New Zealand win Women’s Rugby World Cup as England suffer final heartbreak

This was the biggest game of women’s rugby ever played and, somehow, it exceeded even that lofty billing. New Zealand are the Rugby World Cup champions but only after a quite stunning contest that showcased exactly why the tournament has caught so many imaginations.

A world-record crowd of 42,579 for a women’s fixture added further resonance to an occasion which had everything. It was also England’s worst nightmare.

The decisive moment ultimately arrived in the 72nd minute when the Black Ferns scored their sixth try of the night through replacement winger Ayesha Leti-l’iga, courtesy of a world-class offload from centre Stacey Fluhler. But even then England had one last line-out chance on their opponents’ line, only to be denied and slip to their first defeat in 31 Test matches.

This was a great game of rugby, full stop, and neither side really deserved to lose. Clearly it helped to have the host nation in the final, but people have also genuinely enjoyed what they have been watching. Beneath a clear evening sky this was another stunningly good spectacle: fast, frenetic and fluctuating.

It was also a classic clash of styles, made all the more fascinating by the sending off of Lydia Thompson in the 17th minute for a high challenge on New Zealand’s ace winger Portia Woodman. England’s set piece and driving maul, as ever, was outstanding, with Amy Cokayne scoring a hat-trick, but the Black Ferns backs were also an ever-present threat.

England also had issues to address before kick-off, having lost their starting scrum-half Leanne Infante on the eve of the game with knee and ankle issues. In came the relatively inexperienced Lucy Packer, capped on just eight previous occasions, for the biggest game of her young life.

The Red