WORLD CUP AGONY FOR ENGLAND
Ferns back in black after curse strikes Red Roses again in spectacular final
THE black curse struck once more as England suffered further World Cup final heartbreak against New Zealand.
Promoted to prime-time billing on ITV, the Red Roses were unable to end their hoodoo against the Black Ferns.
England have now lost four out of four finals against their arch enemies — 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2017 — but they put up a heroic effort before the Kiwi comeback.
These two nations are famili ar foes, of course. Their rivalry for No1 spot runs even deeper than the Saturday night ratings battle between X Factor and Strictly.
When England won 29-21 in Rotorua on their summer tour, two of their tries stemmed from the lineout and, once again, the Red Roses used their set piece as a platform for their early charge.
Abbie Scott and Tamara Taylor, two giants in the second row, were immaculate in the air and pinned the Kiwis back to their own line with towering catch after towering catch down the right.
England should have scored but Emily Scarratt’s ambitious flick-pass flew into touch and instead the Kiwis, with just eight minutes on the clock, drew first blood down the opposite end. No10 Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali exploited the back- three positioning, with No 15 Danielle Waterman out with concussion, and Selica Winiata — all 5ft1 and 9st — scored from the lucky bounce.
There were collisions aplenty. Taylor on giant prop Aldora Itunu was one for YouTube. Then Taylor was the victim of a no-arms tackle and Scarratt converted the subsequent penalty. Former Ireland interna- tional Joy Neville was appointed referee.
The competition is viewed as a development pathway for officials, although World Rugby will surely consider appointing one of the world’s leading referees, such as Nigel Owens, for future finals.
Neville showed Kiwi No 7 Sarah Goss a harsh yellow card for a tip tackle on Katy McLean and England were ruthless in exploiting t heir numerical advantage — once again turning to the set piece.
Simon Middleton’s side dominated the scrum and kept their patience, winning penalties thanks to the raw strength of prop Sarah Bern, and took a 25th- minute lead through a penalty try. The white wall of defence provided the foundation for their semi-final victory over France and, after repelling a Kiwi attack, they soon countered for their third try through Lydia Thompson.
Alex Matthews broke downfield with a bulldozing run and, after Rachael Burford waltzed through mid field with a dummy, the right winger was on hand to give England a 12point lead.
It was almost the perfect half, dominant in both territory and possession, until Toka Natua stretched over the line to narrow the deficit just before half time after a break by Portia Woodman.
And so the black tidal wave continued early in the second half. The average ball-in-play
time was 40 minutes during this World Cup — 10 minutes more than a typical men’s Test — and both sides proved so fluent at keeping the ball alive in attack.
But it was the Black Ferns who strung together phase after phase and, sandwiching another Scarratt penalty, for- wards Natua and Charmaine Smith both crashed over inside 10 minutes to take the lead.
Fitness, they said, would favour the English.
The Red Roses are fully professional — unlike the Kiwis — and have a dedicated st rength and conditioning coach. A loose clearance kick fell into the arms of Thompson who, out of nowhere, found space down the right flank and scorched 40 metres t o hit back.
The comeback, however, was shortlived as Natua scored her third and Kendra Cocksedge added another as the Kiwis began to find more space in attack and exploit it with their wide speed.
There was a late rally through Izzy Noel-Smith following Lesley Fetu’s yellow card but it was too little, too late.
It was heartbreaking for the Red Roses but heart-racing for the 15,000 in the stands and millions more sat in front of their TV sets.
Scarratt said: ‘The scoreline suggests a magnificent game of rugby but we are gutted. We came here with one goal and we pulled up just short.
‘We have so many girls who are making their first World Cup appearance and they will come again.’
The challenge now is to capitalise on this moment in the sun. England’s new-look domestic competition is a blank canvas but the RFU are starting off on the back foot as their 50 full or part time XVs contracts are scrapped for 17 rugby sevens deals.
A host of players will be left in the cold, playing for amateur clubs which will likely struggle to maintain the standards of medical support, travel and playing facilities they have become used to.