Confident Kiwi Ferns ‘not fazed by England’

Kiwi Ferns halfback Raecene McGregor was keen to focus on the positives after her side’s heartbreaking 10-8 loss to the Jillaroos in their final pool game of the women’s World Cup.

The New Zealanders looked on the cusp of a big upset against defending champions and title favourites Australia when they took the lead in the 55th minute through a try from Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly. But a missed conversion from Brianna Clark – her second – proved decisive as Julia Robinson’s 62nd-minute try proved the difference in York.

The defeat means the Kiwi Ferns finish as runners-up in Group B behind Australia and will meet Group A winners England in the semifinals.

Sydney Roosters star McGregor was still proud of her team’s efforts and already looking ahead to their semifinal showdown with England on Tuesday, 8.30am (NZT).

‘‘It was pretty tough, we were in that for the whole game. So yeah, tough to lose that in the last few minutes there, but I’m really happy with how the girls performed and heading into the semifinals, it was a really good effort from us,’’ McGregor said.

The Jillaroos take on world No 4 Papua New Guinea in the other semifinal on Tuesday (NZT) as part of a doubleheader in York.