Canada may be unexpected finalists but on the evidence of their semi-final will be the sternest test for the Red Roses
Hang on to your cowboy hats. England are into the Rugby World Cup final against Canada next Saturday and the tournament organisers can breathe again. Had the Red Roses slipped up in the semis the prospect of a finale likely to yield a record TV audience in Quebec was not quite the dream scenario they had been praying for.
But, goodness, the Red Roses made their fans perspire at times. At no stage did France ever back down and, without two scintillating tries from their curly haired golden girl Ellie Kildunne, England might have had a far less enjoyable afternoon. The final scoreline does not reflect how tight the game was for lengthy periods, nor the costly chances that France were crucially unable to convert.
As a result the vast majority of the 80,000-plus punters bound for Twickenham now have the final they craved and England’s smiling post-match lap to thank their adoring public will not be their last such procession. If Kildunne can sparkle like this again in the final, furthermore, the prospect of England being crowned world champions for the first time since 2014 will be duly enhanced.
