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Abby Dow magic seals Red Roses' ticket to World Cup finals

Abby Dow runs in the match-defining try for the Red Roses. Photo by Andy Jackson - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images

Seven months after breaking her leg, England’s Abby Dow has scored a length-of-the-field try to help her side to a Rugby World Cup semi-final win over Canada.

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England have booked their place in the women’s Rugby World Cup final with a nailbiting 26-19 win over Canada at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Abby Dow’s breathtaking length-of-the-field breakaway try 10 minutes into the second half was decisive.

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Less than seven months after breaking her right leg playing for England against Wales, Dow capped a move that started behind her own try line to break Canada’s resistance and send the tournament favourites to a record-extending 30th consecutive win.

With England 18-12 to the good, the Canadians had been camped on their opponent’s line, with several players going close to nabbing a crucial score.

After mounting pressure, England forced a turnover and set in motion a flowing move that ended with Dow racing from near halfway to touch down a memorable matchwinner.

“It was incredible,” England captain Sarah Hunter said.

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“Canada really tested us, for rugby fans I hope that was an advertisement for what women’s rugby is all about.

“Canada were relentless and the girls put their bodies on the line.”

Hosts New Zealand take on France later on Saturday as they look to retain the title they won in Ireland in 2017.

England, who last won the title in 2014 when they defeated the Canadians in France, will be appearing in the final for the sixth tournament in a row and eighth time in total.

“I am proud of the girls,” Canada head coach Kevin Rouet said of his side, who now look forward to the third-place play-off.

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“It’s about details and England were better than us on details.

“There are more than a few missed opportunities for us. We’ll be back.”

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H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

You forget that this was the 3rd Test between the AB's and the English this year. They were prepared and they knew how to keep NZ quiet. The Boks is not NZ.


The Boks is a whole other level. You overestimate England and underestimate the Boks. Clearly you haven't really looked at the teams. Besides the Irish games earlier this year, the Boks have mainly used experimental sides, even against the AB's.


Now they have chosen their best team available. They have targeted this game. The Boks mean business. Man for man, this Bok team is better. In strategy and player abilities there is no comparison and they are outmatched.


There isn't just monster strength, but unreal speed. In broken play there is currently no better team as well as defensively, not to even talk about the attacking threat, both from front and the back.


I'd say read between the lines, see what everyone is seeing, but clearly you are wearing blinders and is also putting too much emphasis on an AB's team the Boks beat twice this year, the same AB's that beaten England 3 times this year.


When Rassie gets serious, the players become machines. There is no stopping them. That bench is loaded with players that is fast, strong and have exceptional skills. This is a team not many teams will face before the 2027 WC, because the Boks doesn't use their best between WC's in one game. All experimental.


You will be proven wrong on Saturday and then you will wonder how you could have been so wrong. This Bok team means serious business. They came to conquer and not just by a close score. They want to demolish and they will. This England team at most is a 60 min team. Against the Boks that just won't cut it

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H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

Not bizarre, but needed. Everyone usually lifts their game against the Boks. Now instead of facing reality, they prefer to live in the past and look hopefully toward the score of the WC semi, hoping they can recreate that result and by some miracle snatch a victory.


It's better than the alternative knowing what is going to happen. Especially looking at the experimental squads the Boks put up against the Wallabies in the RC, not using their best team. That same Wallabies beat them last week.


Now the Boks isn't using an experimental squad. They put out as close to the strongest team the Boks have available at the moment. That must scare the pants off of them. If an experimental squad can destroy the Wallabies, what would the strongest team be able to do to the English?


Instead of sinking into dispear, they prefer to hope that their players can match the Boks. Even though they know what is coming. The English are scared and they won't show it.


Now imagine how Wales must feel knowing they are up next weekend? They don't even have the dubious record of at least close losses like the English. It's a complete nightmare for these 2 countries and rightly so.


The Boks usually take the pedal of the medal post WC's, but not this Bok team. They are better than the WC winning Boks of both '19 and '23. They are stronger up front. They are faster at the back. They can hit front and back. In broken play they are the most dangerous team. They have the best defence and attack also scoring the most tries.


In a way I feel sorry for both the English and Wales. Only those with blinders on expects a close game. Looking at both teams man to man, strategy to strategy, play to play, they are so outmatched it would be a joke if it wasn't so serious. We need the NH to be strong and we need the gap to become closer in rugby so the game stay exciting because runaway scores sometimes is fun, but it doesn't bring as much joy as a close game won.

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