Red Roses land five tries in big World Cup alert

ENGLAND have made a big “statement of intent” ahead of the World Cup with the Red Roses yesterday claiming their first win in New Zealand since 2001.

Taking on the Black Ferns as a curtain raiser for the Lions game against the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua, England produced a disciplined performance which saw them cross for five tries to make it three wins in eight days having beaten Australia 53-10 last Friday and Canada 27-20 on Tuesday.

Emily Scarratt, Abbie Scott, Lydia Thompson, Marlie Packer and Vicky Fleetwood were the scorers for the Red Roses who will head into their first World Cup game against Spain on August 9 as the top of the World Rugby rankings.

“We’ve played some hard games out here and finishing with New Zealand in New Zealand is as tough as it gets,” said fly-half Katy McLean.

“It’s a statement of intent from us, we haven’t been perfect but we’ve shown we can build as we go along.”

“To come out and deliver a performance like that against tough opposition in that environment shows the quality of this side.

“However, we are not silly enough to think anything is won here, it’s about ■Lydia Thompson scored two tries as England beat Canada and made it two from two in the 2017 International Women’s Rugby Series in Christchurch on Tuesday.

Abbie Scott opened the scoring ten minutes in with the first try of the game but Canada got on the scoreboard four minutes later through the boot of Magali Harvey.

The Red Roses hit straight back, however, with Thompson showing great pace to score in the corner.

Canada scored their first try of the match with prop Carolyn McEwen barging doing it at the World Cup in August that really counts.”

Scarrat opened a 7-0 lead converting her own try but the Black Ferns’ response was swift as Kendra Cocksedge and the deadly Portia Woodman scoring a try each to put the hosts 14-7 up.

England muscled up towards the end of the half and a driving maul sent Scott over sending the two sides in level at the break.

The Red Roses picked up where they left off in the second half with two quick tries from Thompson and Packer, forcing New Zealand to chase the game.

Fleetwood sealed a famous win for the visitors with a try ten minutes from time even if Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali went over for New Zealand late on. over but they still trailed at the break as Emily Scarratt kicked a penalty to make it 15-10

An intercept-try from Karen Paquin edged the Canadians in front but Thompson’s magnificent second try restored England lead.

Harvey kept Canada in the contest with a penalty but England had their fourth try soon after as Kay Wilson made it 11 tries in her last five international matches.

It proved to be the matchwinner as, despite their best efforts, Canada could not score again.