Black Ferns deny England’s dream
STARING into space and with her glassy eyes on the verge of tears, Sarah Hunter did well not to lose emotional control as she attempted to sum up England’s World Cup final heartbreak.
Just over half an hour earlier, the Red Roses captain had watched from the sidelines as her team’s 30-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt at the worst possible moment.
This was Eden Park agony for England and ecstasy for hosts New Zealand. Unstoppable by Shia blasted out at the home of Kiwi rugby as Black Ferns icon Ruby Tui led a record crowd of 42,579 for a women’s international in a celebratory Haka. Guided by their ‘professor’ coach Wayne Smith, ‘unstoppable’ is exactly what New Zealand proved to be.
A 17th minute red card — distributed by Scottish referee Hollie Davidson — for England wing Lydia Thompson was crucial. Simon Middleton’s side were a player light for more than an hour, yet still they had one last shot at glory. But when it mattered most, England’s usually dominant line-out faltered.
‘Sport can be cruel,’ said Hunter, somehow able to find some words amid the shattering pain. ‘We will hurt. It hurts to lose a World Cup final and especially in that manner.’
It was a titanic contest with 11 tries — three from England hooker Amy Cokayne — as both teams excelled in front of the Auckland crowd.