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England to face Scotland in quarter-finals after win over Australia
Television cameras found no shortage of compelling visuals.
Throughout injury stoppages and TMO reviews – which were plentiful – the cameras panned across the stands, capturing an array of notable figures.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, seated between Red Roses Zoe Aldcroft and Marlie Packer, joined in a Mexican Wave.
England hooker Jamie George, a former training partner of the women’s team, engaged in conversation with ex-wing and prominent pundit Ugo Monye.
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney, who recently survived an attempt to remove him from his post, enjoyed the match from a premium vantage point.
However, the most revealing shots occurred in the 21st and 27th minutes.
The first captured a stern-faced John Mitchell, the England coach, moments after witnessing his team’s driving maul finally gain momentum, pushing Australia back and towards the try line.
Only for hooker Amy Cokayne to lose control of the ball as she attempted to ground it.
Shortly after, the camera turned to Australia’s counterpart, Jo Yapp, catching her subtly grinning.
Australia scrum-half Samantha Wood had just executed a superb 50:22 kick, placing the ball deep within England’s territory.
At that juncture, the Wallaroos led 7-5. The threat of being overtaken in the quarter-finals race by the United States was diminishing rapidly, and the odds of a significant upset were shortening.
Ultimately, Australia and Yapp fell short of that outcome.
England secured a 40-point victory, marking their 30th consecutive win, advancing to the final eight, and remaining three matches away from ultimate glory.
While Mitchell’s team achieved the desired result, the coach will likely emphasize areas for improvement in their performance.
Following a dominant 92-3 victory over Samoa, England were tested by Australia’s intensity and resilience.
The Wallaroos employed both physicality and tactical acumen, exploiting gaps behind England’s defensive line with well-placed kicks.
They created space, gained territory, and unsettled England’s back three.
Canada, New Zealand, and France, not to mention England’s upcoming quarter-final opponents Scotland, will undoubtedly take note.
Under pressure, England reverted to their most potent weapon.
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No other team in women’s rugby can match England’s forward power and expertly drilled set-piece execution.
It is a formidable and typically reliable asset.
However, in the first 30 minutes, it was uncharacteristically erratic.
Line-outs faltered, mauls were disrupted, and continuity eluded them.
After navigating through these challenges, England eventually found their rhythm. However, the early uncertainty against a team ranked below the world’s elite – Australia are seventh and recently lost to Wales – will inspire confidence among stronger contenders.
Nevertheless, there were positives to extract.
England prevented their opponents from scoring in the second half, marking their third consecutive second-half shutout in the tournament – an unmatched achievement that underscores the exceptional depth of their squad.
Australia entered the match as the most efficient attacking team in the tournament, averaging 5.2 points per entry into the 22m zone in their first two games.
England limited them to just one score, with Cokayne preventing Australia prop Eva Karpani from scoring a try during Australia’s early period of dominance.
Mitchell, at least publicly, chose to emphasize these aspects after the match.
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We were untidy in attack – Mitchell
“It was good, wasn’t it?” he remarked. “We were a bit untidy in attack but I thought we were outstanding in defence. We really cut off their edges, shut them right out.”
Potential changes may be considered for next weekend’s quarter-final against Scotland. Star full-back Ellie Kildunne was substituted due to concussion symptoms. A back spasm presents a challenge for Hannah Botterman to manage.
“You’ve just got to put the responsibility back on people,” Mitchell added, suggesting consistency over radical changes.
“They’ll own it, they’ll get it right. It’s not about dropping people or throwing people out of the bus. At the end of the day, you trust your people and they’ve got to take ownership of their roles. But we’re human, you don’t always get it right.”
Moving forward, England cannot afford missteps.
They have entered the knockout stage, with France as a potential semi-final opponent, and New Zealand or Canada looming in the 27 September final if the world rankings hold true.
“It’s the first part of the tournament done, we’re on to a new comp now,” said Mitchell.
Despite the scoreline’s shift by the final whistle, the sentiments within the two camps remained consistent with earlier impressions.
Yapp was celebrated by her players, while Mitchell’s post-match demeanor contrasted with his positive remarks.
While his team may be the best, they still need to elevate their performance.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, speaks with Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne and Jessica Breach in the dressing room after England’s win
On Sunday, current Pool C leaders New Zealand face Ireland and Pool D frontrunners South Africa take on France to determine the winners and runners-up from the final two groups.
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