-0 lead after just four minutes.
New Zealand missed a long-range penalty and although their star wing Ruby Tui made two dangerous runs, England were in control. Hooker Cokayne grabbed their second from a trademark rolling maul and Scarratt improved the effort.
It was all plain sailing. That was until the game changed on its head. New Zealand wing Woodman made a break down the left. Thompson came across to cover but didn't get low enough in the tackle and the pair collided head-on-head.
Referee Hollie Davidson consulted TMO Ben Whitehouse but a red card was the correct decision. Woodman looked to have been knocked unconscious but was able to stand up before leaving the field.
The incident lit the fuse