Women beat Canada to lift the World Cup
EUPHORIC captain Katy McLean paid tribute to past players who had narrowly missed out on lifting the trophy after England finally landed the Women’s Rugby World Cup with an efficient 21-9 win over Canada in Paris yesterday.
England had lost three successive finals but were leading by five points inside the final 10 minutes as Emily Scarratt scored in the corner to ensure victory and consign the heartache of previous tournaments to the pages of history.
Scarratt also added 11 points with the boot while full-back Danielle Waterman rounded off a first-half team try, and McLean dedicated her side’s victory to those who had come so close to winning the World Cup since the nation’s only previous success in 1994.
“We’ve worked so hard for this and there are so many great legends that have gone before us that haven’t won in an England shirt, and that’s for all of them,” said fly-half McLean.
“It started years ago with the people that have brought us here, our family and friends. We had to work for it as Canada were absolutely fantastic but it’s amazing to think we’ve done it.”
In the 20 years since winning the World Cup last, England were defeated in the finals of 2002, 2006 and 2010 by New Zealand although their experience and quality ultimately proved too much for a plucky Canada, who drew 13-13 with Gary Street’s side in the group stages, at the Stade Jean-Bouin.
Earlier in the day Ireland, whose victory over New Zealand in the pool matches helped end the Black Ferns’ title defence, lost 25-18 to host country France in the third-place play-off clash.