I want to say a huge thank you to all of you for joining me, not only for this final but for all the matches at this World Cup. Women’s rugby has always had these rivalries, fantastic talent and inspiring stories and now it finally has been given the platform it deserves. What a final eh?! It was tense and it went down to the wire. For all the action, Rob Kitson’s report is below. England’s women’s club tournament, the Premier 15s, starts next weekend, get to a game if you can.
The team filter through with their glittering medals, they line up and Demant and Simon are likely to lift this together as co-captains. Eden Park are chanting ‘Black Ferns’, to see this with women’s rugby is so emotional. The impact of this tournament is huge. But now we look to the trophy and they raise it into the air which is met with a thunderous roar. Wow, wow, wow! What a moment. History is made.
The crowd have stayed to see their side pick up their medals, what a special moment for these girls! The noise is deafening and this will stay with them forever. It’s so good to see Woodman okay to pick up her winner medal too.
England have their runner-up medals, the hurt on the faces is just so cutting. Whoever won this, the runners-up would be gutted – sadly for Simon Middleton’s side they are the losers. Middleton collects his medal and he looks so gutted, the work he has done with England is immense though. I hope he remains for 2025.
Sarah Hunter has used the heartbreak of 2017, losing to New Zealand in the final, to get her to this point. She said ahead of the tournament that this is her final World Cup but will she be tempted by 2025 now?
France are getting their bronze medals and England will follow with their runner-up medals.
England captain Sarah Hunter told ITV: “I’m gutted. So proud of the team. We came out fighting, we had our backs against the wall but we never gave up. WE kept coming out. We said in the circle one result does not define who we are as a squad or as people.
“Sport is cruel, it doesn’t always end the way you want to. Credit to New Zealand, they kept coming.
“Regardless of the result if we left everything on the pitch we can be proud and we have done that.”
What are you all thinking? Let me know! Email or Twitter.
New Zealand captain Demant said: “I can’t even put it into words. All I can say is thank you and I am so proud of our team. It’s been really challenging, most people don’t even know when we went north we got pumped. The way the players have turned themselves around, there is so many things that are unseen. So many players who have got us here who aren’t in the team right now.
“It has been so overwhleming. We aren’t used to so many fans. We hope we have made our country proud. We hope we have inspired the next generation.
“I want to say a massive [thank you] to Sarah and her team. Massive congratulations to them, 30 wins in a row, I hope they celebrate tonight too.”
I believe Simon Middleton’s contract comes to an end after this World Cup and there were questions on whether he would re-sign for 2025. I think he will now, it’s a home World Cup too.
England’s winning run comes to an end, they had 30 matches on the bounce. But that has come tumbling down. You can take nothing away from New Zealand, they were really good and it is worth noting New Zealand scored the winning try with both sides down to 14. As an England fan I am devastated but you cannot help but smile for the Black Ferns with a jumping Eden Park.
The reaction from both sides just show how tough this final was. What an incredible performance from England after they went down to 14 after 20 minutes. But in the end New Zealand rallied their first half nerves, the clinicism came into their game – especially with that final line-out.
Full-time: New Zealand 34-31 England
What an ending. What a match. New Zealand celebrate wildly, England in floods of tears.
80 min: New Zealand have stolen the line-out and they win the penalty! NEW ZEALAND WIN.
80 min: England have the penalty again! What is going to happen. I am in floods of tears. Back we come to the pen, they’ll kick to corner again.
79 min: Dow is back on after passing her HIA, New Zealand bring down England’s maul legally. This is surely their last shot here. They are going through the phases here, my heart is thumping! England have the penalty, what will they do here? They kick to the corner. BIG CALL!!
77 min: New Zealand win the ball at the breakdown and surely that is that. Never say never but I think the hosts have this. Demant went to kick that but she tapped the penalty and they are in the attack – an error though as England win the penalty! Oh my, oh my! I can’t take this.
76 min: Muir is on for Cornborough and Tubic, who is on for Fluhler, kicks away. England have the line-out, this could be their last chance to throw a punch and they lose the line-out! The first they have lost and it comes just after Davies comes on for Cokayne. England have it now though with a clean Kildunne catch, England have the advnatage too.
74 min: Jeeeeez, who will win this?? The final has lived up to the hype. Huge.
TRY! New Zealand 34-31 England (Leti-I’iga, 73')
The NZ line-out is good and England have to put in a great defensive effort here. Kabeya makes a rare miss tackle and they hosts keep coming. They are so fast, Fluhler’s offload is amazing. Fluhler has hurt herself in that and she is off – a standing ovation for her. So emotional. Holmes misses it! The gap is three.
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71 min: The replay shows Demant did not touch that, it looks like it skims her arm – that is so so close! They have reversed it. Cleall is remaining on.
71 min: There’s a loose pass from New Zealand and with their attack stalling Holmes kicks ahead, she almost finds her teammate but it is out of play. England to have the line-out and it is sloppy but England have it. Both sides are fighting so hard. Harrison kicks away but it was touched by Demant and England have the line-out. Cleall is receiving some treatment here so there’s a break in play.
69 min: Demant kicks and New Zealand have the line-out. It is clean and they employ the driving maul. Cocksedge kicks away and MacDonald does really well to collect that, England on the attack now but they will do so from deep. Harrison kicks away and now New Zealand come again. I’M SO NERVOUS.
67 min: Dow is coming off for a HIA and Heard is on. Bern remains on.
67 min: New Zealand turn it over at the breakdown, Ward again giving away the penalty there. Time is off again as Bern receives treatment.
67 min: We are back underway and England have the line-out, the driving maul gets them a few metres but New Zealand do really well to bring it down legally. They are running it now, they will have to get some points if they want to feel more secure in this.
65 min: Surprisingly Dow is not off for a HIA
YELLOW CARD! New Zealand 29-31 England (Simon, 65)
Mitigating factor is the initial contact is on the shoulder. Both teams have 14. Ahhhh, Dow is back to her feet. Think she’ll have a HIA.
65 min: I think this will be at least a yellow.
65 min: It’s a clean scrum from both sides and New Zealand come away with it. They kick away and Dow runs it from their own 22, the winger is down here and in pain. We head to the TMO – is there another card?
65 min: England have the scrum and they are marching, a great set piece from the visitors. They have walked it to halfway and now they decide to pass it out. I feel sick. Ward’s pass is loose and Bern knocks on. All that hard work and now New Zealand have the scrum. Ngan-Woo is on for Roos.
63 min: England are 17 minutes away from winning this final but New Zealand are throwing absolutely everything at them. This is a huge testament for the game, I was worried the final could fall apart after the red but it has stayed exciting. Rule is off and Taumata is on.
63 min: England are doing so well to defend but New Zealand are moving closer to the line but England turn it over! Another New Zealand’s Rule us down injured here, there’s a break in play.
62 min: New Zealand kick it away and Kildunne does well to run it from her own 22. A New Zealand player is down, I’m unsure who yet. Harrison kicks it out on the full though and the hosts have the line-out in their 22. New Zealand’s line-out is loose but they get it back as Matthews knocks on. How are the players coping? I am a bag of nerves.
60 min: England have the line-out and it is clean but Ward is under pressure and New Zealand win it on the floor. Jeez Louise. I am so nervous!!!
59 min: England have the scrum after that knock on. They come away with it and have the advantage, the celebrations from the subsequent penalty is huge! Every metre and anything gained is hugely celebrated. What a performance. This could still go either way.
58 min: We are back underway and Murray is okay to stay on.
58 min: There is a break in play as Murray receives treatment.
58 min: England looked as though they had turned it over but they knock on! New Zealand have the advantage but they are still with the ball. England turn it over and Harrison kicks, New Zealand knock on! Wow.
56 min: Hunter is shouting and jumping around for that, the captain is loving it from the sidelines. New Zealand have it now and they are looking to regain their lead.
TRY! New Zealand 29-31 England (Cokayne, 55')
And that’s the hooker’s hat-trick! The celebrations show what that mean! Oh my word this final is breathless. Scarratt misses the extras.
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54 min: England win a scrum penalty and they opt for another scrum. They win another scrum penalty and they kick to the corner. The driving maul? I think so.
52 min: England make some changes with Kabeya coming on for M Packer and MacDonald is on for L Packer. New Zealand bring on Simon for McMenanin. I am so nervous.
TRY! New Zealand 29-26 England (Murray, 50')
They employ the driving maul and England give away the penalty. New Zealand come again but the driving maul is down, they will have to run this. Murray powers over and New Zealand are ahead for the first time. Holmes misses the kick.
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48 min: New Zealand make replacements Love is off for Murray and Ponsonby is off for Connor. England come away with the ball and they will play from halfway. They kick cross field but New Zealand come away with it, they kicked and that is sublime from Cocksedge! It is a 50:22, they have the line-out.
47 min: New Zealand get it back and kick away and Kildunne does well not to touch it as it bounced around. England have the line-out and it is clean. They are picking away at this and Scarratt kicks away. Holmes come s away with it but they knock on through Fluhler. An England scrum to come! Oh wow, this game!
45 min: Finn has got in touch via email, saying: “Wow, this game is just outrageous. I think bringing Cleall on will change the game but it is going to be tough for the Red Roses no matter what.” You are not wrong! Back to the match and England have the scrum and they come away with it.
44 min: New Zealand are in possession once more and they are on the attack. They smell blood. Scarratt wins the penalty at the breakdown to relieve some pressure. There’s a break in play as Cornborough receives treatment.
TRY! New Zealand 24-26 England (Fluhler, 41')
Wow!! New Zealand have a great start and there’s great play between Fluhler and Holmes, the ball comes back in for Fluhler who goes over. Holmes misses the extras.
Updated
Back underway! New Zealand 19-26 England
We are back for the second half, can England hold on? Or will the hosts win this? I’m so TENSE! England have made a change with Cleall on for Hunter.
Have my nerves settled? Absolutely not! How are you feeling? Let me know!
Before kick-off and 17 minutes in I was convinced England were going to win this. But now I am unsure. They have done well so far with 14 players but can they keep this up? I’m not sure.
It is spirited performance from England who went down to 14 just under 20 minutes into the match. Thompson’s high shot on Woodman deserved the red card, it was dangerous and Woodman has been forced out of the match. Have a look:
"Clear head on head, it's a reckless action... So it's a red card" 🟥
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) November 12, 2022
Game Changing decisions. #RedRoses down to 14.#RWC2021 #NZLVSENG pic.twitter.com/V9prMAAZMH
Half-time: New Zealand 19-26 England
Well what a 40 minutes. Seven tries and a red card.
TRY! New Zealand 19-26 England (Rule, 40')
The line-out is clean and the driving maul is employed. England defend it well but Rule peels off and she is over! Holmes misses the extras.
Updated
39 min: New Zealand have the advantage but Leti-I’iga makes a great break. England give away a penalty and New Zealand kick to the corner.
38 min: England try to disrupt the line-out but the hosts come away with it. Fluhler is loose with the pass but Holmes does so well to collect it. O’Donnell puts in a great tackle but still New Zealand come.
37 min: England have the scrum penalty and they are dominating the set piece. They are running it but New Zealand have the penalty as O’Donnell has a neck roll – not what they need right now. But they knock on! So back and forth! Harrison puts in an absolute cracker of a kick which finds touch a metre away from the try line, it’s not a 50:22 though.
35 min: England are defiant in this final, they are a player down but they are playing so well! If they can go in and not concede again it will be impressive. New Zealand knock on through Leti-I’iga and England have the scrum.
Updated
TRY! New Zealand 14-26 England (Cokayne, 33')
The maul is good and Cokayne celebrates! This is some shift from the team down to 14. Scarratt adds the extras!
Updated
32 min: A long pass is intercepted by Holmes but Davidson blows the whistle as we come back for the advantage, she runs it anyway – much to Eden Park’s dismay. England kick to the corner and they will look to bring in the driving maul here.
30 min: New Zealand come away with it at the scrum and they run it wide, they decide to pop it through with Holmes kicking to try and find Tui but it’s out of play. Cokayne’s line-out is good and the maul is back in play, they will have to march a long way here. England do have the advantage.
28 min: We’re back underway and Aldcroft has received some treatment and she is off for a HIA. O’Donnell is on in her place.
28 min: They match to a few metres from the line and Matthews picks it up. It seems McMenamin has turned it over but Davidson comes back for a penalty. But England knocked on first so I think it’s a New Zealand scrum. Slight break in play with a water break.
27 min: New Zealand with the ball again, this could be a landslide win after the red. But as soon as I say that Demant throws the ball out of play. England’s line-out is clean and the driving maul is here again/
TRY! New Zealand 14-19 England (Leti-I’iga, 26')
New Zealand employs the driving maul and England are doing well to repel it. They are forced to run it wide and replacement Leti-I’iga is over. Holmes adds the extras with a superb kick!
Updated
24 min: This game could still go either way but this will be a tough ask from England, the early tries will help them but my word defence will have to be clean. Ward knocks on at the restart and New Zealand kick to the corner.
TRY! New Zealand 7-19 England (M Packer, 21')
The driving maul is over, this time from Packer. Simon Middleton punched the air when they went over, shows what it means after the red card. Scarratt conversion is off the post.
Updated
21 min: New Zealand have a bad restart and England have a line-out just five metres out. The driving maul is surely going to come into play and it does. They need the points here now.
TRY! New Zealand 7-14 England (Ponsonby, 18')
The driving maul is deadly for New Zealand this time. Holmes gets the extras. I’m a little shellshocked by the last few minutes.
Updated
18 min: Woodman is off, she is conscious but is off on a cart. Leti-I’iga is on for her. This is a huge moment in this final.
RED CARD! New Zealand 0-14 England (Thompson, 18')
That is completely the right call. It was head-on-head tackle with Woodman and the winger is in some pain.
Updated
18 min: Woodman looks as though she is in some trouble here with the medics around her as England turn it over and clear their lines with M Packer turning it over. This is worrying for the winger and Davidson is looking here.
17 min: Aitchison’s kick is charged down by Fluhler but Packer does well to collect it! However, England give it away in attack and we have the first scrum as the ball hits the referee. New Zealand have the puts in and England have the slight nudge but the hosts come away with it. Woodman springs down the wing and they spread it to the other wing to Tui!
Updated
TRY! New Zealand 0-14 England (Cokayne, 13')
They kick to the corner, will we see the driving maul? We do! New Zealand are doing well to repel it but England march forward and Cokayne is over! The hooker screams in celebration and there’s more cheers as Scarratt gets the extras.
Updated
12 min: New Zealand’s attack was slightly stalled and so they opt for the kick. Dow runs it and then kicks and the hosts are forced to run it, Woodman makes a huge break! She offloads to Hirini and they are now going through the phases. But England turn it over again as New Zealand are off their feet. Harrison kicks and we have another England line-out. It’s clean once more and Scarratt slickly offloads to Kildunne. New Zealand think they have turned it over but it’s England’s penalty.
10 min: New Zealand are once again on the attack, the kick came in but it can’t reach Tui or Fluhler. England line-out is clean once more and Harrison kicks it away. Woodman streams down the wing but England turn it over at the breakdown. This is end-to-end!
8 min: The full-back Holmes misses the kick! Wow, the nerves showing slightly.
7 min: Bern gives away the penalty at the breakdown and New Zealand point to the sticks, they know how important points are.
6 min: It’s a poor restart from England and New Zealand have it. They exchange kicks and the Black Ferns have their first line-out. It’s loose from Ponsonby but the hosts have it and they are looking to strike back quickly.
TRY! New Zealand 0-7 England (Kildunne, 3')
Dow escapes down the wing and she passes to Thompson who does well to keep it alive. England have the advantage and they run it wide with Kildunne crashing over! Scarratt slots a great kick for the extras.
Updated
2 min: The kick-off is won by Thompson and Harrison gets the first kick in. New Zealand decide to run it but England turn it over through M Packer. Harrison puts in another kick but Holmes does well under pressure to not give back possession. The hosts are playing it from deep here but Demant kicks and England have their first line-out, it’s clean and England attack.
Kick-off! New Zealand 0-0 England
Five weeks, 25 matches and just one game to play. Over the next 80 minutes we will find out the winners of the 2021 tournament, here we go!
I am crying just seeing the crowd, what an occasion! As cheesy as it sounds, no matter who takes the trophy, women’s rugby is the definite winner.
The players are out and the anthems will be in full flow, followed by the haka! It all comes down to this! The nerves are so real, I have no idea how the players are feeling.
England head coach Simon Middleton told ITV: “Exciting. I think everybody is excited. We hope it’s a great game. We’re focusing on the job at hand.”
And he added on L Packer late change: “We sort of knew all week, Leanne ahs been struggling. She is tough but you can’t send someone in at 70%. We teed it up all week. We anticipated it might happen.”
England are favourites for this one but it will be such a tough Test to down New Zealand in their own back yard. So much suspense, 15 minutes to go …
Catch up with our previews for Saturday’s huge game at Eden Park.
The opening montage has made me cry, this morning will be emotional …
Here are some stats for you to get you warmed up for this one! England have scored 239 points so far in the tournament and only conceded 50. The Black Ferns, meanwhile, have scored 234 points and conceded 56.
Eden Park is set to be sold-out for this final with 40,000 fans expected to be there. If that many supporters turn out, which looks likely with it filling up ahead of kick-off, it will smash the attendance record for the women’s rugby union match. An astounding achievement and it shows what impact this tournament has had.
World Rugby have confirmed that if England can beat New Zealand in today’s final that they will be awarded the highest ever rating given to an international rugby team in the world rankings!
I am nervous, excited, emotional – you name it I’m feeling it! How are you feeling ahead of the final? Let me know via Twitter, @rendellx, or email.
Third and fourth place was decided earlier today with France demolishing Canada 36-0. The scoreline was not reflective of the fight Canada displayed, it would be great to see them a professional team before the next World Cup.
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All eyes will be on England’s Lucy Packer in this final, a match she was not even down to be on the bench for until today! Leanne Infante is injured and Packer will start with Claudia MacDonald on the bench as cover. A lot of people have said Simon Middleton made a mistake not bringing Mo Hunt to New Zealand just in case this exact situation happened – a huge occasion for the 22-year-old.
The team news is here! New Zealand make one change from their semi-final. Charmaine McMenamin comes in at No. 8 for the injured Liana Mikaele-Tu’u.
New Zealand starting XV: Renee Holmes; Ruby Tui, Stacey Fluhler, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Portia Woodman; Ruahei Demant (captain), Kendra Cocksedge; Phillipa Love, Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Maiakawanakaukani Roos, Chelsea Bremner, Alana Bremner, Sarah Hirini, Charmaine McMenamin.
Replacements: Luka Connor, Krystal Murray, Santo Taumata, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kennedy Simon, Ariana Bayler, Hazel Tubic, Ayesha Leti-I’iga.
England, meanwhile, have made four changes to their starting side. Ellie Kildunne comes in at full-back with Lydia Thompson back on the wing and Holly Aitchison at 12. a late change to the side sees Leanne Infante out injured with Lucy Packer starting – a huge test for the young scrum-half.
England starting XV: Ellie Kildunne; Lydia Thompson, Emily Scarratt, Holly Aitchison, Abby Dow; Zoe Harrison, Lucy Packer; Vickii Cornborough, Amy Cokayne, Sarah Bern, Zoe Aldcroft, Abbie Ward, Alex Matthews, Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter (captain).
Replacements: Lark Davies, Maud Muir, Shaunagh Brown, Cath O’Donnell, Poppy Cleall, Sadia Kabeya, Claudia MacDonald, Tatyana Heard.
Good morning and welcome to the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and England. It’s is finally here after five weeks of exciting competition and we have the final fixture many fans predicted before the tournament began.
Hosts New Zealand have never lost a World Cup final they have been in but favourites England will be looking to spoil their record and add to their own this morning. If they claim the trophy it will be their 31st win on the bounce.
But they face tough competition in the Black Ferns, who have been formidable this tournament! And if the two thrilling semi-finals are anything to go by we are in for a treat! The team news has been announced so stay tuned for updates ahead of kick-off at 6.30am!
