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'Records have tumbled, personalities have been projected and barriers smashed'

The Black Ferns sing the national anthem prior to the World Cup semi-final. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images

A buzzing Eden Park will provide a fitting finale to the Women’s Rugby World Cup, as England and New Zealand look to write their own piece of sporting history.

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England and New Zealand will go head-to-head in the “greatest women’s rugby event ever”, capping a World Cup which has boosted the profile of women’s rugby and is book-ended by sell-out crowds at Eden Park.

Almost 40,000 fans filled the iconic Auckland stadium for matches on the opening day and more will be present on Saturday for the final, which kicks-off at 5.30pm AEDT.

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The pace of ticket sales increased markedly when New Zealand held on to beat France 25-24 in last weekend’s semi-final, and extra seating has been added to meet demand.

Around 2.6 million fans worldwide watched live coverage of the 2017 final in which New Zealand beat England 41-32 – the audience for Saturday’s final is expected to eclipse that number.

Final figures are not yet available but the expected world-record crowd on Saturday should take overall attendance for the tournament close to 200,000.

“Rugby World Cup 2021 has proven to be a triumph for rugby, women’s sport and New Zealand,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.

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“On and off the field, records have tumbled, personalities have been projected and barriers smashed as the stars of women’s rugby have shone brightly, underscored by two incredible semi-finals.”

Beaumont, a former England men’s captain, said the tournament had been “the greatest women’s rugby event ever and an inspiration for girls and boys”.

Tournament director Michelle Hooper said the event had unfolded as if perfectly scripted, with tight semi-finals leading to a dream final between world No.1 England and defending champions New Zealand.

“What we saw during the semi-finals was arguably the greatest spectacle of international rugby this country has seen in a very long time,” Hooper said.

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“Those two matches have had an immeasurable impact on the game that we may not see the true results of until generations to come when young girls and boys will talk about those moments.”

England are attempting to add to a world-record winning streak of 30 Tests that began with a win over New Zealand in 2019.

The Kiwis hope to add to their five world titles with a first achieved on home turf.

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The final offers a classic contrast in styles between England’s hard-nosed forwards and their daunting rolling maul, and New Zealand’s always-joyous back play made sharper by a number of world sevens series stars.

England captain Sarah Hunter will play her 140th test on Saturday, extending her record as rugby’s most-capped female player.

She said there was a sense of calm in the England camp.

“We’re just going to go in and play without fear because there’s many things you’ll never experience in life and for some that’s to play in a Rugby World Cup final,” she said.

New Zealand winger Ruby Tui has become one of the stars of the tournament for her exuberance on and off the field.

She sees Saturday’s final as a milestone on the long road towards recognition for women’s rugby, recalling the start of that journey 12 years ago.

“Imagine this,” Tui said. “Nobody knows who the Black Ferns are. Nobody knows what they look like. Nobody follows women’s rugby.

“We were told, ‘You will never be paid’. We were told, ‘We’re not going to give you Eden Park for the World Cup. We’ll give you somewhere that holds 5000 because you’re not going to sell it out. Women’s rugby doesn’t matter’.

“Here we are 12 years later. Eden Park’s sold out, bro.”

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Hellhound 21 minutes ago
Scotland's Gregor Townsend confirms Tom Jordan Glasgow exit

NZ lost a great player there. Played brilliantly for Glasgow and against SA was the best player on the pitch. Caused the Boks some headaches. Slot him into the current AB's team, and they would be very dangerous, especially broken play.


However, the Scots isn't stupid and their recruiting from the SH countries is starting to pay off. They don't have the player pool the SH countries have, nor that of their neighbours even.


I applaud them for being so open-minded as giving those players who have loyally played their rugby in Scotland for years a chance. SA for one have such a vast pool of players that's so talented and could be world class given the smallest chance, but will never get a look in because there is just so many stars in the country.


I don't mind that Saffas play for other countries to further their own careers. Besides, it makes Scotland better and makes for one more team to step up to the big stage and make rugby more exciting than just the top 4 that usually wins.


Scotland may have lost by 17 against a rusty Bok "B" team, but that score is not a true indication of that match. The Scottish biggest mistakes was kicking at goal the entire time, instead of going for the jugular. If they tried to go for tries, they may have been stopped and the score might have been bigger, but the game was on such a knife edge, that if they did go for it, they might have scored a couple of tries or more and we very well might have seen a Scottish upset.


It was by no means a bad effort at all. Tom Jordan is one of their best new talents coming through. He should've stayed with Glasgow. What a loss for the URC Champs. Going to Loftus and getting one over the Bulls is something that not even the so called best team in club rugby could do. Leinster keeps losing at Loftus. For Glasgow to do that in a Final was phenomenal and Tom Jordan was no small part of that feat.


Rugby is truely becoming a global sport now, where the eligibility rules is making rugby a much smaller world, but a much bigger global game. The Scots is most likely the team with the most aliens in their team. They welcome players with open arms. I applaud that. They are a sleeping giant, and if they continue playing like they did against the Boks, despite the results, they will become a real threat for 2027.


I admired how they played. They impressed everyone. I say good on them. Results will come if they continue on their upward trajectory. I wish them and Tom Jordan all the luck they deserve.

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