RED ROSES WILT UNDER KIWI BLITZ
ENGLAND skipper Sarah Hunter saw her side surrender their world title and admitted they were not up to speed for a World Cup Final.
This was the fourth time the Black Ferns have beaten England in a World Cup Final and this one was there for the taking until the 50th minute when NZ began to run riot.
England had the Kiwis – who claimed a fifth World Cup – under their spell after beating them Down Under in the summer, but were blown away on Saturday.
And No.8 Hunter reckons her team left their A game in the locker room as they surrendered their world title in a barrage of NZ pressure after the break.
She said: “It wasn’t the best version of us out there and they controlled the game very well, especially in the second half where they got momentum and controlled possession and territory.
“At the end, we just said that we win together and lose together and we can be immensely proud of what we have achieved this season.
“We set our target at the beginning of the season, which was to win the World Cup and lift it again and we’ve just fallen short at the final hurdle and that is the biggest disappointment for us – that we didn’t manage to finish the job.”
The Red Roses led 17-10 at halftime, but were undone by the Kiwi juggernaut in the second half as the Black Ferns ran in five tries.
Worcester wing Lydia Thompson scored twice. Her second touchdown was a crazy effort where she beat three Kiwi defenders – but it was not enough as NZ prop Toka Natua bagged a hat-trick.
Scorers: England: Tries: Pen try, Thompson (2), Noel-Smith; Cons: Pen try, Scarratt (2); Pens: Scarratt (2)
New Zealand: Tries: Winiata (2), Natua (3), Smith, Cocksedge; Cons: Cocksedge (3)