AUCKLAND, Nov 5 (Reuters) – France flyhalf Caroline Drouin missed a last-gasp penalty as defending champions New Zealand claimed a 25-24 basic at Eden Park on Saturday and arrange a blockbuster ladies’s Rugby World Cup remaining towards England.
With a shot awarded in entrance after prop Santo Taumata was yellow-carded for a excessive deal with, Drouin shanked her last-minute kick left because the Black Ferns made an amazing escape in entrance of a roaring crowd.
Down 17-10 at halftime, the hosts charged into the lead via tries to Ruby Tui and Theresa Fitzpatrick and have been effectively positioned as France went a girl down with a yellow card for unfastened ahead Safi N’Diaye for one more excessive deal with within the seventieth minute.
Quantity eight Romane Menager scored a brace of tries in a powerhouse show, pulling the French inside a degree with 14 minutes left.
However Drouin’s late miss sealed their destiny.
France inside centre Gabrielle Vernier declined responsible Drouin, saying the staff might have gained earlier.
“We’re so pleased with us right now,” she stated.
“We should always have been higher all the sport, we should always have been higher in defence.”
New Zealand, winners of 5 of the final six World Cups, meet England in a repeat of the final remaining in 2017.
England held off a spirited Canada 26-19 within the earlier semi-final at Eden Park. read more
“It was an unbelievable ending, actually,” New Zealand coach Wayne Smith stated.
“I assumed it was gone, but it surely wasn’t gone. It is there and we have got an opportunity subsequent week.”
France have by no means made it to a World Cup decider and can rue a semi-final that received away from them after they did the laborious work early.
New Zealand noticed off a fierce, 17-phase assault on their try-line within the opening minutes however the strain lastly informed as Menager crashed over on the left put up within the twenty third minute.
The French defence was brutal and Vernier was fortunate not to attract a card after lifting winger Tui in a punishing deal with.
France lastly conceded after Drouin kicked the ball out on the complete after the half-hour mark, giving New Zealand a scrum in entrance of the posts.
Flyhalf Ruahei Demant flung the ball large to Stacey Fluhler who streamed over close to the left nook to fireside up the gang.
Fullback Renee Holmes’s conversion levelled the match at 10-10 however the French got here once more, with Vernier bursting over by the left put up on the stroke of halftime.
FRENCH AGONY
The match went up a notch as Holmes despatched the French defence scrambling with a deft chip ahead 4 minutes after the re-start.
A human lightning bolt, Tui gained a dash towards Emilie Boulard, toed the ball out of the fullback’s grasp and chased it down for a attempt simply earlier than the dead-ball line.
Although Holmes missed the conversion and a long-range penalty a couple of minutes later, the Black Ferns’ working recreation was now in high gear because the French wearied.
Lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos carried the hosts to 2 metres from their posts and Fitzpatrick barged over to grab the lead for New Zealand close to the hour-mark.
Demant slotted the conversion and a penalty to stretch the result in eight factors however Menager arrange a grandstand end as she pounded via a nest of Black Ferns for her second attempt.
Additional drama was to come back as Taumata crashed into hooker Agathe Sochat, the excessive deal with, noticed by the tv match official, instantly in entrance of the posts.
From about 30 metres out, Drouin’s shot went effectively large, leaving France in agony as Black Ferns scrumhalf Kendra Cocksedge booted the ball out and residential followers rejoiced.
Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Modifying by Peter Rutherford
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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