England claimed a semi-finals berth in the 2022 Women’s World Cup with a 41-5 win over Australia at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland on Saturday.
England’s big pack relished the extremely wet conditions and the Wallaroos did well to hold them to a 19-5 half-time scoreline. But the Red Roses gained the upper hand in the second with Marlie Packer scoring three of their seven tries.
The Wallaroos’ lone try came on the stroke of half-time when flanker Emily Chancellor, one of Sydney University Football Club’s eight representatives involved in the match, finished off a sweeping move to burst over the line.
England’s pack dominated the scrums and lineouts, and as a result, territory, for much of the match. And that led to a number of their tries coming from short-range driving mauls.
Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning caused a surprise before the match when he handed Layne Morgan a start at halfback ahead of the well-performed SUFC representative Iliseva Batibasaga, who wore No.9 in all three group games. He also switched Lori Cramer, another SUFC representative, from fullback to wing for the match.
SUFC also had No.8 Grace Hamilton, hooker Adiana Talakai and prop Bridie O’Gorman in the starting XV, while Sera Naiqama, Piper Duck and Batibasaga came off the bench.
The result means Australia will head home with a 2-2 record in New Zealand, losing to England and the hosts, but beating Scotland and Wales.
England have never failed to reach a World Cup semi-final and came into the knockout rounds on a three-year winning streak. With their world record 29th straight Test win, England joins New Zealand and France in the last four of the 2022 World Cup.
In other matches on Saturday, hosts New Zealand crushed Wales 55-3 and France defeated Italy 39-3. They’ll meet at Eden Park on Saturday for a place in the World Cup final. England will meet Canada in the second semi-final after the Canadians ran in four tries to beat the United States 32-11.
Photos credits to Hannah Peters and Phil Walter
