If England v New Zealand is the Rugby World Cup final in 2025, fans will be treated to an absolute classic. Teams such as Canada and France will have a say in whether that becomes the reality next year but, with the display put on at Twickenham on Saturday, you can see why many are speaking about the potential of a sixth World Cup final being contested between the two giants of women’s rugby.
In an extremely physical match the Red Roses came out on top with the wing Abby Dow starring. Early on she put in two storming hits in defence, subsequently made some cracking breaks and finished off a phenomenal solo try. New Zealand also had impressive performances on display, in particular Ayesha Leti-I’iga who lit up the pitch whenever she received the ball. The wing was returning after almost two years away from international rugby because of injury.
“She’s a ball of energy,” said New Zealand’s head coach, Allan Bunting. “When she gets the ball in hand she is hard to stop. It was great to see her running out there again.”
The smell of fireworks was still in the air as the haka laid down the marker for the encounter. New Zealand started the game better with rapid passes causing problems for England but the Red Roses escaped from any punishment with the Black Ferns unable to capitalise on their pressure. The visitors’ attack looked its brightest when they found Leti-I’iga. Despite her long absence it was as though she had never been away, bumping off two English defenders and making a sizzling run. It took an incredible track back and tackle from Jess Breach to bring her down.
Leti-I’iga was a constant thorn in England’s side and the next time she received the ball it was Ellie Kildunne who had to put in a tackle to stop her in her tracks. The hosts’ attack had glimpses of prestige with breaks from Alex Matthews – the player of the match – and the prop Sarah Bern but the defence was holding firm and so England went back to basics, setting their famous maul with the captain, Marlie Packer, charging over to score.
The momentum slightly shifted and although the visitors continued to throw punches, it was Dow and then Kildunne who added to the scoreboard. Leti-I’iga was unleashed next on the right but Zoe Aldcroft put in a high tackle to take her down, resulting in a yellow card. Heading into the break England led 17-0, with supporters on the edge of their seats itching for the second half to get under way.
The Red Roses kept the scoring rolling and Natasha Hunt sniped to go over. Kildunne thought she had her second with a chip over the top setting a foot race in motion but Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Brunt touched the ball down. Two quickfire Katelyn Vahaakolo tries, the second assisted by the replacement Ruby Tui who garnered huge applause when she was introduced, eventually meant the world champions were rewarded for their efforts. England were on the slight back foot and bad news followed with the back-row Maddie Feaunati and the replacement hooker, Amy Cokayne, both taken off with injury.
England’s head coach, John Mitchell, said Feaunati had calf cramp and Cokayne had an “extension” which she will “probably have scanned”. He added, regarding what England can take from the match into next year’s World Cup: “When you have got the foot on the throat finish it. New Zealand will continue to play the way that they do, it is in their DNA. We knew that was going to come so we gave them some possession and we gave them some soft tries as well. All our own doing which is good because the last World Cup we went to we didn’t get these kinds of lessons this time of year. It’s really good for us.”
The encounter, the first between the two sides at Twickenham since 2012, certainly met the hype it was given before kick-off and supporters do not have long to wait to watch the electric rivalry in action again with the two playing each other on 6 October in the WXV 1. And after that? Maybe a Rugby World Cup final.
