CATCH US IF YOU CAN

Hunter urges her England side to match the girl power of cricket winners The France pack is strong and they’ve come to the party at this World Cup

ENGLAND skipper Sarah Hunter has urged her team to follow in the footsteps of their cricket counterparts and hit the rugby world for six.

Hunter’s side face France in the semi-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Belfast tonight as they crank up their bid to retain the trophy they won in 2014.

The rugby players went to some of the games as Heather Knight’s girls lifted the cricket trophy at Lord’s and followed the progress of Steph Houghton’s team to the semi-finals of the Euros in Holland.

No.8 Hunter (above) was a winner three years ago and fancies jumping on the bandwagon of English female sporting success.

She said: “We were big followers of the women’s cricket when we were back in camp in England.

“When we had a bit of down time, we would find a laptop and crowd around and watch it.

“A few of us went to the games and we were certainly supporting them all the way through the competition.

“It had everyone on the edge of their seats and to see them do it under immense pressure at a home World Cup was fantastic. It is something we want to carry on and build on the success of English women’s sport.

“The footballers also did really well out at the Euros and we hope we can just be a part of that for this summer.”

England face their toughest test of the tournament against the French after smashing Spain, Italy and USA in the pool stages.

France hammered Australia 48-0 in their group and knocked out hosts Ireland in the last pool match and are a step up for Hunter’s holders. The 31-year-old added: “The USA game was probably our best performance so far, but we know there are areas we have to improve on – we know we have to be better than we have been.

“The French have always had a very strong pack and they have certainly come to the party at this World Cup.”

Head coach Simon Middleton has made two changes to the side that beat the Americans with wing Lydia Thompson and centre Rachael Burford coming into the starting line-up.

Flanker Marlie Packer makes her 50th international appearance in an unchanged pack and Harriet Millar-Mills will raise her bat for 50 Tests if she gets on as a substitute.

Middleton said: “We will need to be at our best to get the job done and everyone recognises that.”

In the other semi, New Zealand take on the US. Today’s games: New Zealand v USA, 5pm; England v France, 7.45pm (both games, ITV4).