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AUCKLAND, Nov 5 (Reuters) – England booked their place within the ladies’s Rugby World Cup last with a nail-biting 26-19 win over Canada at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday, with a length-of-the-field strive by Abby Dow swinging the sport within the two-time champions’ favour.
The match favourites, who might be taking part in in a sixth straight last, prolonged their report successful streak to 30 video games and face both defending champions New Zealand or France within the title decider subsequent Saturday.
“It was unimaginable,” stated England captain Sarah Hunter. “We have come right here to get into that sport subsequent week, however boy did Canada actually check us.
“Proper right down to the wire it went, so pleased with the way in which the staff dug in on the finish. Canada have been relentless, they got here and so they got here and so they got here and the women simply put their our bodies on the road.
“That is what it means to us. We have been determined to get into that last subsequent week.”
England’s trademark dominance on the line-out noticed them put the primary factors on the board eight minutes into the sport when Marlie Packer touched down from the again of the rolling maul.
The primary ranked facet on the planet then confirmed their all-round attacking prowess as fullback Helena Rowland sprinted in the direction of the Canadian line earlier than offloading for winger Dow to attain within the nook.
Canada decreased the deficit towards the run of play when scrumhalf Justine Pelletier burst by the English line to clip a grubber kick into area and Karen Paquin left the defence in her wake to the touch down.
That strive ignited the Canadian problem and, with 4 minutes left within the half, Kevin Rouet’s facet have been degree.
From a line-out deep in English territory, Canada put the defence below strain and because the ball was moved vast Alysha Corrigan collected a looping move to attain.
A pair of penalties both facet of the break from Emily Scarratt put the English again in entrance, but it surely was Dow who dented Canada’s hopes 10 minutes into the second half.
England turned decided defence into devastating assault inside seconds when Claudia MacDonald acquired the ball behind her personal strive line earlier than bursting in the direction of the midway line and feeding Dow, who used her searing tempo to outstrip the Canadian defenders and rating within the nook.
Tyson Beukeboom’s strive with 12 minutes remaining gave the Canadians hope however one other Scarrett penalty restored England’s seven-point lead, which they held to the whistle.
“There was no distinction in expertise on the market immediately,” stated Canada captain Sophie de Goede.
“Simply think about what we may do with extra video games and extra sources. I am actually proud to be Canadian and there is a vibrant future forward of us.”
Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong, Modifying by Peter Rutherford
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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