England will face New Zealand in the World Cup final on Saturday, but they needed two tries from the speedy Abby Dow in Auckland to advance. The Red Roses had to clutch on at times against a fired-up, physical Canada, but they prevailed to record their 30th consecutive Test victory and maintain their hopes of winning their first global championship since 2014.
It speaks something about the dedication of Canada’s amateurs that a tournament upset was still a possibility far into the fourth quarter. Tyson Beukeboom’s try in the 68th minute narrowed the margin to 23-19, and it took a penalty from Emily Scarratt in the 71st minute to calm England’s worries.
In the ultimate analysis, the Red Roses had a special reason to be grateful to Dow for her game-changing play in the 50th minute of a thrilling game that was finely poised at 18-12 in their favor with Canada camped on the opposition’s goal line. After a breakdown turnover in England’s 22-yard line, a jinking Claudia MacDonald made solid initial ground before inviting Dow to scorch off the cover from 65 yards out.
The Wasps winger, who injured his leg in March and barely healed in time for this tournament, did not require a second invitation, and England was instantly up 23-12 and ready to take a deep breath. While the constantly influential Zoe Aldcroft was awarded the game’s most valuable player, it was Dow’s sprint that proved pivotal on a bright and sunny afternoon.
A few defeated captains may have been tempted to question the legitimacy of England’s crucial turnover, but the exceptional Canadian captain Sophie de Goede kindly declined. It was just another reason to respect her and her rebellious crew, many of whom had to make great personal and financial sacrifices to be here.
At no point, though, did Canada make life easier for the opposing pros. With a strong wind at their backs and an early 12-0 advantage, England was relieved to have a buffer against the opposition’s tenacity and determination. First, a scrum penalty presented an opportunity for a signature-driven lineout, which was expertly executed by Marlie Packer, followed by a tantalizing diagonal run by Helena Rowland that assisted the alert Dow in scoring her first try of the day in the right corner.
However, the Canadians reacted almost immediately with a kick-and-chase try scored by their long-striding flanker Karen Paquin, as well as displaying a great deal of defensive zeal. Abbie Ward, the England lock, was held up over the line when a try appeared almost likely, but the underdogs enjoyed more territorial advantage in the opening forty minutes.
It was no less than they deserved when their rumbling driving maul put England under sustained pressure in their 22 and created space on the left for Alysha Corrigan to score at the centre. The exceptional De Goede, who likely drove the team bus to the stadium as well, converted to tie the game at 12-12, leaving England with additional issues to resolve.
Before the halftime horn, a Scarratt penalty from in front of the goalposts gave her team a narrow lead, but their typical control and physical domination were inconsistent. They had not spent much time in the defensive position in recent years or at this tournament, and it was not a pleasant experience.
Four minutes after the resumption of play, the unfortunate injury to Rowland’s ankle deprived them of their most inventive running back. With Hannah Botterman and Lucy Packer having also withdrawn on the eve of the match and Vickii Cornborough having been sin-binned in the third quarter, England rarely appeared at ease, and Beukeboom’s try in the 68th minute threatened to produce a huge upset.
However, Scarratt’s third penalty slowed Canada’s momentum, and the Red Roses finished the game with composure. They will be conscious, despite this, that they have yet to hit their finest form here, and even some of their veteran players appear to be feeling the pressure of expectation that now follows them.
New Zealand’s exciting 25-24 victory against France in the second semifinal ensures that the final will not be a cakewalk. The Black Ferns trailed 17-10 at halftime, but tries by Ruby Tui and Theresa Fitzpatrick provided renewed optimism for the defending champions. However, a second try by the exceptional Romane Manager brought France back into the game, and a last-minute penalty miss by Caroline Drouin got the Black Ferns off the hook.
It capped a great day of rugby witnessed by around 23,000 people throughout the course of the two matches. Before truly committing to the competition, a large portion of New Zealand appeared to be waiting to see who made the final, but the organizers now have their ideal matchup.
England has a lengthy unbeaten streak and a winning attitude, while the Black Ferns will have the support of the entire host nation. It might be the game that propels women’s rugby to the next level in terms of box office viability.
