The Red Roses booked their place in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals with a one-sided 40-8 win over Scotland. The visitors opened the scoring from the kicking tee early on, with Helen Nelson slotting a penalty after just four minutes, before England roared back to lead 26-3 at half-time thanks to a brace from Kelsey Clifford and further tries from Morwenna Talling and Abby Dow.
The onslaught continued in the second half as England dominated at both the lineout and the scrum, preventing Scotland from creating any serious threat. The Thistle also struggled with the rainy conditions, in contrast to their hosts, who were comparatively composed in spite of the slippery ball. Rhona Lloyd battled over the line late on to pull one back for Scotland, though, ending a tough tournament on a high note.
The Red Roses will now face France in the semi-finals next week as they look to continue their march to a first world title since 2014. Catch up with the action as it happened below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Arthur Ferridge.
England vs Scotland latest news
- TRY! Scotland pull one back through Lloyd
- TRY! AItchison breaks through
- TRY! Cokayne adds another
- TRY! Clifford makes it a brace
- TRY! Dow scores 50th England try
- TRY! Talling doubles Scotland's misery
- TRY! England on the board through Clifford
- Kick off
- How to watch: BBC Sport
FULL TIME: England 40-8 Scotland
17:57 , Arthur FerridgeThat does it at Ashton Gate. England will face France in the semi-finals.
TRY! England 40-8 Scotland
17:56 , Arthur Ferridge83mins: Scotland pull one back through Rhona Lloyd in what will be their final action of the Rugby World Cup. That one clearly means a lot to her and her teammates.
England 40-3 Scotland
17:54 , Arthur Ferridge801mins: Scotland break in last play! Can they get one back here?
England 40-3 Scotland
17:53 , Arthur Ferridge80mins: Fast approaching last play here and England are just unrelenting. They want more!
England 40-3 Scotland
17:51 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: England poach yet another Scotland scrum, and follow it with another lovely kick to the corner.
England 40-3 Scotland
17:49 , Arthur Ferridge76mins: Scotland, once again, are penalised at the scrum. Quite remarkable they haven’t seen a booking yet.
England 40-3 Scotland
17:45 , Arthur Ferridge72mins: Today’s attendance at Ashton Gate is confirmed at 25,295.
England 40-3 Scotland
17:42 , Arthur Ferridge70mins: The scrum comes down (again) but this time it is Scotland who get the penalty. They miss touch with said penalty, and England are back on the ball.
England 40-3 Scotland
17:42 , Arthur Ferridge70mins: Meg Jones is withdrawn after a stellar performance.
England 40-3 Scotland
17:40 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: Scotland win a scrum in the tramline, 22m from their own try-line. Believe it or not, it collapses.
England 40-3 Scotland
17:39 , Arthur Ferridge67mins: Another 50-22 from England. Their kicking has been laughably good this afternoon. You’re starting to feel for Scotland - it really isn’t their day.
TRY! England 40-3 Scotland
17:37 , Arthur Ferridge64mins: Remarkably, the structural integrity of that last scrum holds, and after a couple of phases, Aitchison goes over. She converts the try herself.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:35 , Arthur Ferridge64mins: Scrum down! A rare treat.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:35 , Arthur Ferridge63mins: Seems a member of the crowd tossed a second ball onto the pitch a moment ago...
England 33-3 Scotland
17:34 , Arthur Ferridge63mins: What happened there? There are two balls on the field!
England 33-3 Scotland
17:34 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: Aitchison tries another cross-field kick to Dow, but it is straight into touch. Penalty advantage, though, and we come back across.
Scotland captain Malcolm is given a final warning over the state of the scrum.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:32 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: No change, unfortunately. Referee is still unhappy with the state of the scrum.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:31 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: A whole heap of subs here for both sides, but most notably, Scotland have replaced two of their three front row.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:30 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: The scrum collapses, and it is a penalty to England. Can they capitalise this time?
England 33-3 Scotland
17:28 , Arthur Ferridge59mins: England take it as expected and hit the beach, but this time Scotland hold firm. They win a 5m scrum.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:27 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: Another England lineout on the 5m line. Wonder what they’ll do here!
England 33-3 Scotland
17:26 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: Cracking defence from Scotland, you have to say. It was a grubber through and Meg Jones looked to have grounded it, but the Scotland defender just beat her to it to win a goalline drop out.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:24 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: England are back on the front foot and look to have scored, but the TMO is back in play. Hold tight.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:21 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: England seem to have eased off the gas a tad here. Scotland pushing on in search of a try, but are confounded by a knock-on.
Bern and Atkins-Davies replace Cokayne and Muir for England.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:18 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: A great chipper from Scotland has the visitors on the front foot. They win a scrum in the middle of the park.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:15 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Scotland enter the red zone for the first time in a while, but England win possession back and play out with the ball in hand.
England 33-3 Scotland
17:14 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: Konkel, a legend of the Scottish game, is withdrawn, effectively ending her international career. She is due to retire after this tournament, so, unless Scotland can turn this around, that is the curtain drawn.
TRY! England 33-3 Scotland
17:12 , Arthur Ferridge46mins: England win their lineout and score from the resultant maul! How many times have we written that this tournament? Cokayne dotted it down.
England 26-3 Scotland
17:10 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: England opt for a lineout this time.
England 26-3 Scotland
17:10 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: England drive the scrum all the way over the line, but knock it on as they look to take it off the base. They had an earlier penalty, though, and we come back.
Kelsey Clifford is withdrawn for an HIA to be replaced by Carson.
England 26-3 Scotland
17:08 , Arthur Ferridge44mins: Scotland are penalised for collapsing the scrum, and England ask the referee for another one. No mercy.
England 26-3 Scotland
17:07 , Arthur Ferridge43mins: Dow charges down the Scotland kick! Stunning effort from her! Scotland are on the back foot and knock it on in the ruck. England take a scrum from about 10m out.
England 26-3 Scotland
17:06 , Arthur Ferridge43mins: All kicking to open this half. Who blinks first?
England 26-3 Scotland
17:04 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: England take the kick-off, and Scotland boot it right back down the other end. England respond in kind, and it is a Scotland lineout.
2ND HALF! England 26-3 Scotland
17:03 , Arthur FerridgeWe are back underway at Ashton Gate, and the heavens have opened again.
TRY! England 26-3 Scotland
16:48 , Arthur Ferridge40mins: Clifford gets another! England’s flanker is quick off the scrum and clatters the Scotland nine with a go-ahead tackle. A phase or two later, and Clifford crashes over the line to make it four tries. Aitchison’s conversion takes us to halftime.
England 19-3 Scotland
16:47 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: We have a Scotland scrum, 10m out from their own try-line.
England 19-3 Scotland
16:46 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: Loose, rain-affected handling prevents England from scoring in this instance.
England 19-3 Scotland
16:45 , Arthur Ferridge37mins: Scotland are penalised at the scrum - again. It is an England penalty on 5m. Can they add another try before half-time?
England 19-3 Scotland
16:44 , Arthur Ferridge35mins: The kicking battle resumes, and Dow knocks one down into the corner. Pinpoint stuff from the winger. She tries to take it quickly, but is denied by the referee.
Subsequent lineout is not straight.
England 19-3 Scotland
16:41 , Arthur Ferridge34mins: Where do Scotland go from here?
TRY! England 19-3 Scotland
16:40 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: There’s England’s third try, and it is Dow’s 50th for England! The forwards do their job in the middle, battering the Scotland defence, before Aitchison spins it out wide to Dow in acres of space. She dives over the line unchallenged. A rare missed conversion follows, though.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:38 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: England kick to the corner and will take another run at the maul.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:38 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: The TMO is back in action - he spots a high tackle from Scotland on Galligan.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:37 , Arthur Ferridge29mins: England are back on the ball and making a solemn march towards the Scotland try-line, but a wayward grubber calls an end to that attack.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:34 , Arthur Ferridge27mins: No try! A blow for Cockayne. ‘Clear obstruction’ is the charge. Penalty to Scotland amid deafening boos from those in the stands.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:33 , Arthur Ferridge26mins: That, frankly, was an inevitability. England win their lineout and maul over the line for Cockayne to dot down a third try of the day.
The TMO is having a look, though. Was there some obstruction?
England 14-3 Scotland
16:31 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: Free kick to England as Scotland’s scrumming is again considered unsatisfactory. After a couple of phases, it is lost forward in contact. England had a penalty advantage, though, and will try again.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:30 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: Both hookers receive a stern talking to from the referee as another scrum collapses.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:29 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: England steal the scrum, and Hunt boots a wonderful 50-22 off the base. England continue their attack, but Hunt then knocks on from the back of a ruck.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:27 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: Some consternation in the scrum, here, as two collapse in quick succession. The rain, of course, proving unhelpful.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:24 , Arthur Ferridge22mins: A clever chip from Scotland threatens the England back three, but Hunt does well to let it run into the in-goal before touching down to win a drop-out.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:21 , Arthur Ferridge19mins: Last time out, England’s handling was appallingly sloppy, but despite adverse conditions in Bristol, they seem to be doing just fine.
England 14-3 Scotland
16:20 , Arthur Ferridge18mins: One can see this becoming a long evening for Scotland.
TRY! England 14-3 Scotland
16:18 , Arthur Ferridge16mins: Its two in quick succession for the Red Roses! Scotland bungle another lineout on their own 5m line, and England take full advantage. Talling finishes this one, and it is converted again by Aitchson.
TRY! England 7-3 Scotland
16:15 , Arthur Ferridge12mins: There it is! England get on the ball in anger and lay a relentless assault on the Scotland defence - they cannot cope. Clifford finishes it, and the extras are converted.
England 0-3 Scotland
16:14 , Arthur Ferridge12mins: A very productive spell of possession for England, who are bearing down on the Scotland try-line.
England 0-3 Scotland
16:12 , Arthur Ferridge10mins: England nick another Scotland lineout! They may be struggling a bit with the ball in hand, but at least they have the set piece on lock. Another knock-on means it will be a Red Roses lineout, about 22m out.
England 0-3 Scotland
16:09 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: Scotland over-throw their lineout, and that is a gift for England who lay a fresh assault on the Scotland tryline. Aitchson tries a cross-field kick into the corner, but her effort is overhit.
England 0-3 Scotland
16:07 , Arthur Ferridge6mins: Dow is tackled into touch to end the England attack as Rachel Malcolm goes down injured.
England 0-3 Scotland
16:06 , Arthur Ferridge6mins: Scotland exit as England restart, and the Red Roses take a lineout from halfway. Aitchson crashes over the line, before again kicking deep.
PENALTY! England 0-3 Scotland
16:05 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Nelson, a former footballer, decides to go for points from the penalty and dispatches it without issue. The visitors open the scoring.
England 0-0 Scotland
16:04 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Scotland lay an early assault to the England try-line, but their first attempt ends in a knock on - again, you would expect that to be the first of many today. They had penalty advantage, though, and we come back for the earlier infraction.
England 0-0 Scotland
16:03 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: Scotland hit out a few phases in the middle of the park before attempting to grubber through, but Rowland sweeps up and clears her lines.
England 0-0 Scotland
16:01 , Arthur Ferridge1min: England receive the kick-off and promptly kick away. Given the conditions today, expect to see a lot of that.
KICK-OFF! England 0-0 Scotland
15:59 , Arthur FerridgeWe’re off!
Here come the teams...
15:54 , Arthur FerridgeTime to get underway!
Nearly time for kick-off
15:50 , Arthur FerridgeJust ten minutes to go until this Rugby World Cup quarter-final gets underway!
John Mitchell: We'll do whatever it takes
15:49 , Arthur FerridgeJohn Mitchell matches Easson’s fighting talk...
He said pre-match: “We’re excited by finals rugby. Its what you work towards throughout the whole cycle. We know there’s an endpoint so we need to earn another week.
“The conditions will play a factor, territory will be key. Whoever gets that and is able to build pressure through the set piece... We’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
Bryan Easson: We're throwing everything at it
15:40 , Arthur FerridgeBryan Easson says Scotland will give it their all as they look to turn over the World Cup favourites today, but acknowledged the scale of the task he faces.
He said: “You saw [the Scotland squad] walking in, we have smiles on our faces. Training has been good. We have had a couple days to plan how we want to face this game, but we are in a good space.
“We have a good forward pack, they’re probably relishing the weather.
“There’s a reason England are world No1. We understand the magnitude of the game, but we will throw everything at it.
“If I have to go on the pitch and pick them up at the end of the game, I will.”
Reminder of the XVs
15:40 , Arthur FerridgeWith kick-off looming, here’s how England and Scotland line up today.
England XV: Rowland, Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach, Aitchison, Hunt; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Talling, Galligan, Aldcroft, Kabeya, Matthews
Scotland XV: Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie, Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Belisle, Wassell, Bonar, Malcolm, Gallagher, Konkel
Galligan on Scotland
15:35 , Arthur FerridgeRosie Galligan thinks England should be wary of Scotland, who have improved since that fateful Six Nations meeting earlier this year.
She said pre-match: “I think Scotland have come on a lot. You've started to see some really nice play throughout their backs. They've got the likes of Jade Konkel as well, she's still going, Rachel Malcolm too, and I think for them it's just about making sure that they play with their heart on their sleeve like they always do.
“Jade announced their retirement and I know Jade from playing with her at Harlequins, so for her it's just a massive occasion. We all know what the Scots are like. They'll play with their hearts on their sleeves. They'll come out all guns blazing, and hopefully it'll be a good show of rugby.”
Maud Muir on 'rugby weather'
15:30 , Arthur FerridgeMaud Muir does not fear a bit of rain, per se.
She is looking forward to increased scrummaging duties, though, as is her forward teammate Rosie Galligan.
She said: “I hope [the weather] doesn't [make a difference], but there's probably more scrums on a wet day, which is good for us isn't it, Rosie, very good?
“But it means more strike plays, which is always easier to play off."
Teams arrive at Ashton Gate!
15:13 , Arthur FerridgeEngland and Scotland are on the scene in Bristol, and the heavens have opened.
Rugby weather, some might say, but John Mitchell might disagree.
England’s handling was remarkably sloppy against Australia last time out, and the damp conditions, of course, will not help with that.
Around the grounds
15:11 , Arthur FerridgeIreland are out of the Rugby World Cup! They fall to France, 18-13.
It was a thrilling finish at Sandy Park as those in green gave it their all and pushed for a late winner deep in last play, but it would not come.
The players are absolutely devastated.
France, though, will progress to face the winner of England vs Scotland in the semi-final.
No Ellie Kildunne
14:59 , Arthur FerridgeEllie Kildunne is absent today after sustaining a concussion in England’s pool stage win over Australia.
It is hoped the Red Roses’ star full-back will be able to return for the semi-final, provided they qualify.
Yesterday's results
14:50 , Arthur FerridgeThe opposite half of the World Cup quarter-finals bracket got underway yesterday.
New Zealand beat South Africa 49-17 in Exeter, while Canada routed Australia 46-5.
It will be a botanical semi-final on that side of the draw, then, as the Black Ferns face the Maple Leaves for a spot in the final.
Last time out
14:40 , Arthur FerridgeThe last time these two sides met, England were en route to a sixth-straight Six Nations Grand Slam.
You can guess how it went for Scotland, then.
Abby Dow and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald hit a brace each, while Kelsey Clifford, Marlie Packer, Zoe Aldcroft, Lark Atkin-Davies, and Abbie Ward also got on the scoresheet.
It ended 59-7 in favour of the hosts. Lisa Thomson was the only scorer for the Tartan outfit.
Pool stage results
14:30 , Arthur FerridgeBetween them, England and Scotland only notched one defeat in their pool stage campaigns.
The Red Rose, however, finished with a considerably stronger points difference of +191. Scotland’s loss to Canada on matchday three saw their points difference slashed to just +23.
Here are England and Scotland’s pool stage results in full...
England 69-7 United States
England 92-3 Samoa
England 47-7 Australia
Scotland 38-8 Wales
Scotland 29-15 Fiji
Scotland 19-40 Canada
Head to head
14:20 , Arthur FerridgeThe tale of the tape does not make for pleasant reading for the tartan-inclined rugby fan.
Scotland have only beaten England twice in their history.
England have beaten their northern neighbours 30 times.
Standard Sport prediction
14:10 , Arthur FerridgeTo make a reasonable prediction as to the outcome of this match, one must simply look at the pool stage standings.
England topped group A with a points difference of +191 and three bonus-point victories. Scotland finished runners-up in pool B, with a barely positive points difference and just the two wins after suffering a bruising loss to Canada.
The numbers on the England line, of course, suggest a rash of dominant victories. They came into the tournament as favourites, and despite not yet facing another contender, have more than delivered on that billing.
Scotland, on the other hand, are at severe risk of joining Wales as another home nation to make an awkward early exit. There is little to suggest they will be able to slow England’s roll.
England to win by 40 points.
Scotland XV
14:00 , Arthur FerridgeScotland XV: Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie, Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Belisle, Wassell, Bonar, Malcolm, Gallagher, Konkel
Replacements: Martin, Wright, Poolman, Donaldson, McLachlan, Stewart, Mattinson, Wills
England XV
13:50 , Arthur FerridgeEngland XV: Rowland, Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach, Aitchison, Hunt; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Talling, Galligan, Aldcroft, Kabeya, Matthews
Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Carson, Bern, Ward, Feaunati, Packer, Harrison, Sing
How to watch England vs Scotland
13:40 , Arthur FerridgeTV channel: Viewers in the UK can watch this game for free on BBC One. Coverage starts at 3.30pm ahead of a 4pm kick off.
Live stream: UK subscribers can stream the game on BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sport website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert insight and analysis from Arthur Ferridge.
Good afternoon
13:28 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of England vs Scotland in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals!
It is a familiar match-up for both sides, with plenty on the line. Who will book their place in the semi-finals?
Follow along right here for minute-by-minute updates from kick-off, which is set for 4pm.
