England's Lydia Thompson was sent off in the Rugby World Cup final after a brutal head on head collision with New Zealand's Portia Woodman.
Winger Thompson was devastated as she left the field in just the 18th minute, leaving her side to face the bulk of the biggest game of their lives with just 14 players.
Thompson was unable to stop herself as she charged towards Woodman, clattering into her after the Black Ferns star had passed the ball inside. Both players' heads thudded together with sickening force.
With Woodman lying on the turf, play continued for a short period before referee Hollie Davidson asked Welsh TMO Ben Whitehouse to show her exactly what happened. Woodman left the field on a medical cart and was replaced by Ayesha Leti-l’iga.
Viewing a replay on the big screen, Davidson said: “For me it’s clear head on head, she’s coming across at speed, it’s a reckless action, so it’s a red card for me.”
The last sending off in a World Cup match at Eden Park was Sam Warburton in that infamous semi-final defeat to France. Warburton was also dismissed in the 18th minute.
England battled bravely for the rest of the match but were eventually pegged back, losing 34-31 in a dramatic finale.
It was a frantic affair from the start and Ellie Kildunne ran in the opening score before Cokayne crossed after a trademark England maul. Both were converted by Emily Scarratt, and the Red Roses were in control early on.
Then came the sending off, with Georgia Ponsonby crossing shortly after and Renee Holmes kicking the extras.
But if New Zealand thought the tide had turned, Marlie Packer gave them plenty more to think about when she went over after a lineout to stretch England's lead before Leti-l'iga used the numerical advantage to touch down in acres of space. Holmes again hit her mark.
Cokayne claimed her second try of the game before Amy Rule found the room to get over and cut the deficit to seven points as the teams went in at the break after a frantic, seven-try opening 40.
The second half was only 30 seconds old when the Black Ferns put on a stunning display of their running and passing game with Stacey Fluhler going over. Holmes just missed the kick to tie things up.
It was all New Zealand immediately after the break and they led for the first time when Krystal Murray got in from just a few metres out.
Holmes' missed kick meant the advantage was just three and that was wiped out when Cokayne crossed for the third time after another driving maul from the lineout.
There was always a sense that the lead wouldn't last and with 10 minutes to go Leti-l'iga scored a try worthy of winning a World Cup final.
Fitzpatrick's kick split the English defence and Fluhler gathered before releasing the ball just short of the line for Leti-l'iga to apply the finishing touch.
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