Women's Rugby World Cup: England lose 41-32 as New Zealand win fifth title

International cup very last: england v new zealand
England (17) 32
Attempts: penalty (7pts), thompson 2, noel-smith cons: scarratt 2 pens: scarratt 2
New zealand (10) 41
Attempts: winiata 2, natua 3, smith, cocksedge cons: cocksedge 3
England's reign as world champions become ended through a superb overall performance from new zealand because the black ferns ran in seven tries in belfast.

A penalty attempt to the primary of lydia thompson's double helped england lead 17-5 drawing near the destroy.

However it changed into a narrow advantage having ruled territory and ownership, and the black ferns then took manipulate.

Prop toka natua led the manner with a hat-trick as new zealand have become global champions for the fifth time.

Flying full-returned selica winiata grabbed a brace and charmaine smith and kendra cocksedge additionally went over because the black ferns regained the mantle of world champions, which england had held because beating canada to win the title in 2014.

It became a dizzying, stop-to-end contest for the first 70 mins, before new zealand ultimately controlled to secure a decisive lead, and although izzy noel-smith had the remaining word for england, it was basically a consolation rating.

How true was the final?

Tempo, strength and sophistication had been obvious on both sides, however ultimately it became the character superiority of the black ferns that blended to overrun england.

The pink roses had some first-class performers, with emily scarratt shrugging off an early leg harm to again show her elegance from complete-lower back, at the same time as young prop sarah bern changed into over again irrepressible and thomas showed great completing ability to score her brace.

However although england's % appeared the greater cohesive unit for the first half of hour, the longer the sport went at the greater the relentless physicality of the huge new zealand runners knocked them back, with aroha savage and the relaxation of the percent joining natua in handing over large performances.

Along them sporting hard into the britain defensive line turned into mighty fly-1/2 victoria subritzky-nafatali, who blended the scale and energy of a the front rower with pleasant footwork, crisp distribution and a measured kicking sport to assist guide the black ferns to victory.

England give it a move

After an early surprise, while winiata sped onto subritzky-nafatali's chip to open the scoring, england seemed as although they have been going to keep their identify.

Their percent had the higher hand at the set-portions and that they mixed up their recreation, with forwards and backs combining beautifully, to take a 12-point lead with 1/2-time in sight.

That they had turned 72% of possession into  attempts - thompson producing a excellent end for the primary before a dominant scrum earned a penalty attempt - and scarratt's boot had made it 17-5.

However then came the sport's pivotal second. England fly-1/2 katy mclean, with a three-lady overlap outside her, decided as an alternative to kick from simply internal her own half.

The black ferns had gamers again for just the sort of choice and they hooked up a surging, multi-segment counter-attack which ended a minute later with natua bundling over, and the momentum of the sport had changed irreversibly.

New zealand stamp their authority

England tried to head toe-to-toe with the black ferns and that they twice regained the lead, the second time courtesy of thompson as she scorched down the wing, leaving the match's leading attempt scorer portia woodman floundering in her wake.

However, inside the 15 minutes that observed england going lower back in front 25-24, new zealand - who had eighty% possession within the 2d half of - blew the red roses away.

Natua went over to complete her hat-trick - the tv suit professional happy she had released and regathered in preference to knocking-on - cocksedge sniped over and carla hohepa surpassed winiata her second on a plate after every other pin-point subritzky-nafatali pass-kick.

England's defence were demolished and even though they rallied to attain the final strive of a excessive-magnificence healthy, there was no question that new zealand are the satisfactory side within the world and deserving global champions.

England's emily scarratt takes on the new zealand defence
England's emily scarratt become swarmed through the black ferns defence whenever she acquired the ball
Defeat 'bitterly disappointing'

England's emily scarratt, speaking to bbc radio five live: "it's miles unbelievably difficult to take. Whilst you include one intention and get your self right into a function to attain that, it's miles bitterly disappointing.

"we performed some accurate rugby in that first half however it's difficult to play well if you do not have the ball. We are able to come once more in four years' time. Fair play to new zealand, they finished their plan higher than we did ours."

England coach simon middleton, speaking to bbc radio 5 stay: "it is a unhappiness. We got here here to win. We simply couldn't get ownership.

"they played a really clever game. When we did get the ball that they had a large physical presence, they're so proper at playing that brief recreation, that turned into the tale of the second one half.

"we did react, but we literally couldn't stop them. They have been very efficient at preserving the ball. Full credit to them. Whilst you get  notable groups together, one is continually going to come out on the wrong side."

International cup very last groups

England: emily scarratt; lydia thompson, megan jones, rachel burford, kay wilson; katy mclean, natasha hunt; vickii cornborough, amy cokayne, sarah bern, abbie scott, tamara taylor, alex matthews, marlie packer, sarah hunter (capt).

Replacements: vicky fleetwood, rochelle clark, justine lucas, harriet millar-mills, izzy noel-smith, la toya mason, amber reed, amy wilson hardy

New zealand: selica winiata; portia woodman, stacey waaka, kelly brazier, renee wickliffe; victoria subritzky-nafatali, kendra cocksedge; toka natua, fiao'o faamausili (capt), aldora itunu, eloise blackwell, charmaine smith, charmaine mcmenamin, sarah goss, aroha savage.

Replacements: te kura ngata-aerengamate, sosoli talawadua, aleisha nelson, rebecca timber, lesley ketu, kristina sue, theresa fitzpatrick, carla hohepa