England will meet Canada in the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup after a hard-fought 35–17 semifinal win over France in front of a sold-out Ashton Gate crowd in Bristol on Saturday.
The Red Roses were pushed to the limit by a patched-up French side but ultimately prevailed through relentless defense, dominance at the breakdown, and set-piece power. While their attack misfired for much of the contest, England found their rhythm in the final quarter, scoring five converted tries to book their spot in next Saturday’s Twickenham final.
For head coach John Mitchell, the showdown is exactly what the women’s game deserves:
“No. 1 in the world and No. 2 (in the final), it’s awesome for the game. Canada are playing great rugby, we are playing very effective rugby.”
A Familiar Stage
England’s consistency at this level is unmatched. In 10 Rugby World Cups, they have reached the final on nine occasions but lifted the trophy only twice. Importantly, their long-time nemesis New Zealand — the six-time champions who beat them in four previous finals — will not be standing in their way this time. Canada’s stunning 34–19 semifinal upset of the Black Ferns on Friday ensured a fresh matchup for the title.
Twickenham will provide a fitting stage, with 82,000 fans expected to pack the stands — a world-record attendance for a standalone women’s international. Tickets were snapped up months ago, fueled by England’s three-year winning streak, which now stretches to 32 matches.
France Fall Short Again
France, meanwhile, will contest the bronze medal match for a record ninth time after yet another semifinal heartbreak. Despite 17 consecutive losses to England, Les Bleues arrived with ambition and matched their rivals physically throughout the first half. Forwards Teani Feleu and Madoussou Fall Raclot led the charge, and center Nassira Konde crossed for a deserved try.
But France’s lack of clinical finishing cost them dearly. They visited the England 22 on seven occasions in the first half and scored only once. Handling errors, a forward pass from Gabby Vernier to captain Marine Ménager, and a wasted overlap by Morgane Bourgeois left them trailing 7–5 at halftime despite controlling territory.
England’s defense was immense, making more than 100 tackles before the break. Prop Hannah Botterman and center Megan Jones each produced a string of crucial turnovers inside their own 22, denying France momentum.
England’s Power Shines Through
Botterman’s early jackal penalty created the platform for fullback Ellie Kildunne — returning from concussion — to score a brilliant solo try in the fifth minute, though the buildup sparked debate after video showed a ruck ball ricochet off Natasha Hunt’s foot.
England’s attacking cohesion improved after the interval. Hooker Amy Cokayne finished off a trademark 20-meter maul, while lock Abbie Ward muscled through from close range as fresh front-row reinforcements tilted the scrum battle decisively.
Kildunne then struck again with a second opportunistic try, stretching the lead to 28–12 with 10 minutes to play and effectively sealing victory. She was named Player of the Match but deflected credit to her teammates:
“I’ve stolen that from the rest of the team. Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, all the forwards — you saw the defense they put in. I barely had to make any tackles. I am absolutely buzzing about the final, it’s all we’ve been dreaming of.”
France had the final word with Konde’s second try, but Jones capped England’s night with a late score from a Holly Aitchison grubber.
Mitchell admitted his side had to endure more than expected:
“They threw everything at us and we were able to break them eventually. I always said to the girls, it’s going to take a long time, but probably a little bit longer than I thought it would.”
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