Women’s Rugby World Cup final: Record-breaking England favourites to extend run

Not since July 2019, and a 28-13 defeat to New Zealand, have Middleton’s side failed to win a Test match.

That match, the final game and title decider of the five-team Super Series in the United States, saw Kiwi wing Renee Wickliffe run in a hat-trick – the 35-year-old remains a part of the squad at this tournament and scored twice against Scotland.

England beat France in three of their next four Tests and nine times in total on the run – with those matches ranking as the nine narrowest winning margins until the 26-19 semi-final win over Canada slotted in seventh.

England beat Les Bleues by two points on three occasions, four, six (twice), 10, 12 and 23 and every other opponent prior to last weekend by at least 27.

Their overall record reads 1,405 points scored and only 247 conceded, a per-match average of 46.8 to 8.2.

That includes a pair of comprehensive wins over New Zealand, 43-12 and 56-15 in the autumn of 2021 – though the Black Ferns have responded well since then.

Wayne Smith’s side followed up those losses with two more against France but have been perfect since, an 11-match winning run averaging almost 46 points scored and just over nine conceded and capped with a semi-final win over France by a single point in Auckland.

Back at Eden Park and with recent form to rival England’s, they will be a force to be reckoned with as the Red Roses look to crown their glorious run in the most fitting fashion.

Key players

If England are to win the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, here are the three players most likely to have a decisive impact.

Abby Dow, Wasps Women, wing

Dow’s remarkable 51st-minute try in the semi-final against Canada underlined her finishing expertise as well as helping England break the resistance of their opponents.

Abby Dow? More like Abby Wow!

The @EnglandRugby winger has been back to her best at #RWC2021 #NZLvENG pic.twitter.com/dl7thKpTec

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 9, 2022

They led only 18-12 when Dow touched down by ending a move started by Claudia MacDonald’s brilliant footwork, showing raw pace to claim her second try of the match.

The 25-year-old’s performance explained why England took her to the World Cup even though she had not fully recovered from a horrific broken leg suffered in April.

Sarah Hunter, Loughborough Lightning, number eight

England’s most-capped player who has also accumulated a record 139 Test appearances in the women’s game, Hunter’s experience and big-game nous make her an automatic pick even at the age of 37.

A World Cup winner in 2014, she subsequently replaced Katy Daley-McLean as captain and has retained the role ever since.

Started her rugby career as a centre but her natural home is in the back row where a combination of power and rugby IQ keeps the excellent Poppy Cleall confined to a place on the bench.

Marlie Packer, Saracens, flanker

Consistently outstanding as an all-action openside, Packer is one of England’s most influential players. High work rate and breakdown savvy are her calling cards, but she is also a force in defence and attack.

A hat-trick in the 41-5 rout of Australia in the quarter-finals illustrated her value to England’s most potent weapon at the World Cup – the rolling maul – and the 33-year-old veteran of 88 caps has grown as a leader to the point she was named captain in the pool game against South Africa.

The Red Roses need her firing if New Zealand are to be dethroned.

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