- Live Reporting (active)
- Line-ups
Summary
Ellie Kildunne dazzles with two superb tries as England battle past France to make Rugby World Cup final
Amy Cokayne, Abbie Ward and Meg Jones also scored in second half as England came good
Kildunne try gave England 7-5 half-time advantage but France missed several good chances to lead
England will face Canada at sold-out Twickenham next Saturday with the match live on BBC One from 15:00 BST
Live Reporting
Alastair Telfer
England face Canada in World Cup finalpublished at 18:15 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
England will face Canada in the Women's Rugby World Cup final at a sold-out Twickenham next Saturday.
Read Mike Henson's report from Bristol.
Key moments from the Red Roses' semi-final win over France:
- 'Kildunne proved why she's the world's best'
- 'We are playing very effective rugby' - England head coach John Mitchell
- 'Canada can challenge next week'
- Watch Kildunne's stunning try
- 'We've won nothing yet' - Hannah Botterman
See you next week for the big one.
Postpublished at 18:12 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
Sarah Bern as cool as you like.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 18:10 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
Ruby Tui
New Zealand World Cup winner on BBC OneCanada are so humble. Yes, they crowdfunded but they are just here to win. It will come down to who has ice in their veins.
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FT: England 35-17 France
Katy Daley-Mclean
England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC OneIt came down to finishing, England finished well and France didn't. England will be relieved.
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FT: England 35-17 France
Ruby Tui
New Zealand World Cup winner on BBC OneIt is who can block out the final pressure the best. Sophie de Goede was so focused on the final at full-time yesterday.
'Canada can challenge next week'published at 18:04 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
Lesley McKenzie
Former Canada international and current Japan head coach on BBC OneFrance showed a template on how to get under England's skin. Chaos and unstructure will be key for Canada next week, but the key difference is that Canada are fit and that will be real troublesome next week
'Kildunne proved why she's the world's best player'published at 18:02 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 18:00 BST
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WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
England allowed France to play too much today. Scoreline doesn't tell the full story. If they allow Canada that much time on the ball next week I fear the result will be very different.
WM
Postpublished at 17:58 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
John Mitchell is bang on. Canada have been the entertainers this World Cup and were more impressive in their semi-final win over New Zealand.
To blitz the Black Ferns is so impressive.
Is that their final performance? Sometimes that happens in World Cups. Producing that two weeks in a row is tough.
England just win and can get much better.
One v two in the world, it is a worthy final.
Who will win the World Cup?published at 17:55 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
Thumbs up for England, thumbs down for Canada.
Postpublished at 17:54 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
"Canada are playing great rugby, we are playing very effective rugby."
That's an interesting line from John Mitchell. He is right.
'We had to find a way to win'published at 17:52 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
England RugbyEngland head coach John Mitchell, speaking to BBC Sport: "They were awesome. We had to work ourselves out of a difficult situation, where we were not accurate in the first half, but no one really remembers how you win in these tournaments, you just have to win.
"France were always going to fight, they are a special rugby country and they threw everything at us. We were able to break them eventually. I told the girls it would take a long time, and it took longer than we thought."
On Ellie Kildunne: "She was pretty special today wasn't she? If she gets a bit of space, she is phenomenal, isn't she? We had to make a lot of tackles in midfield, and we were very solid there."
On Meg Jones: "She has a massive heart, she is hugely courageous, and she backs up the words she speaks. She's inspirational."
On Canada in the final: "It is going to be a collective plan, the two best teams in the world in the final and that is awesome for the game. Canada are playing great rugby, we are playing very effective rugby, we have had to fight throughout this tournament and it will be a different game at the weekend."
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FT: England 35-17 France
Ellie Kildunne had the drumming role at the quarter-final because of injury. I doubt she'll be on that duty again after that performance.
She looks in good spirits after taking a knock.
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 17:47 BST
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WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Steve, Powys: Give credit to England, they dug deep, went back to basics and played very well that second half.
Elly: Soooo deserved for Meg Jones, been so good all over the park today!
Mark B: England will be praying for rain next weekend. If conditions are dry and still, Canada will fancy themselves to out pass England.
'We've won nothing yet'published at 17:45 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
England RugbyEngland prop Hannah Botterman, speaking to BBC Sport on Ellie Kildunne: "She played well, didn't she? A few girls could have taken it, but she does score wonder tries, doesn't she but everyone was deserving.
"I have really enjoyed playing these big games. We were excited and we wanted to get this job done, and we have one more massive job to do next weekend.I wanted to put a marker down, put my best rugby out there and I did that in certain areas but we have a massive week coming up."
On Canada in the final: "No surprise, they have been playing very good rugby, a different style, but we are excited to play them.
"We will fire into this week and hopefully go one further. No celebrations (tonight) - we have not won anything."
Image source, Getty ImagesWatch Cokayne's trypublished at 17:42 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
England relied heavily on their maul at the last World Cup. It is still some weapon.
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FT: England 35-17 France
That win extends England's record winning run to 32 games.
Image source, Getty Images'More to come from us'published at 17:39 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
England RugbyEngland centre Meg Jones, speaking to BBC Sport: "I feel like I am on a massive comedown already, so much elation and I am super proud of the girls.We fronted up in defence, there is a lot of passion in our defence, we are relentless, and we have earned the right for another week, and we go again.
"In attack we can brush up on a few things, trust the process, but we are super confident going in to next week."
Postpublished at 17:37 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
The player of the tournament?
Hit the thumbs.
Canada star Sophie de Goede may have something to say about that.
'It is all we have been dreaming of'published at 17:34 BST
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FT: England 35-17 France
England RugbyPlayer of the match Ellie Kildunne, speaking to BBC Sport: "It's insane. I have stolen that (player-of-the-match award) from the rest of the team, all the forwards, the defence they put in I barely had to make a tackle, so I don't know why I have got it!
"The rest of the team do the work, it was insane. I am buzzing, it is all we have been dreaming of, we will keep our heads down, we know what is coming and you're all going to be excited to watch. I don't know what to say any more!"
