Black Ferns have final mountain to conquer

The Black Ferns found a way to defeat France but know another almighty test stands between them and a sixth Rugby World Cup title in the occasion of a lifetime for women’s rugby at Eden Park.

England, on the back of accelerating their professional women’s rugby programme after losing the last World Cup final in 2017 to the Black Ferns in Belfast, have won 30 matches on the trot since 2019 and stormed to their world No 1 ranking.

However, failing to hit 31 and not winning their third World Cup title would be galling for England after becoming the game’s greatest team, who have long craved for a decider of this scale with the Black Ferns in Auckland.

Their winning streak is a record for an international rugby team – England and the All Blacks are level on 18 successive victories in the men’s game – and Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith said his English counterpart, Simon Middleton, doesn’t get the credit he deserves for such a phenomenal run.

Form favours England – they thrashed an underprepared Black Ferns team 43-12 and 56-15 on last year’s northern tour – but World Cups are different.

History favours the Black Ferns, who have beaten the Red Roses in all four of their previous World Cup final meetings in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2017.

Still, whoever handles the pressure and wins the physical battle in