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TRY IT! New Zealand 19-26 England (Regulation, 40′)
The output line is clear and driving is used. England defend it well but Canon comes off and it’s over! 39 min: New Zealand have the advantage but Leti-Iiga makes a big break. England take a penalty and New Zealand take a corner. 38 min: England try to disrupt the off line but the home side manage. Fluhler is loose with the pass, but Holmes does so well to collect it. O’Donnell makes a great tackle but New Zealand keep coming. 37 min: England have the scrum penalty and are dominating the set pieces. They run it but New Zealand have the punishment as O’Donnell has a roll on the neck – not what is needed at the moment. But they hit! So back and forth! Harrison puts in an absolute cracker of a kick that finds touch a meter out from the try line, but it’s not 50:22. 35 mins: England are challenging in this final, they are footballers but they are playing so well! If they can come in and not concede again it will be impressive. New Zealand win through Leti-I’iga and England have the scrum. New Zealand’s Sarah Hirini fends off Ellie Kildunne. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/AP Updated at 07:16 GMT
TRY IT! New Zealand 14-26 England (Cocaine, 33′)
The maul is good and Cokayne celebrates! This is a change from the team to 14. Scarratt adds the extras! Updated at 07:15 GMT 32 mins: A long pass is intercepted by Holmes but Davidson whistles as we return for the advantage, she runs it anyway – much to Eden Park’s dismay. England are kicking in the corner and they will be looking to bring the drive here. 30 mins: New Zealand get to the scrum and they run it, they decide to run it with Holmes kicking to try and find Tui but he’s offside. Cokayne’s line-out is good and the maul is back in play, they should walk a lot here. England have the advantage. 28 mins: Back and Aldcroft has received some treatment and goes for HIA. O’Donnell is in her place. 28 min: They match up a few meters from the line and Matthews picks it up. It looks like McMenamin turns it over but Davidson goes back for a penalty. But England batted first so I think it’s a New Zealand slog. Short break in the game with a water break. 27 mins: New Zealand with the ball again, this could be a landslide win after the red. But I’m just saying that Demand throws the ball out of play. England’s line-out is clear and the maul drive is here again/
TRY IT! New Zealand 14-19 England (Leti-I’iga, 26′)
New Zealand use the driving pencil and England do well to push it back. They are forced to run it wide and the Leti-I’iga substitution is over. Holmes adds the extras with a great kick! Ayesha Leti-l’iga scores and the Black Ferns hit back. Photo: David Rowland/Reuters Updated at 07.11 GMT 24 mins: This game could go either way but that will be a tough ask from England, early tries will help them but my defense will have to be clean. Ward knocks on the restart and New Zealand take the corner kick.
TRY IT! New Zealand 7-19 England (M Packer, 21′)
The drive ended, this time by Packer. Simon Middleton punched the air when they went through, shows what it means after the red card. Scarratt conversion is out of the post. England’s Marlie Packer goes to score in a perfect response to the red card. Photo: Michael Bradley/AFP/Getty Images Updated at 07.06 GMT 21 min: New Zealand have a poor restart and England have a line-out just five meters out. The driving pencil will definitely come into play and it does. They need the points here now.
TRY IT! New Zealand 7-14 England (Ponsonby, 18′)
Driving this time is deadly for New Zealand. Holmes gets the extras. I’m a bit shocked by the last few minutes. New Zealand is right back at it. Photo: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images Updated at 07.07 GMT 18 mins: Woodman is out, conscious but on a gurney. Leti-I’iga is for her. This is a huge moment in this final.
RED CARD! New Zealand 0-14 England (Thompson, 18′)
This is absolutely the right call. It was a one-on-one tackle with Woodman and the winger is in pain. The red card comes out. Photo: David Rowland/Reuters Updated at 06:57 GMT 18 mins: Woodman looks like she’s in trouble here with the doctors around her as England turn it over and clear their lines with M Packer turning it over. This is a concern for the winger and Davidson is looking here. 17 min: Aitchison’s kick is brought down by Fluhler but Packer does well to collect! However, England give it away in attack and we have the first scrum as the ball hits the umpire. New Zealand have the stakes and England have the slight push, but the hosts manage. Woodman goes down the wing and they spread it across the other wing to Tui! Updated at 06:52 GMT
TRY IT! New Zealand 0-14 England (Cocaine, 13′)
They kick the corner, will we see the drive? Doing! New Zealand do well to fend it off but England push forward and Cokayne is out! The hooker screams in celebration and there are more cheers as Scarratt takes the extras. Amy Cockayne of England scores a try. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/World Rugby/Getty Images Updated at 07.03 GMT 12 mins: New Zealand’s attack has been cut short so they opt for the kick. Dow runs it and then kicks and the home side are forced to run it, Woodman makes a huge break! He unloads on Hirini and now they go through the phases. But England turn it over again as New Zealand are run off their feet. Harrison kicks and we have another line-out for England. It’s clear once again and Scarratt offloads neatly to Kildunne. New Zealand think they’ve turned it over but it’s England’s penalty. 10 mins: New Zealand are on the attack once again, kick in but can’t get to Tui or Flachler. England’s line out is clear once again and Harrison dismisses it. Woodman runs down the wing but England turn it over at the breakdown. This is end to end! 8 min: Fullback Holmes misses the kick! Wow, the nerves are showing slightly. 7 mins: Bern give away the penalty at the breakdown and New Zealand show in spades, they know how important points are. 6 mins: It’s a poor restart from England and New Zealand have it. They trade kicks and the Black Ferns have their first line-out. It’s loose from Ponsonby but the home side have it and are looking to hit back quickly.
TRY IT! New Zealand 0-7 England (Kildunne, 3′)
Dow comes off the wing and passes to Thompson who does well to keep it alive. England have the advantage and run it out with Kildunne crashing! Scarratt gives a great kick for the extras. England’s Ellie Kildunne celebrates with her teammates. Photo: Greg Bowker/Getty Images Updated at 06:51 GMT 2 mins: The kick-off is won by Thompson and Harrison takes the first kick. New Zealand decide to run it but England overturn it through M Packer. Harrison takes another kick but Holmes does well under pressure not to give possession back. The home side play it from deep here but Dement strikes and England have the front line out, it’s clear and England attack.
Inception! New Zealand 0-0 England
Five weeks, 25 games and only one game to play. In the next 80 minutes we will know the winners of the 2021 tournament, here we go! I cry just seeing the crowd, what an occasion! As cheesy as it sounds, whoever takes the trophy, women’s rugby is the sure winner. The players are out and the anthems will be in full flow and the haka will follow! It all boils down to this! The nerves are so real, I have no idea how the players feel. England manager Simon Middleton told ITV: “Exciting. I think everyone is excited. We hope it’s a great game. We focus on the job at hand.” And he added on L Packer’s late substitution: “We kind of knew all week, Leanne was struggling. She’s tough, but you can’t send someone to 70%. We’ve been doing it all week. We expected that it might happen.” England are favorites for this one, but it will be such a tough test to get New Zealand in their own backyard. So much suspense, 15 minutes to go… Catch up on our previews for Saturday’s massive match at Eden Park. The opening montage made me cry, this morning is going to be emotional… Here are some stats to get you warmed up for it! England have scored 239 points so far in the tournament and conceded just 50. The Black Ferns, meanwhile, have scored 234 points and conceded 56. Eden Park is set to be sold-out for this final with 40,000 fans expected to be there. If that many supporters turn up, which looks likely to fill up before kick-off, it will break the women’s rugby union match attendance record. An amazing achievement and shows what an impact this tournament has had. World Rugby have confirmed that if England can beat New Zealand in today’s final, they will receive the highest ever rating given to an international rugby team in the world rankings! I’m nervous, excited, emotional – you name it, I’m feeling it! How do you feel before the final? Let me know via Twitter, @rendellx or email. The third and fourth spots were decided earlier today with France demolishing Canada 36-0. The score doesn’t reflect the fight that Canada showed, it would be great to see a professional team before the next World Cup. France players celebrate after Canada’s win. Photo: Michael Bradley/AFP/Getty Images Updated at 06:15 GMT All eyes will be on England’s Lucy Packer in this final, a match she wasn’t even benched for until today! Leanne Infante is injured and Packer will start with Claudia MacDonald on the bench as cover. A lot of people said that Simon Middleton made a mistake not bringing Mo Hunt to New Zealand just in case that was the case – a huge…
