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On the same day that 15,000 Aucklanders made the long way around the city on the 26-mile marathon course, England once again took the direct path to World Cup success.
As they did during the tournament in New Zealand, Simon Middleton’s Red Roses used their terrifying rolling maul and lineout to send Australia to Waitakere Stadium in squalid conditions. England’s progressive approach is not for everyone. Some want to see more.
Former captain Katy Daley-McLean was among the critics who argued that head coach Middleton’s side should play a more elaborate and entertaining kind of rugby.
Sarah Hunter celebrates scoring one of seven tries against Australia in England’s big win
Hunter became England’s most capped rugby player with her 138th appearance
It’s a bold suggestion.
England are now 29 games unbeaten. In their floating maul, they have a weapon that their rivals can’t stop. Why would they change course?
It’s also clear that if they have to do that, they definitely have the attributes.
“It’s no different from what New Zealand is doing, but they’re doing it in the back,” Middleton said when questioned about his team’s use of a power play.
“When it comes to knockout rugby, it’s about winning. You play to your strengths and I don’t really recognize the criticism. Does it frustrate me? Probably a little bit. It baffles me a bit.
Marlie Packer in full swing as she wins her three attempts as England beat Australia
‘It doesn’t have to play, play, play. That’s rugby in the southern hemisphere – fantastic. We are one side of the Northern Hemisphere. We are very good at what we do.’
England’s quarter-final against Australia was played in appalling conditions. Heavy rain meant that rugby running was never on the map. The direct approach was right here.
Captain Sarah Hunter became England’s most capped player with the first of her team’s seven attempts to mark her 138th cap. All seven English tries were scored by forwards with excellent flanker Marlie Packer carrying a hat-trick.
“A lot has been said about the driving maul and how we score,” Hunter said.
“But in the end no one will look back and say, ‘How did England score?’ They look at the result and if it isn’t broken, you don’t have to fix it.’
England dominated the game and are now unbeaten in 29 games after winning the quarter-finals
The clocks went back during this quarter-final, but England’s time in New Zealand is far from over. They will face Canada in the final four at Eden Park on Saturday.
A final with the hosts seems inevitable. Such a game would be a clash of styles with the Blacks Ferns, the main entertainers of the tournament.
In Portia Woodman and Ruby Tui, New Zealand has superstar backs. Woodman has seven tries in the tournament so far.
“New Zealand plays a fantastic brand of rugby,” said Middleton. “They’re red hot, aren’t they? They must be favorites for the competition. They’re on their own soil, they’ve wrecked everyone.
“Everyone puts the favorites tag on us, but they have the home advantage and the trophy.”
England rugby team seems destined to reach the final in New Zealand to play against the hosts
Hunter made sure England scored in the first half against a determined but limited Australian side. Heavy rain before the game somehow got worse during the opening 40. It meant mistakes were common.
England’s game plan was nevertheless on point, as they dominated possession and territory, scoring three tries to take a 19-5 lead at halftime.
Packer added a brace to Hunter’s opener and scored two more in the second period. Abbie Ward, Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews all crossed over as well. The maul of England was unstoppable.
Before England even think about going to the final, they need to overcome Canada in the semi-finals
“You have to build through tournaments and I’m very, very happy with where we are,” said Hunter, who received a congratulatory message from England men’s head coach Eddie Jones before kick-off.
‘My phone doesn’t stop. I have many people to respond to. It is certainly very, very humiliating.”
Middleton and England are right where they should lead into their last two weeks in New Zealand. They lost Zoe Aldcroft due to a yellow card in the first half against Australia.
But when a team wins as often as this side of Red Roses, it’s often tempting to nitpick to do so. Perhaps that’s why some still want to see more from one of the most successful teams English sport has ever seen. Test rugby is about winning and that’s what this English team does. “We have multiple facets,” Middleton argued.
“We played as good rugby as anyone against Fiji and South Africa. We said we want to leave here with a better side than when we arrived.’