New Zealand are about to lift the trophy, but both sides can hold their heads high after a breathless final. It had looked set to be a shootout right down to the wire, but the Black Ferns found extra gears to dominate the second half.
It was also a fitting contest for primetime TV, with 11 tries scored and the title in the balance until New Zealand slowly pulled clear. Perhaps the two sides’ respective rugby unions might see fit to pay these exceptional players for their time – no switching to sevens, no semi-professionalism. It only seems fair. That’s all from me, but stick around for a full report. Bye!
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Here’s England’s Emily Scarratt: “We’re gutted, we came here with one goal, but we came up just short. Rugby’s a really hard game to play without the ball, that was partly our fault and partly the pressure New Zealand put us under.”
And fly-half Katy Mclean: “All credit to New Zealand, they really took it to us in the second half. We’re really grateful for all the support we’ve had in this tournament. We’re immensely disappointed, but the positives from today are if any girl goes out and tries this sport.” Amen to that.
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New Zealand win the Women's World Cup!
England run out of time, and the Black Ferns hoof the ball into the stands! They’re champions, winning 41-32 after a momentous second-half performance, and thoroughly deserve their title. It’s New Zealand’s fifth World Cup, and their fourth final victory over England.
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79 mins: Three late changes for New Zealand as hat-trick scorer Natua, captain Faamasuili and pivotal scrum-half Cocksedge all go off to hefty ovations...
78 mins: England race back to restart but New Zealand stop them in their tracks in their own half, and win a scrum. Nine points is the gap, and England are surely out of time...
TRY! England 32-41 (Noel-Smith)
England kick for the corner and make the extra player count immediately, Izzy Noel-Smith charging over the line. Scarratt converts, and England have the faintest of chances...
75 mins: England get a penalty in their own half, and are finally able to advance upfield. A try here would keep things interesting – and they get another penalty, with Ketu getting New Zealand’s second yellow card...
74 mins: Charmaine Smith, whose try perhaps signalled the turning of the tide, goes off, replaced by Becky Wood.
73 mins: England are starting to look ragged, the replacements struggling to settle in, and they’re penalised for offside. It’s hard to be too critical – New Zealand have been relentless since half-time.
72 mins: Amy Wilson-Hardy and Harriet Millar-Mills are on, replacing Tamara Taylor and double try-scorer Lydia Thompson. Changes for New Zealand: Theresa Fitzpatrick replaces Waaka, and Lesley Ketu is on for McMenamin.
TRY! England 25-41 New Zealand (Winiata)
New Zealand dominate from the lineout, and began another slow drive for the line... but Nafatali opts for a flourish, launching a crossfield kick to the far corner, and Winiata scores! And that, my friends, might be the World Cup.
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68 mins: England concede a penalty, which is kicked to the corner. 80% possession for NZ in the second half, and no sign of relenting...
67 mins: Itunu, a force of nature in the front row, is replaced by Aleisha Nelson. New Zealand have a lineout, 10 metres out.
66 minutes: England have to stop this New Zealand pressure somehow – once again, they’re pinned back inside their own 22, and Scarratt has to step across to deny Woodman a try from Brazier’s diagonal kick.
64 minutes: After 32 minutes, England led 17-5. In the following 32 minutes, they’ve been outscored 31-8. There’s still time, of course...
TRY! England 25-36 (Cocksedge)
New Zealand have kept the intensity up so well in the second half, and despite England’s best efforts, keep finding a spare player when it matters. This time it’s Kendra Cocksedge who gets over the line, and despite her missed conversion the Black Ferns are pulling away...
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61 mins: New Zealand push for the line again, and England scramble to keep Woodman out of the corner. They can’t get any breathing space, and Scarratt is penalised. Advantage New Zealand, and scrum-half Cocksedge lunges for the line...
60 mins: Five changes for England in this second half – the scoreline since half-time suggests they’re being outgunned. One change for NZ as Hohepa replaces Wickliffe on the wing.
59 mins: New Zealand back in the ascendancy, and Kay Wilson has to do well to evade several charging black shirts after collecting a kick. La Toya Mason is on for England, replacing Natasha Hunt – and Izzy Noel-Smith comes in for Packer in the back row.
TRY! England 25-31 New Zealand (Natua)
This is getting silly now. A third try in five minutes as Natua gets through the England defence too easily, steamrollering Natasha Hunt and going in under the posts! Neville checks with the TMO for a knock-on, but nothing’s given. Hat-trick for Natua, and Cocksedge converts.
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57 mins: England replace their entire front row! Vicky Fleetwood, Rochelle ‘Rocky’ Clark and Justine Lucas replace Cornborough, Cokayne and Bern.
TRY! England 25-24 New Zealand (Thompson)
New Zealand have been the better side since half-time, but a clearing kick lands to Thompson, and she scents a chance to redress the balance. Turning on a sixpence, she gets away from Waaka and Woodman, and sprints away down the touchline! Scarratt misses the conversion, but England are back in front.
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53 mins: England make their first change, with Amber Reed coming on for Burford.
TRY! England 20-24 New Zealand (Smith)
Brazier switches play back under the posts and Savage’s sidestep finds a gap. It’s a battle of the packs again at the try-line – and front-row Charmaine Smith touches down against the posts!
51 mins: England have largely kept New Zealand’s dangerous backs at bay, but Stacey Waaka punctures the defence and leads her team up to the England 22. The ball is swept wide to Woodman, who is held up in the corner – but Brazier recycles the ball...
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Penalty! England 20-17 New Zealand (Scarratt)
Scarratt’s kick goes over the posts, via a kind ricochet off the far upright. England edge back ahead...
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49 mins: New Zealand win the scrum but a timely intervention from Jones seals turnover ball. Scarratt skips beyond the tackle and New Zealand are penalised for not releasing. The makeshift full-back will kick for goal...
48 mins: England have seen that 12-point lead slip through their fingers, but Meg Jones leads an attacking charge. Mclean offloads to Scarratt but the ball, well, slips through her fingers. That’s a sixth handling error from England’s backs.
New Zealand’s team, by the way, are semi-professional – England are the only team at this World Cup with players on full-time contracts. In my humble one, that’s a farcical state of affairs.
TRY! England 17-15 New Zealand (Natua)
Heroic effort from the England defence, Sarah Bern hauling Nafatali back from the line – but New Zealand’s pressure tells, with prop Natua going over for her second try! That’s an ominous start to the second half for England... and Cocksedge converts to level the scores.
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42 mins: New Zealand start the second half on the front foot, a blood-and-thunder drive forward forcing a penalty, and a lineout close to the try line...
Peeeeep!
The second half has started...
So England are 40 minutes from retaining their World Cup final, and getting in position to potentially dominate women’s rugby. It makes the RFU’s decision not to renew their contracts – instead switching to sevens contracts, with less part-time players signed up – all the more extraordinary. This England team have got here thanks to their cohesion, continuity and strength in depth – all of which will be threatened by the change. More to the point, some players are out there in a World Cup final, worried they won’t have their contract renewed. It’s impossible to imagine Eddie Jones’ team being put in this situation in 2019.
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Half time: England 17-10 New Zealand
It’s advantage England after a ferocious first half, with Lydia Thompson’s score added to a penalty try – but New Zealand have gone over twice themselves, and all signs point to this one going to the wire. More soon.
TRY! England 17-10 New Zealand
Nafatali uses the penalty to set up a lineout, and a rolling maul for the line. England hold off the first drive, and the second, but Itunu edges New Zealand closer – and Toka Natua finds a gap, grounding the ball brilliantly despite Natasha Hunt’s best efforts. Cocksedge mishits the conversion.
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35 mins: Five minutes for New Zealand to make the scoreline more respectable, and prop Itunu leads a bruising charge downfield. Portia Woodman, the tournament’s top try scorer, finally finds some space down the left, and England are penalised for not moving away at the breakdown.
33 mins: Blackwell is back, which means New Zealand are back to their starting fifteen for the first time in 13 minutes. It’s been a damaging spell for them, too.
TRY! England 17-5 New Zealand (Thompson)
What a try! Burford finds space with a shimmy and feeds Kay Wilson, who bustles forward and swings the ball out to the right flank. It’s worked to Lydia Thompson, who steams down the touchline and into the corner! The Kingspan erupts, and Scarratt nails a tricky conversion. England lead by 12...
30 mins: Alex Matthews bursts through the tackle with one of her trademark gallops upfield, as Goss returns to the field.
28 mins: Eloise Blackwell has a cut and is replaced by Becky Wood in the pack. She’s an ideal player for fire-fighting in situations like this – back in Auckland, she is literally a fire fighter.
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27 mins: New Zealand enjoy possession in the England half for virtually the first time, but Savage spills a pass and Abbie Scott grasps it gratefully. England clear, and it’ll be a New Zealand lineout in midfield.
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Not sure that will have dazzled any casual fans watching, but that’s what England do best – and they’ve taken advantage of Goss’s temporary absence.
PENALTY TRY! England 10-5 New Zealand
New Zealand are outnumbered in the scrum and England captain Sarah Hunter prods the ball towards the line. An England try looks inevitable, and Neville awards a penalty try as the Black Ferns disengage. A full seven points for England...
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24 mins: Replays show that the ball was held up! Superb New Zealand defence there, but England have a scrum five metres out.
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23 mins: These types of situations – driving for the try line from a lineout – are England’s real strength, and helped them to win in Rotorua this summer. This time, they switch play further left before Alex Matthews lunges for the line. Neville calls for the TMO to see if she made it...
22 mins: New Zealand scrum, and both sets of forwards exchange some choice pre-watershed words. Fly-half Subritzsky-Nafatali comes into the pack, but England splinter the scrum! Penalty, and Mclean kicks for the corner...
21 mins: New Zealand might think that harsh, but Neville had warned them about a few borderline tackles in quick succession. Can England take advantage of the extra player?
Yellow card! Joy Neville tells both captains she’s “after a TMO” after Goss’s bruising tackle on Mclean. Replays show she lifted the England fly-half above horizontal, and Goss is sent to the sin bin!
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20 mins: New Zealand were delighted with that tactical penalty but took their eye off the ball, and England strip it back. Scarratt’s grubber kick is collected by Cocksedge, but Mclean sidesteps two tackles. The pace of this first 20 minutes has been ridiculous.
18 mins: Amy Cokayne, who grew up in New Zealand, finds Taylor from the lineout – but England are penalised for an obstruction. 78% possession for England so far, but New Zealand lead.
16 mins: New Zealand concede another penalty – their fourth already – and England win the lineout. Mclean is pinned down by Faamausili, who is penalised for not moving away. Neville warns her to be careful.
Penalty! England 3-5 New Zealand
Scarratt opts to kick for goal, in front of the posts, and tucks it away. England are on the board!
13 mins: ...England are up to the 22, and have a penalty advantage. Scarratt collects Mclean’s up-and-under, but knocks on, and play is called back for Natua’s high tackle on Taylor.
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12 mins: Tamara Taylor wins the lineout for England under some pressure. Mclean runs into traffic, before Burford offloads to Scarratt, who almost bursts through with a diagonal darting run...
10 mins: It’ll be interesting to see how England react – they began in aggressive fashion but that rather backfired as Winiata bolted clear on the break. New Zealand No12 Kelly Brazier attempts another kick through, but Scarratt, back on the field, is able to deal with it.
Emily Scarratt threw herself at Winiata in an attempt to stop that counter-attack, and appears to have hurt her left ankle. She’s heading off to have it strapped before continuing.
TRY! England 0-5 New Zealand (Winiata)
This is a hammer blow from New Zealand! After England’s attacking efforts, Nafatali’s kick out wide bounces for full-back Selica Winiata, who is like a lightning bolt up the right flank, tearing past Scarratt and Thompson and into the corner. Kendra Cocksedge misses the conversion.
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6 mins: It breaks down as Marlie Packer finds herself isolated, and is penalised for holding onto the ball.
5 mins: Faamausili takes the lineout and New Zealand have scrapped out of trouble. Or have they? A high kick clear is caught by Scarratt, and England can attack again...
4 mins: New Zealand lose the lineout deep in their own half, and England are in position to drive for the line. New Zealand repel them but scrum-half Natasha Hunt switches the ball left, then right – but Scarratt’s attempted quick pass out to Rachael Burford is overthrown!
3 mins: 20-year-old prop Sarah Bern, arguably England’s breakout star in this tournament, makes herself known with a drive down the right flank, before Mclean finds touch smartly with a kick-through to the New Zealand 22.
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1 min: Toka Natua collects Katy Mclean’s kick off and barrels forward, before a kick for touch gives England a lineout on their own 22. England win it and we’re into a first clash of forwards. Eloise Blackwell steals it for New Zealand, but is penalised.
Here we go!
Referee, and former Ireland captain, Joy Neville gets us started in front of a raucous capacity crowd.
Anthems time, and New Zealand captain Fiao’o Faamausili is overcome with emotion – but has her game face back on for the traditional, and frankly terrifying haka. Imagine facing that before kick-off! England’s fifteen do a fine job of staring them down, arms linked, and quickly get into a pre-game huddle. It’s almost time!
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We’re ten minutes, two national anthems and a Haka away from kick-off, live on ITV. Whether or not you’re tuning in for the first time, do get in touch.
The road to the final
New Zealand raced through Pool A with ominous ease, beating Wales 44-12, Canada 48-5 and destroying Hong Kong by 121-0. That earned them the top seed in the semi-finals, where they outlasted an impressive US team to reach tonight’s final.
England arrived as the world’s top-ranked team and motored past Spain and Italy in second gear, before defeating the USA in a classic to earn their semi-final spot. Against France, Simon Middleton’s side had their backs against the wall but fought back in the second half to win 20-3.
The teams
One enforced change for England, with Emily Scarratt moving to full-back, replacing Danielle Waterman, who has not had time to clear concussion protocols following Tuesday’s semi-final with France. Meg Jones comes into the team at 13, while New Zealand’s starting XV is unchanged.
England: Scarratt, Thompson, Jones, Burford, Wilson, Mclean, Hunt; Cornborough, Cokayne, Bern, Scott, Taylor, Matthews, Packer, Hunter (c).
Replacements: Fleetwood, Clark, Lucas, Millar-Mills, Noel-Smith, Mason, Reed, Wilson-Hardy.
New Zealand: Winiata, Woodman, Waaka, Brazier, Wickliffe, Subritzky-Nafatali, Cocksedge; Natua, Faamausili (c), Itunu, Blackwell, Smith, McMenamin, Goss, Savage.
Replacements: Ngata-Aerengamate, Talawadua, Nelson, Wood, Ketu, Sue, Fitzpatrick, Hohepa.
Preamble
The 2017 World Cup has been hampered by a peculiar structure, uprooted from Dublin to Belfast for its conclusion, and played out to a backdrop of contract uncertainty and scheduling concerns. Tonight, it should get the proper finale it deserves.
New Zealand and England are indisputably the world’s two best teams, with daylight beneath them and precious little between them. Both sides have spent time on top of the rankings, and inflicted home defeats on the other, in the last 12 months.
The Black Ferns have blitzed their way to the final, standout player Portia Woodman running in 13 tries as her team scored – on average – 64 points per match. England’s progress has been steadier, but their cohesive, physical side have gained momentum with every match.
England are the defending champions; New Zealand have won three previous finals against them. It’s perfectly poised for a battle royale, played out on primetime TV. May the best team win. Kick-off is at 7.45pm local/BST, 6.45am NZ time.
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