England defeated France 35-17 at Ashton Gate to reach the Women’s Rugby World Cup final. Ellie Kildunne was the returning hero in Bristol as the World Player of the Year notched two tries on her comeback to the starting XV, having missed the quarter-final win over Scotland with concussion. She played a starring role as John Mitchell’s side rode their luck at times, but ultimately had enough to defeat a tricky French team that had shown character to fight back when they fell behind.
It was Kildunne who opened the scoring inside five minutes with a break down the left flank, before Nassira Konde brought France back into it on 24 minutes. Amy Cockayne notched a second for the Red Roses, but Kelly Arbey again brought the visitors back within two points just six minutes later in what was proving to be a rollercoaster affair. Abbie Ward dotted down before Kildunne secured her brace, and Konde added a second of her own to set up a nervy finish in the south-west.
Meg Jones put that to bed, however, with the last touch of the game, scoring a thoroughly-deserved try that rounded off a stellar performance from England’s No13. They march on back to Twickenham, where they face Canada in the final, after the north Americans stunned the Black Ferns, the defending champions, on Friday.
England vs France latest news
- TRY! Konde sets up nervy finish
- TRY! Kildunne notches her second
- TRY! Ward adds England's third
- TRY! Arbey scores for Les Bleues
- TRY! Cockayne adds Red Roses' second
FT: England 35-17 France
17:20 , Oli GentThere we have it.
What a performance from the Red Roses, and what a game!
The hosts are into the World Cup final, where they face Canada at Twickenham next weekend.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE World Cup action!
Try! England 35-17 France
17:18 , Oli Gent80 mins: Meg Jones gets on the scoresheet, and it’s calamity at the back for France! The grubber bounces off the post, and the centre claims and touches down! Harrison again is flawless off the tee.
England 28-17 France
17:17 , Oli Gent79 mins: A huge cheer from the Bristol crowd as Kildunne is named as the player of the match. A lot of pressure for the full-back on her return, but she has starred in this semi.
England 28-17 France
17:16 , Oli Gent78 mins: Big reception for Bourdon Sonsus as she’s replaced by Chambon. She’s put in a real shift for the visitors today.
Try! England 28-17 France
17:11 , Oli Gent73 mins: France have another, and Konde has another too! England are a bit too compact in their defence, and the visitors exploit the space on the openside, as Konde dots down. Bourgeois’ conversion just misses.
England 28-12 France
17:09 , Oli Gent72 mins: Kildunne is off the field momentarily holding her leg. That could be cause for concern.
Try! England 28-12 France
17:07 , Oli Gent69 mins: What a try that is! Ellie Kildunne has her second, as the spill from France from Harrison’s kick falls right into the full-back’s path. She darts from the halfway line, drifting wider as she evades chasing bodies, to touch down, and Harrison doesn’t miss!
England 21-12 France
17:05 , Oli Gent68 mins: England are really effective at the ruck, and the re-energised frontline are helping them massively.
Lucy Packer is now on at No9, and will feed the ball into this scrum. The Red Roses have had the better of the scrums so far.
England 21-12 France
17:02 , Oli Gent65 mins: Big changes for England as Aitchison, Packer, and Galligan all on for the Red Roses.
Try! England 21-12 France
16:56 , Oli Gent59 mins: There’s another, and it’s Abbie Ward on her home turf!
It’s a battering from the England’s substitutes, and the second row gets the final touch! Harrison adds two more.
England 14-12 France
16:53 , Oli Gent57 mins: A completely new front row for the Red Roses, with Atkin-Davies, Clifford, and Bern all on for the hosts.
Try! England 14-12 France
16:49 , Oli Gent52 mins: France score again in the semi-final, and it’s Arbey who slides over in the corner!
Les Bleues are patient as they work it through the hands, and the No14 uses her pace to get the ball over, as Kildunne desperately scrambles across!
Bourgeois with a big kick, now, and she curls it in!
England 14-5 France
16:47 , Oli Gent51 mins: Menager comes in off her flank to get involved, and they’re swinging around to the right side with big hits going down, as Talling and Muir make strong tackles.
England 14-5 France
16:47 , Oli Gent50 mins: France are edging ever closer to the England line as they look for an instant response. Escudero is at the heart of things, but they’re having to recycle it at every opportunity. Play is pulled back, however, and there is a red-zone penalty. France have opted for the tap and go.
Try! England 14-5 France
16:43 , Oli Gent47 mins: Amy Cockayne completes a superb forward drive from the Red Roses, as the rolling maul carries it 20 metres to the line. The hooker has the simple task of dotting down, and Harrison adds the extras.
England 7-5 France
16:42 , Oli Gent46 mins: Excellent play from the England backs as Les Bleues look to exploit the space in behind. Kildunne shepherds the ball into touch, and the French don’t like the force that the full-back used.
England 7-5 France
16:39 , Oli Gent45 mins: Penalty, France. Another penalty for not releasing. Both sides have been electric at the breakdown this afternoon.
England 7-5 France
16:37 , Oli Gent43 mins: No try! England think they’ve scored early as Dow touches down in the corner, receiving the pop from Kildunne, but the referee deems the pass forward!
Kick off!
16:35 , Oli Gent41 mins: We’re back underway.
HT: England 7-5 France
16:34 , Oli GentThere’s the interval, and the Red Roses have the lead. France have turned up in this semi-final. There’s another 40 minutes still to go.
What will the second half have in store?
England 7-5 France
16:19 , Oli Gent40 mins: England survive again, with a knock-on from a French hand.
Neither side has been all that composed with their handling in this first half.
England 7-5 France
16:18 , Oli Gent39 mins: Penalty, France.
Champon does well to jackal and Gerin has the lineout in the England 22.
England 7-5 France
16:14 , Oli Gent36 mins: No try! Another missed opportunity for the visitors, as Vernier goes for a long pass all the way to the end of the line where Menager is, and the winger touches down. But the pass goes forward, and England survive!
England 7-5 France
16:10 , Oli Gent34 mins: What a mess!
France made to rue a huge opportunity as the cross-field kick finds Menager, who is challenged by Breach. She has Vernier inside, and she delays giving it, and the pass goes awry! They had clear space ahead of them towards the tryline!
England 7-5 France
16:08 , Oli Gent33 mins: The chance is missed by the Red Roses, who get the driving maul wrong, and France have a chance to bring the ball forward with a spell of possession here.
England 7-5 France
16:04 , Oli Gent30 mins: And they win the penalty! Botterman is the heart of things once more as Bosseau collapses, and the Red Roses get the lineout within touching distance of the line.
England 7-5 France
16:04 , Oli Gent30 mins: No try! The knock-on is ruled, and France have a five-metre.
Disappointing for Heard, but another chance for the England pack to put a real push in to ramp up the pressure once more.
England 7-5 France
16:03 , Oli Gent29 mins: Is that a try? Heard fights through the bodies and manages to touch down, but they’re checking a potential knock-on from the centre. It comes off Hunt’s back, before Heard collects the ball once more and dots down. The TMO is taking a look...
England 7-5 France
15:58 , Oli Gent25 mins: The try is confirmed, no issues, and Bourgeois will now have the chance to knock this over the post. England had set up for an initial lineout, but Bourgeois misses the two-pointer!
Try! England 7-5 France
15:57 , Oli Gent24 mins: There it is! Nassira Konde dots down as Les Bleues redirect play back down the right, and the centre is in acres of space to slide over! Bourgeois is over the conversion... but what’s this? The referee is having a conversation with the TMO...
England 7-0 France
15:55 , Oli Gent22 mins: Arbey makes a break for the line down the left, but is stopped in her tracks by Dow.
Escudero looks for Menager, and the French are so close, but are so slow in dotting it down! What a chance! Pressure still on.
England 7-0 France
15:51 , Oli Gent20 mins: Konde makes some crucial metres, but Meg Jones is there again to rip the turnover.
Dow tries to feed Kildunne on the overlap, but there’s no space for the full-back.
England 7-0 France
15:50 , Oli Gent18 mins: That is a lovely kick, however, from Menager, and France have the 50-22.
A sneaky line-out is delivered quickly to the front, and Les Bleues are trying to eke their way towards the England line.
England 7-0 France
15:48 , Oli Gent17 mins: Penalty, England. Jones’ jackal is excellent as she wins a penalty tight to the right touchline.
England 7-0 France
15:44 , Oli Gent14 mins: Some loose passes going on from both sides, but that was a lovely kick in behind from Meg Jones, looking for the runners in behind.
Arbey sweeps up nicely and does very well to kick under pressure from four onrushing bodies.
England 7-0 France
15:43 , Oli Gent12 mins: The pack is still at an angle as France spin it out, but Cockayne goes for the intercept! She claims it, but loses it immediately.
England 7-0 France
15:42 , Oli Gent11 mins: The referee is not happy with the front rows as the scrum keeps collapsing.
She sets the record straight with both sets of forwards, and we reset once more.
England 7-0 France
15:39 , Oli Gent9 mins: Penalty, France, as Abby Ward is penalised for a high tackle.
The visitors have opted for the scrum, which is an interesting decision.
Try! England 7-0 France
15:36 , Oli Gent5 mins: The Red Roses are ahead, and it’s Kildunne already on the scoresheet! She breaks away down the left flank, as the front five show neat hands to work it down towards the full-back, who speeds clear down the touchline.
She steps inside neatly before dotting down, and it’s converted by Zoe Harrison.
England 0-0 France
15:34 , Oli Gent4 mins: Ellie Kildunne gets on the ball for the first time and evades two challenges. Kabeya follows her in to the breakdown, and this is the hosts’ first real spell of possession.
England 0-0 France
15:33 , Oli Gent2 mins: A first scrum, and it’s a French ball.
This will be pivotal here. The pack turns, and Les Bleues work it down the line towards Arbey down the left. Brosseau takes it into the breakdown, but Hannah Botterman manages to steal and win the penalty.
Kick off!
15:30 , Oli Gent1 min: We are underway.
Five minutes to kick off!
15:24 , Oli GentHere come the players, and it’s time for the national anthems.
Strap in, this should be a cracker!
England vs France match odds
15:15 , Oli GentEngland to win: 1/40
France to win: 22/1
Draw: 50/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
France lineup
15:07 , Oli GentFrance XV: Bourgeois, Grisez, Konde, Vernier, Menager; Arbez, Bourdon Sansus; Brosseau, Gerin, Bernadou, Fall Raclot, Ikahehegi, Escudero, Champon, Feleu
Replacements: Riffonneau, Deshaye, Khalfaoui, Maka, Okemba, Chambon, Tuy, Arbey
England lineup
15:00 , Oli GentHere is how the Red Roses line up...
England XV: Kildunne, Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft, Kabeya, Matthews.
Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Feaunati, Packer, Aitchison, Rowland.
Ellie Kildunne exclusive: Red Roses star calls for 'showtime' semi-final
14:50 , Oli GentReturning Red Roses’ full-back sat down with Standard Sport’s Arthur Ferridge, discussing how England go into every one of their games looking to entertain.
Today’s match is no different.
Red Roses' world record
14:40 , Oli GentEngland are currently on a world record winning streak of 31 matches, and they are flawless in this tournament.
The Red Roses defeated the USA, Samoa, and Australia to top Pool A, before a big win against fierce rivals Scotland to earn their place here.
Standard Sport prediction
14:30 , Oli GentRecent results between England and France make for curious reading. The sides have met twice in recent months, with the Red Roses coming out on top both times, once by a one-point margin and once by 34.
Such a disparity between matches makes it tricky to predict a result, but one thing is certain - the onus is on England to win.
The Red Roses, considered clear favourites from day one, have made a mockery of this tournament thus far, reaching the semi-final stage with 248 points scored and just 25 conceded.
France will be their most challenging opposition so far, but it would be a surprise to see them prevent England from booking a ticket to Twickenham.
England to win, by 20 points.
France team news
14:20 , Oli GentFrance back row Axelle Berthoumieu will miss out after being slapped with a nine-match ban for biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer in the quarter-final.
Also suspended is co-captain Manae Feleu, who committed a dangerous tackle in the same game. Her younger sister, Teani, comes into the squad in her place.
Carla Arbez is in at No10 with Toulouse mainstay Lina Queyroi suffering from a concussion.
England team news
14:10 , Oli GentMitchell has made several changes ahead of this semi-final, reverting to the England squad which routed the United States in the tournament opener.
The Red Roses have received a double injury boost ahead of the match as both Kildunne and Botterman return to the XV, having recovered from concussion and a back spasm, respectively.
Fly-half Holly Aitchison impressed against Scotland in the quarter-final but drops to the bench here, with Zoe Harrison preferred.
Also dropped are forwards Helena Rowland and Kelsey Clifford, who were both on the scoresheet in the quarter-final.
How to watch
13:59 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One. Coverage will begin at 2.45pm BST ahead of a 3.30pm kick-off.
Live stream: Those with a TV license can also follow the contest live online via BBC iPlayer.
Hello and welcome!
13:54 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the Women’s World Cup semi-final clash between England and France.
This is a mouth-watering last four clash at Ashton Gate in Bristol. Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 3.30pm!
