England secured their place in the Women's Rugby World Cup final with a hard-fought 35-17 victory over France at Ashton Gate. The Red Roses will face Canada at Twickenham next Saturday in what promises to be a thrilling championship decider.
Ellie Kildunne was the star performer, scoring two brilliant tries to earn player of the match honours. The fullback's exceptional display came despite returning from injury and demonstrated her crucial importance to England's attacking threat.
England's winning streak continues
The victory extended England's remarkable winning streak to 32 consecutive Test matches. The Red Roses have now beaten France in 19 straight encounters, maintaining their complete dominance over Les Bleues.
France battled courageously despite being severely weakened by suspensions to co-captain Manae Feleu and flanker Axelle Berthoumieu. Carla Arbez stepped in at fly-half for the concussed Lina Queyroi as Les Bleues fought against the odds.
Kildunne's heroic performance
According to The i, Kildunne injured her left leg in the 70th minute but played on as England had used all their substitutes. Her determination to continue epitomised the Red Roses' relentless pursuit of World Cup glory.
BBC reports that a crowd of 25,478 witnessed the semi-final drama at Ashton Gate. The atmosphere reflected the magnitude of the occasion as both teams sought a place in rugby's most prestigious final.
Final showdown awaits
Canada await in the final after their stunning upset victory over New Zealand in the first semi-final. The Guardian suggests Canada should be favourites for the final based on the contrasting semi-final performances, highlighting potential concerns about England's display.
Telegraph analysis awarded standout ratings to England players, with Meg Jones earning 9/10 and Hannah Botterman receiving 8/10. These performances will give head coach John Mitchell confidence heading into next Saturday's championship match.
Sources used: "BBC", "The i", "Telegraph", "Guardian"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
