England outlast Australia to book Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Scotland

Tense. Gripping. A proper Test match. Australia put England under the most pressure they have faced in a long time with a superb first half performance but the Red Roses pulled away in the second half to seal a quarter-final against Scotland and their 30th win in a row, which equalled their own world record.

The scoreline was not a true reflection of what a battle this final Pool A match was with England not taking the lead until the 33rd minute. Australia were rewarded for their efforts as the result saw them qualify for the last eight, eliminating USA in the process, with Canada lying in wait for them.

While the errors made by England will be a worry, what may cause more concern are the injuries sustained to key players in a brutal encounter. The prop Hannah Botterman suffered an acute back spasm and the full-back Ellie Kildunne and the back row Morwenna Talling suffered head injuries.

Australia knew before kick-off a win, one bonus-point or a defeat by fewer than 74 points would see them through to the quarter-final stage. In the build-up the talk had been centered on causing an upset and they started on the right path with a scrum penalty, disrupting England’s lineout and the first try of the game.

It was Botterman who infringed at the scrum which saw the Wallaroos set up a maul and Adiana Talakai scored by peeling off the back. England responded well with Jess Breach scoring on her 50th cap. As Australia cranked up the pressure, Amy Cokayne held the ball up over the line to deny them.

Kelsey Clifford scores England’s fifth try. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Australia were almost over again as Caitlyn Halse popped a grubber kick through but Natasha Hunt picked it up over the try-line and threw a pass to Kildunne who exited well to get the Red Roses out of danger. England then thought they had another try but a TMO check confirmed Cokayne had dropped it over the line. More bad news came for England with Botterman going down in considerable pain, putting her head into her shirt and heading straight down the tunnel for treatment.

Poor errors from England stopped their usual free-flowing attack and Australia continued to orchestrate the game until Abbie Ward powered over. Australia had their own injury woes with Lydia Kavoa stretchered off before Sadia Kabeya scored from a rolling maul to make the half-time score 19-7.

Sadia Kabeya scores her second try of the game. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/Reuters

A fumbled attack turned into a try early in the second half thanks to the individual brilliance of Natasha Hunt, whose footwork set up Kabeya for her second. The Red Roses had more injury concerns with Kildunne hitting her head on the floor after a tackle and was replaced.

Next Faitala Moleka was shown a yellow card for head contact on Maud Muir and England took advantage of being a player up with the replacement prop Kelsey Clifford going over.

Clifford scored again and the replacement prop Sarah Bern added a seventh try before being shown a yellow card for shoulder to head contact.
Despite another comprehensive wins there were certainly cracks in England’s performance and opponents who come next will know there are ways to pierce the Red Roses’ armour.