THE RED Roses turned their World Cup dream into reality as they blew away Canada.
In front of a world record crowd of nearly 82,000, John Mitchell’s side showed why they have now won 33 straight games since their heartbreak in Auckland four years ago.
England have won the Women’s Rugby World Cup[/caption]
Alex Matthews scored a vital try in the first half[/caption]
The Red Roses did it in style at a packed-out Twickenham[/caption]
But as the Allianz Stadium roared skipper Zoe Aldcroft and her team on, all of that was forgotten as England bounced back from conceding the first try to simply destroy the brave but outgunned Maple Leafs.
Unsurprisingly, England’s recovery was led by the jewel in their crown, full-back Ellie Kildunne.
She exploded through the Canadian defence to touch down under the posts barely two minutes after winger Asia Hogan-Rochester had put the outsiders in front.
And after that it was all about that relentless, remorseless England pack, who simply expect that they will eventually grind anybody down.
Hooker Amy Cokayne got the second try, rumbling over from a classic Red Roses line-out drive that was only ever going to end with another score.
And when No 8 Alex Matthews took scrum half Natasha Hunt’s pop-up pass to score the third after 25 minutes, Canada were suddenly 16 points in arrears and needing snookers.
While Sophie de Goede pulled three points back that came after an outrageous tryline steal by Aldcroft to prevent the Canadians scoring what seemed an inevitable second try.
Only the TMO denied Cokaye a second before the interval – rightly advising that prop Maud Muir had obstructed at another of those unstoppable line-outs.
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But there was nothing to prevent Abby Ward burrowing over for England’s fourth try 10 minutes after the break.
A yellow card for Hannah Botterman opened the door, with Hogan-Rochester romping through it with her second score in the left-hand corner.
Yet the 14 held on through the next storm, key defensive plays blunting everything the Canadians threw at them before the numbers were equalised.
And when Canada made a total horlicks of Kildunne’s steepling up and under penalty into the South West London skies, Matthews took advantage with another close-range finish to put it to bed.
Harrison’s fourth conversion out of five attempts added the gloss.
The best in the world are now crowned as top of the world.
Nobody can deny them that.
More to follow…
