Roses to play ‘without fear’

ENGLAND captain Sarah Hunter vowed the Red Roses will play “without fear” when they take on holders New Zealand for the World Cup trophy tomorrow.

The showpiece between the world’s top two nations is poised to break an attendance record, with over 40,000 ticket-holders expected to be at Auckland’s soldout Eden Park.

History is on the line for both sides in the rematch of the 2017 final. A loss would see numberone ranked England snap a 30-game Test win streak, the most of any men’s or women’s international side, while the Black Ferns are seeking a record sixth title and their first on home soil.

“I just think there’s that real sense of wanting to be together and about what this group want to go and do on Saturday, and just go in and play without fear,” said number eight Hunter.

“There’s things in life very few people get to do, and one is to play in a World Cup final. For people just to be themselves and to enjoy it – if you don’t enjoy playing in the biggest occasions then you’re in the wrong place. England: E Kildunne (Harlequins); L Thompson (Worcester), E Scarratt (Loughborough), H Aitchison (Saracens), A Dow (Wasps); Z Harrison (Saracens), L Infante (Saracens); V Cornborough (Harlequins), A Cokayne (Harlequins), S Bern (Bristol), Z Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), A Ward (Bristol), A Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), M Packer (Saracens), S Hunter (Loughborough, captain). Replacements: L Davies (Bristol), M Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), S Brown (Harlequins), C O’Donnell (Loughborough), P Cleall (Saracens), S Kabeya (Loughborough), C MacDonald (Exeter), T Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury).