1 week ago
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England (19) 47
Tries: Breach, Ward, Kabeya (2), Clifford (2), Bern Cons: Harrison (6)
Australia (7)
Tries: Talakai Con: Wood
England recovered from a shaky first-half showing to beat Australia and set up a Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Scotland.
Flanker Sadia Kabeya and replacement prop Kelsey Clifford both scored two tries in a match that was watched by Catherine, Princess of Wales and England men's captain Jamie George, among 30,433 supporters in Brighton.
However, full-back Ellie Kildunne and hooker Hannah Botterman were forced off with injuries. Kildunne did not return to the fray after a head injury assessment, while Botterman limped off with a back spasm. Both are frontline members of the team.
England's winning streak now extends to 30 Tests and matches a record run that ended in their defeat in the 2022 World Cup final.
Yet this performance against a Wallaroos side ranked seventh in the world will offer hope to those hoping to upset the title favourites.
England will play Scotland in a quarter-final in Bristol on Sunday, September 14, with kick-off at 16:00 BST.
England have beaten their neighbours three times since the last World Cup, with those victories coming by an average of 50 points.
England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Galligan, Ward, Talling, Kabeya, Matthews (c)
Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Bern, Ives Campion, Feaunati, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland
Australia: Halse; Stewart, Friedrichs, Pomare, Miller; Moleka, Wood; Kavoa, Talakai, Karpani, Leaney, Leonard, Duck, Marsters, Palu (c)
Replacements: Naden, Pohiva, O'Gorman, Chancellor, Tuinakauvadra, Hinds, Smith
