Canada v England: Red Roses defy courageous Canada 26-19 to win through to World Cup final

The celebrations from England really shows how much they were pushed in this match. Canada were amazing, impeccable attack and brutal defence. But in the end the Red Roses displayed what they could do, they didn’t concede a point in the sin bin period and they defended really well time and time again to keep the ever-threatening Canada at bay.

Full-time: Canada 19-26 England

79 min: England have disrupted the ball at the line-out and they win it back. A line-out to come and it is clean from the Red Roses. They are building from deep here and will want to run down the clock here!

78 min: Kabeya is Herculean in defence but Canada still come forward. But Kildunne turns it over! Harrison kicks away and Alarie catches. I don’t know how the players are feeling but my nerves are shot! England now have the ball and surely they will look to tick down the clock but Brown gives away the penalty! Oh my word, what an ending we have as Canada kick to the corner.

76 min: England will have to be squeaky clean here and that is a huge tackle from Kabeya. Canada are so good with ball in hand, so clinical and patient. They are edging closer and closer. They get into the 22 with five minutes left on the clock and Corrigan does really well to pick up a loose pass.

74 min: England knock on through Aitchison in defence and Canada have the scrum once more. If this game does finish level we will have extra time here, I’m unsure if my heart can take it! There was a slight break in play ahead of the set piece but Canada come away with it when we’re back underway.

73 min: A really poor kick from Aitchison sees Canada on the attack again, they have the advantage and we come back for it. The Canadian scrum sees England give away with penalty and they opt for the scrum again. Don’t you just love Test rugby?! Canada come away with it and England have to do more defensive work.

PENALTY! Canada 19-26 England (Scarratt, 71′)

70 min: Does anyone else feel sick with nerves? I definitely do! Ten minutes on the clock and just four points between these sides. Aitchison is on for Heard. Could Canada end England’s winning run? They have been the silent assassins in this tournament with the spotlight being elsewhere. Canada are building from deep here, my heart is beating so fast. Canada kick away and England are now in possession for what feels like an age! They win the penalty and they opt for the sticks – a huge kick to come from Scarratt.

TRY! Canada 19-23 England (Beukeboom, 68′)

68 min: Cokayne is off for Davies as well for England as Canada look to attack once more – the questions over their fitness have surely been dispelled with this impressive and continued hammering of the England line. Beukeboom makes an incredible break to put Canada just a few metres away!

66 min: Another counter-ruck from England is good and they turn it over! I think Cornborough will be able to rejoin this when there is a break in play. Harrison lofts it into the stands and here the prop comes. Back to 15 players and England did not concede a point during that sin bin. Kabeya is on too.

65 min: Tuttosi is off for Beag and Cokayne received some treatment ahead of this scrum. After a reset England come away with it and Harrison kicks away under a low of pressure. Canada have it and are hunting for their third of the match, the fight from both teams is impressive. Alarie does really well again to gain valuable metres, they are getting closer.

63 min: So can England see out this yellow card without conceding? Their defence are hoping so and they do well to bring down Canada’s maul legally. Cleall makes a great tackle and she wins the penalty!

62 min: England give away yet another penalty and Canada kick to the corner. There’s a break in play here, a Canadian is receiving treament.

61 min: Bern makes a great run and England are into the 22. They are doing really well with a player down. Scarratt picks up a loose ball but it has been turned over by Canada and Pelletier is almost away! Dow eventually gets her down but she has made a great break!

59 min: I think Alarie is actually staying on! England’s Muir makes an appearance as England have a scrum and with Cornborough in the bin they need a complete front row. They come away with it and are running through the phases.

58 min: There’s a big break in play as Alarie receives treatment, it seems likely the full-back will be replaced.

58 min: England are sloppy but they come away with it. They are going through the phases here but Harrison kicks away. Alarie is down injured so for now the sides are even. England are in attack now but the referee pauses play for Alarie.

56 min: This will be a test for England now, an 11-point cushion to defend with over 20 minutes to go. You would think the cushion would shrink but Tuttosi’s line-out isn’t straight! A huge let off for England. The Red Roses opt for the line-out and Ward has it. They go with the maul and they are looking to run it out of their 22 here. And wow! They have the penalty and they will clear their lines. Expert response to the yellow from the Red Roses.

YELLOW CARD! Canada 12-23 England (Cornborough, 54′)

52 min: The tries in this match have been breath-taking, what an advertisement for women’s rugby. This is spicy and could still go either way. The latest score left me with my mouth wide open! Hunter has been replaced by Cleall. Canada get the penalty and they kick to the corner.

TRY! Canada 12-23 England (Dow, 50′)

49 min: Canada are patient in their attack and so far England are doing well not to give away the penalty. They are just metres away here, they are so close! England push Canada backwards and Cokayne turns the ball over. But they can’t claim it and Canada are in attack again, jeez this is beautiful rugby. England turn it over again, superb defence to not give away a penalty in that. MacDonald is now countering!

47 min: Castle is on for Canada as the team look to attack here. They have just entered the 22 but a Tuttosi pass which was meant for Paquin is loose, England look as though they have it back but MacDonald knocks on. A Canada scrum to come. Eight handling errors for England now, this has been their weakness for quite some time and they’ll need to tighten up if they want to win this. Canada come away with the ball.

45 min: Rowland is heading off the field on a cart, she is clapping the crowd but there will be worries for Simon Middleton. Confirmation Kildunne is on and we are back underway.

45 min: Medics are surrounding Rowland and the injury must have come in that latest ruck. This will be heartbreaking for the star, especially if England do reach the final. I think Rowland will be replaced by Kildunne but I will confirm shortly.

45 min: Canada have made a change with Kassil on for DeMerchant. Rowland again takes the ball into contact but Canada rip the ball and they will attack here. Tuttosi does extremely well to collect a ball which look destined for a knock on. England are defending with a player down as Rowland is down and receiving treatment. The referee pauses play to allow Rowland time for treatment – this will be a huge blow.

PENALTY! Canada 12-18 England (Scarratt, 43′)

42 min: England are patient on the ball and they earn a penalty at the breakdown, England point to the sticks – they know how important each point will be.

41 min: Rowland has made great metres in England’s early attack, she has been cracking at full-back so far, and the team are now running through the phases. Bern gets some vital metres but so far Canada are doing well once again in defence.

Back underway! Canada 12-15 England

Who do you think will take this match? I honestly cannot call it and I’d love to hear from you, you can contact me via Twitter and email.

Just take a look at this try, magic in motion:

Half-time: Canada 12-15 England

PENALTY! Canada 12-15 England (Scarratt, 40′)