England ‘let people down’ in final of WC

ENGLAND fly-half Katy McLean admitted her team felt like they’d “let people down” after their Women’s World Cup final defeat by New Zealand in Belfast on Saturday.

The Black Ferns triumphed 41-32 at the Kingspan Stadium after blitz- ing their opponents with a five-try second-half display.

It meant England had to contend with a runners-up spot after emphasising their belief they could win the competition before it began.

The Belfast showdown was also the last game as professionals for England’s 15-a-side team. Full-time contracts will now switch to the Sevens format, as the Rugby Football Union looks ahead to the Commonwealth Games and the next Olympics.

McLean, who plays both XV and Sevens for England, couldn’t hide her disappointment at the final whistle.

“It’s really hard,” the 31-year old said. “The only thing we can have now is immense disappointment. All credit to New Zealand, they really upped it to us in the second half and we probably didn’t do enough to win it.

“All I can say is a massive, massive thank you for all the support we’ve had. It’s been immense and we’re very grateful for it.

“But for us right now we feel like we’ve let people down. We came here to win it and we haven’t, so therefore the job hasn’t been done. We’ll look at the game and take some positives, but right now it’s difficult to see that.”

‘On primetime’

England coach Simon Middleton praised New Zealand for their dominant display after half-time.

Prop Toka Natua scored a hat-trick for the Black Ferns and full-back Selica Winiata added a brace of tries. Charmaine Smith and Kendra Cocksedge also crossed the line.

A penalty try and two Lydia Thompson scores kept England in the tie, but they were blown apart after the break. Izzy Noel-Smith grabbed a late consolation, but Sarah Hunter’s team couldn’t repeat their 2014 triumph.

“I really hope this game has raised the profile of women’s rugby,” England full-back Emily Scarratt said.

“We were on primetime and it’s never been done before. I think we’d have had a few more fans if we’d won the game, but it was a good game of rugby and there were tries everywhere.”

New Zealand captain Fiao’o Faamausili was delighted to lift the World Cup trophy in her final game for the Black Ferns before retiring. The Auckland hooker ends her career with two global titles. Success in Northern Ireland was New Zealand’s fifth in total.

“It means everything,” she beamed. “You couldn’t have asked for a better final than this.”