BIG-GAME HUNTER
England skipper vows to end Kiwi jinx in today’s Belfast showpiece
ENGLAND skipper Sarah Hunter has warned New Zealand they ain’t seen nothing yet as her side bid to bury their Kiwi hoodoo in tonight’s World Cup final.
The teams collide in Belfast with the Black Ferns boasting a 3-0 winning record against England in global showpieces.
They beat them in 2002, 2006 and 2010 and have cruised through to this showdown by scoring 258 points in four games.
Hunter’s England were in a scrap in their semifinal against France on Tuesday before pulling away at the death to win 20-3.
But No.8 Hunter reckons the best is yet to come from her team, who are holders after beating Canada in the 2014 final.
The 31-year-old said: “We have confidence in ourselves. Every time we take the field we’ve got better and we’ve got stronger and there’s a sense we’ve got our best game to come.
“That is what you want in the World Cup final. Getting to a final is the ultimate test and the past goes out of the window.
“We’re not thinking about games that have been or what’s gone on in finals beforehand. We have every scenario covered and know that, like the semi-final, it’s going to be a really close game but we have the patience to play a game like that.”
Boss Simon Middleton has made one enforced change to his team with Emily Scarratt, who against France became England’s leading point scorer with 424, moving to full-back from centre to cover for the concussed Danielle Waterman.
Megan Jones links up with Rachael Burford in midfield alongside fly-half Katy Mclean who will be playing in her third World Cup final.
Middleton said: “Emily could play anywhere.
“Thirteen is probably her strongest position at the moment but you can see her being a 15 with all the attributes she has. I have no doubt she will go well.
“Everyone knows what a great player Emily is and Megan has been outstanding through the whole tournament.”
New Zealand boast the tournament’s highest try scorer in wing Portia Woodman, who has 13 in four matches.