England secured their place in the Rugby World Cup final with a thrilling semi-final victory over France at Ashton Gate. The Red Roses will face Canada at a sold-out Twickenham next Saturday, aiming to end 11 years of hurt and claim the trophy. However, based on the semi-final performances, Canada may be considered favourites after England were pushed to their limits by a resilient French side.
France, despite being pegged as underdogs due to injuries to key players Lina Queyroi and Joanna Grisez, as well as two suspensions, delivered a formidable performance. They put England under immense pressure, particularly in the first half, frustrating the Red Roses and exposing vulnerabilities in their attack. The match was a tense affair, reminiscent of their last encounter in England during the Women's Six Nations, which England won 43-42.
England's defence was impressive at times, with Meg Jones excelling at the breakdown and Hannah Botterman dominating set pieces. However, their attack lacked clinical edge, and they struggled to break down a determined French defence. Full-back Ellie Kildunne, returning from injury, was a standout performer, scoring two tries including a spectacular solo effort that saw her run half the pitch to score under the posts. Her first try was England's 100th of the calendar year.
The match swung back and forth, with France's Nassira Konde scoring twice and Kelly Arbey also crossing the line. England responded through tries from Abbie Ward and Kildunne, but the decisive score came from Meg Jones, who was outstanding throughout. The victory sets up a mouth-watering final against Canada, but England will need to produce a complete 80-minute performance to lift the World Cup.
