Womens Rugby World Cup Semi-Final Round-up

We start the round-up looking at the two semi-finals for the 9th place final. First game of the day saw Samoa playing South Africa, neither team having recorded a win in the tournament, although Samoa had at least scored two tries while their African opponents were yet to cross the white-wash. Yet however based on how they opened the game it was confusing as to why, within one minute fly-half Njoko had opened the scoring. The game continued in the same vein, both teams trading scores freely throughout the match, Samoa leveling the scores after four minutes, and both teams going on to record a 20-21 half time score. With Samoan fly-half Milo scoring perhaps the try of the game after some fantastic run lines and deft offloads saw her running underneath the posts. In the second half the game tightened up as both teams looked to book their place in the 9th place final, eventually some excellent wing play from substitute Grain gave South Africa the lead until the final whistle
Final Score: South Africa 25 - Samoa 24

In the other 9th place semi-final Spain, who had recorded a monstrous win in their final pool stage game, played a Kazakhstan team that had totally out done all previous expectations of them. In fact it was the Middle Eastern team that took the opening score, a good stable scrum lead to a ruck one meter from the try line, before - early replacement - Khamova dived underneath the Spanish defence. The first half ended with Kazakhstan still leading 3-5. However the second half game, and Spain proved why they were top seed in this round of semi-finals. A strong driving maul, eventually rewarded them with the try that put them into the lead, and after some missed chances, kicker Garcia eventually extended their lead with a penalty with ten minutes to go. Spain secured their victory with a late try, after some wayward passes eventually lock Rocio Garcia picked up the bouncing ball and pulled off an impressive dive to score in the corner.
Final Score: Spain 18 - Kazakhstan 5
[9th Place Semi-finals Highlights]

Moving on to the 5th place semi-finals, we saw ex-champions New Zealand facing a hopeful Welsh side, aiming to emulate their Celtic cousins in overturning the legendary Black Ferns. However from the outset it was obvious that New Zealand were out for blood after losing their crown after 12 years of dominance, three tries within 20 minutes saw a lead built that would never be overturned. The first of many tries coming from yet another miss-pass, sending the Welsh defence scrambling across the pitch in a vain attempt to stem the tide. The second coming again from a miss-pass, to allow winger Hireme to slice through the covering defence before pulling off a very nice offload to her fullback Winiata. Wales did get themselves on the board, after some uncharacteristic sloppiness from New Zealand fullback Winiata saw Sioned Harries gather the ball and run in unopposed from 30m out. Not long after a four man overlap saw Black Fern winger Baker dive in the corner for her hat-trick giving the Southern Hemisphere outfit a 27-7 lead at the break. In the second half the ladies in black, kicked up another gear scoring within three minutes, and going on to score another six tries, the New Zealander's always finding the extra player, or the hole in the red defence to score some superb tries and book themselves a place in the 5th place play-off final.
Final Score: New Zealand 63 - Wales 7

The other semi-final put historical powerhouse USA against an Australia team that had missed out on an (unlikely) opportunity to qualify for the championship semi-finals. Australia showed early promise running in a swift score two minutes into the game, with Captain Shannon Parry crossing the white-wash. An American penalty was all the response they could muster, before some wonderful backs play and a superb support line by winger Morgan put Australia 12-3 up at the break. America claimed first-blood of the second half with an early try to bring them back within one score, but not long after the Australian forwards took control and extended their lead further with a try. However America weren't done, a loose clearance kick allowed replacement fullback Vanesha McGee to cut through the chasers and set up an amazing try that most Super Rugby teams would have been proud to score, with endless support runners and calm offloads eventually lock Carmen Farmer finished off the play in the corner. Some excellent ball retention work by USA lead to the try that brought the teams level, replacement McGee crashing through the covering tacklers to bring the scores to twenty all. A penalty one minute from time, almost directly in front of the posts gave America the chance to win the game, yet even after Rozier converted, Australia were given one last chance with four minutes of overtime played, Asheligh Hewson had the chance to level the game and take it to extra time. The miss confirmed America's place in the 5th place final against New Zealand
Final Score: Australia 20 - USA 23

The first big game of the day saw England take on All Black defeaters Ireland. England hoping to progress and win their first World Cup since 1994, and Ireland having already beaten their best ever finish (7th) both were confident going into the semi-final. Ireland opened the scoring, a driving maul from a 5m lineout (all but a cliché in this tournament), giving hooker Bourke the try and a TMO decision. England responded in similar style their forwards pounding away at the line until prop Clark burrowed her way over. A Scarett penalty gave the Rose's the lead, before she put on a burst of speed to take her through the Irish line on a barnstorming run towards the try line, eventually getting dragged down by the winger Baxter. Some calm ball recycling by the arriving support eventually saw the ball shipped along the line to Kat Merchant on the wing and with a lot of work to do, turned on the gas, unleashed a mighty fend and finished in the corner to give England a 7-18 lead at the break. It looked like the Ireland win against the ex-champions was a flash in the pan, their team now exhausted this late in the tournament as England pushed on in the second half. Another Scarrat penalty (she has been peerless throughout the championship) extended the lead before Kay Wilson the England winger pulled off an insane finish in the corner worthy of England great Jason Robinson - as proved by the TMO. The Ireland fatigue really showed in the last ten minutes, Marley Packer scoring the first of her two tries by breaking through tired Irish tacklers on her way to the line. And again Marley Packer was on hand to race through after a chip by centre Burford, outpacing all of the chasing women in green to round off a comprehensive win for the English
Final Score: Ireland  7 - England 40

The final game of the day saw host nation France playing Canada to decide the final team in the World Cup final. The opening half was as tight as anyone would expect from a semi-final, penalties from both Agricole - for France - and Harvey - for Canada - witness in respectful silence by the crowd meant neither team had built a lead at the break, 6-6. It didn't take long for the second half to come to life though, two minutes in after some strong forward work got Canada onto the French 10m line, fullback-come-scrumhalf Alarie spotted a gaping hole at the side of the ruck, and with a burst of speed galloped through the open field to take the lead. And four minutes later Canada scored the try of the tournament, first the Canada scrum over turned the French pack (who had previously been dominant all competition) to give the team in red possession on their own 5m line. In an act of sheer bravery (or insanity), instead of deciding to clear the backline spread the ball down the line giving the ball to Magali Harvey just inside their own 22 who raced away. Outstripping the chasing cover defence she motored up to half way, before pulling off a sublime side-step around the fullback, and finally sprinting for the corner to pull off an end-to-end try and give Canada a secure lead, after she converted her own try. But France weren't done, setting up a maul from the lineout and with calm heads slowly but surely worked their way over the line, until Koita collapsed to the turf to bring the hosts back into the game. France resorted to the same tactic in an attempt to bring the scores level, once again driving over the try line this time No.8 N'Diaye finishing it off, but a missed conversion meant that despite Canada being one player down - due to a yellow card - they still held the lead by two points. Canada managed to hold out till the final whistle, to set up a rematch of the group stage draw.
Final Score: France 16 - Canada 18
[France v Canada Highlights]

Finals Fixtures
Samoa vs. Kazakhstan [11th/12th Playoff] - Prediction Samoa
South Africa vs. Spain [9th/10th Playoff] - Prediction South Africa
Australia vs. Wales [7th/8th Playoff] - Prediction Australia
USA vs. New Zealand [5th/6th Playoff] - Prediction New Zealand
Ireland vs. France [3rd/4th Playoff] - Prediction France
England vs. Canada [World Cup Final] - Prediction England