Rugby World Cup: France last-gasp penalty miss sees New Zealand book repeat final spot against England | Rugby Union News

France have never reached a Women’s Rugby World Cup final. trailing by one point in a spectacular finish, flyhalf Caroline Drouin had a chance to win but missed her penalty on the left side; Hosts New Zealand will now face England in the final next Saturday at 6.30am UK time.

New Zealand’s Liana Mikaele-Tu’u is tackled by a French defender during the Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final

Defending holders New Zealand survived a last-minute missed penalty from France to book their place in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final against England with a 25-24 victory in Auckland .

In a hugely dramatic finish, flyhalf Caroline Drouin had a chance to win it for France with a penalty awarded past the posts after Black Ferns prop Santo Taumata was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, but Drouin l hit at the last minute. wide shot to the left.

After the Red Roses saw off Canada earlier, the New Zealand hosts were pushed all the way by a determined French side but eventually pulled off a great escape in front of a roaring home crowd, setting up what promises to be a successful final next Saturday. , with kick-off at 6.30am UK time.

It will also be a repeat of the 2017 final, which the Black Ferns won 41-32 in Belfast.

France have never been in a game for the World Cup title and will regret a semi-final that eluded them after working hard early on.

Caroline Drouin (middle) and a discouraged French team after their heartbreaking defeat in the semi-finals

The French had taken an early 10-0 lead after a penalty from Drouin and then a try from Marine Menager, with the pressure finally showing after New Zealand repelled a ferocious 17-phase assault on their try line in opening. minutes.

But the home side were soon level again after Stacey Fluhler left, only for France to score another Gabrielle Vernier try just before the break to enter half-time 17-10 ahead.

Ruby Tui scored again for the hosts shortly after the restart, Renee Holmes missing the chance for the extra points – as well as a long-range penalty minutes later – before Theresa Fitzpatrick charged to make it 22-17 just before the hour mark.

France lost a woman with a yellow card to loose striker Safi N’Diaye for a 70th-minute high tackle, and a penalty from captain Ruahei Demant looked to have put the game beyond doubt ahead of the knockout stages.

However, a maul driving a lineout ended with Menager landing between the posts for his second attempt to cut the deficit to a single point and set up a grandstand finish.

A Taumata high tackle on Agathe Sochat was reviewed by the televised match official (TMO), resulting in a yellow card for the substitute prop and a penalty for France, which Drouin sent terribly wide as the hosts held on .

“It was just an amazing ending, really,” New Zealand coach Wayne Smith said after the match.

“I thought we were quite nervous at the start. I thought it was gone, but it’s not. It’s there and we have a chance next week.”

England beat Canada in a thrilling semi-final

England booked their place in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final with a stinging 26-19 victory over Canada at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday, with a try at the length of the pitch from Abby Dow who tipped the match in both times. favor of champions.

As Canada equalized with four minutes remaining in the first half, two penalties either side of Emily Scarratt’s break put England back in front, before Dow really sapped Canada’s hopes 10 minutes after the start of the second half.

England turned a determined defense into a devastating attack in seconds when Claudia MacDonald received the ball behind her own try line before racing towards the halfway line and feeding Dow, who used his blistering pace to edge past the Canadian defenders and score in the corner.

Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player

Simon Middleton and Sarah Hunter give their reaction after England booked their place in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final with victory over Canada at Eden Park in Auckland

The tournament favourites, who will contest a sixth consecutive final, extended their record winning streak to 30 games.

“It was amazing,” England captain Sarah Hunter said after the match. “We came here to play this game next week, but Canada really tested us.

“It went all the way, so proud of how the team went down at the end… We were desperate to get into that final next week.”

She added: “We’re a team that realizes we haven’t won anything yet. We’ll save the party until we get the result we want next week.”