Rugby World Cup: England edge out Canada 26-19 to reach final

Canada 19-26 England, Eden Park

Abby Dow scored a double as England managed to overcome Canada 26-19 in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup at Eden Park on Saturday.

They will now face the winner of New Zealand and France in the final of the competition to be played in Auckland on 12th November.

This was also England's 30th consecutive win and now will be eyeing for their first title since they won in 2014.

It took England seven minutes to score the opening try as Zoe Harrison kicked to the corner and from the resulting line-out and the driving maul Marlie Packer went over and Emily Scarratt kicked the extras.

Simon Middleton's side increased their lead further as Helena Rowland sent an offload for Abbie Dow to dot down but Scarratt narrowly missed out on the conversion to make it 0-12.

The response from Canada came in the 20th minute as Justine Pelletier kicked the ball upfield into the halfway and Karen Paquin collected to dot down which indeed helped them seize the momentum as they went on the attack.

The scores were levelled by the 35th minute as Canada pushed forward at the back of another line out and centre Alysha Corrigan went past Rowland for their second try but this time Sophie De Goede kicked the conversion.

Just as the half time was nearing, England went into the break with a slender three-point lead as Scarratt landed a penalty successfully as a thrilling opening half came to an end with both the sides having all to play for in the second half.

England's lead extended to six points immediately on resumption through the boot of Scarratt after they won a penalty at a breakdown and shortly Rowland had to leave the field for treatment.

England got a much-needed relief as a terrific counter attack was on display with Claudia MacDonald leading it before Dow completed her second try to make it 12-23 but the red roses were down to 14 players shortly with prop Vickii Cornborough sent to sin-bin.

A break in play in the 58th minute saw England's Elissa Alarie receiving treatment as the game entered the final quarter with Middleton's side having a 11-point lead.

Canada clawed their way back into the game Tyson Beukeboom burrowed from close range and de Goede improved it to make it 19-23 with 10 minutes left in the game. Canada were desperate for a final breakthrough but England managed to held on to their nerve to win a tight encounter as they now head into the final of the tournament.

Team line up:

Canada: Alarie; Grant, Corrigan, Kaljuvee, Farries; Tessier, Pelletier; DeMerchant, Tuttosi, Menin, Holtkamp, Hunt, Forteza, Paquin, De Goede (capt).

Reserves: Boag, Kassil, Ellis, Fuamba, Beukeboom, Senft, Svoboda, Holly.

England: Rowland; Dow, Scarratt, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Infante; Cornborough, Cokayne, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter (capt).

Reserves: Davies, Muir, Brown, Galligan, Cleall, Kabeya, Aitchison, Kildunne.