Red Roses beat Australia to secure semi-final spot
The Red Roses defeated Australia 41-5 in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Auckland.
Simon Middleton's side ran in seven tries at Waitakere Stadium in tricky, wet conditions, extending their record-breaking run of Test wins to 29 in a row, and reaching a ninth consecutive Rugby World Cup semi-final.
Tries from Sarah Hunter, Abbie Ward, Amy Cokayne, Alex Matthews and a hat-trick for Marlie Packer secured the victory, while Australia's only score was from Emily Chancellor.
It was Hunter, on her record-breaking 138th England cap, who opened the scoring with a try off the back of a dominant scrum with Emily Scarratt converting.
Zoe Aldcroft and Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry were both shown yellow cards in the first half as both teams struggled to capitalise on their chances in the driving rain.
The Red Roses enjoyed a long period of possession inside the opposition 22, and their efforts were soon rewarded when Packer scored the first of her three tries off the back of a driving maul, having been denied a try just minutes earlier.
The open-side flanker scored a brace soon after, charging over from short range after an inside pass from Zoe Harrison, before Australia responded with a try from Chancellor in the closing stages of the half.
The half time stats favoured the Red Roses, who dominated possession and ran 135 more metres than their opposition. They also led on defenders beaten (12) and carries (53).
The rain eased off ahead of the second half, but conditions remained testing as play resumed at Waitakere Stadium.
Ward's unconverted short-range score came in the 43rd minute, and went unnoticed by referee Maggie Cogger-Orr until an intervention from Television Match Official Ben Whitehouse confirmed the try.
Cokayne claimed her try following yet another dominant maul from the Red Roses. Packer received the ball at the base and peeled off, before gifting the hooker the ball out the back to score in the corner.
It was another try for the forwards as Matthews capitalised after sustained pressure in the Wallaroos 22. With input from Middleton's finishers, including World Cup debutant Lark Davies, the Red Roses powered on before the blind-side flanker crossed the line.
A hat trick try from Packer in the closing seconds took England past the 40-point mark in a game they dominated. A powerful effort through tired Australian defence proved unstoppable as the clock went into the red.
England are the only side to have reached the semi-finals in every single edition of the World Cup, and will face Canada at Eden Park next week after they beat the USA 32-11.
Reaction
Simon Middleton: I don't think we could've imagined how difficult those conditions were, particularly in the first half. I thought we managed the game brilliantly, we knew what we wanted to do and and what it would take to win. We took our opportunities and we managed the ball well and I'm so proud of the side.
Marlie Packer: I love playing rugby and I love playing for England. To put those performances on, not just for myself but for the team, I want to put my body on the line and be the best player I can be. This World Cup has been phenomenal so far and Australia were fantastic today, but the job isn't complete until we maximise each game and get to that final.
Teams
Red Roses
Starters
15. Helena Rowland, 14. Lydia Thompson, 13. Emily Scarratt (VC), 12. Tatyana Heard, 11. Abby Dow, 10. Zoe Harrison, 9. Leanne Infante, 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Zoe Aldcroft, 5. Abbie Ward, 6. Alex Matthews, 7. Marlie Packer, 8. Sarah Hunter (C).
Finishers
16. Lark Davies, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Maud Muir, 19. Rosie Galligan, 20. Poppy Cleall, 21. Lucy Packer, 22. Holly Aitchison, 23. Ellie Kildunne.
Australia
Starters
15. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, 14. Bienne Terita, 13. Georgina Friedrichs, 12. Sharni Williams, 11. Lori Cramer, 10. Arabella McKenzie, 9. Layne Morgan, 1. Liz Patu, 2. Adiana Talakai, 3. Bridie O'Gorman, 4. Michaela Leonard, 5. Grace Kemp, 6. Emily Chancellor, 7. Shannon Parry (C), 8. Grace Hamilton.
Replacements
16. Tania Naden, 17. Emily Robinson, 18. Eva Karpani, 19. Sera Naiqama, 20. Piper Duck, 21. Iliseva Batibasaga 22. Cecilia Smith, 23. Mahalia Murphy.
World Cup Results
Pool C - Red Roses 84 - 19 Fiji
Pool C - Red Roses 13 - 7 France
Pool C - Red Roses 75 - 0 South Africa
Quarter-final - Red Roses 41-5 Australia
