New Zealand's Fiao'o Faamausili, captain of the five-time world champions, lifts the World Cup at the Kingspan Stadium

World Cup final: England v New Zealand England (17) 32 Tries: Penalty (7pts), Thompson 2, Noel-Smith Cons: Scarratt 2 Pens: Scarratt 2 New Zealand (10) 41 Tries: Winiata 2, Natua 3, Smith, Cocksedge Cons: Cocksedge 3

England's reign as world champions was ended by a magnificent performance from New Zealand as the Black Ferns ran in seven tries in Belfast.

A penalty try and the first of Lydia Thompson's double helped England lead 17-5 approaching the break.

But it was a narrow advantage having dominated territory and possession, and the Black Ferns then took control.

Prop Toka Natua led the way with a hat-trick as New Zealand became world champions for the fifth time.

Flying full-back Selica Winiata grabbed a brace and Charmaine Smith and Kendra Cocksedge also went over as the Black Ferns regained the mantle of world champions, which England had held since beating Canada to win the title in 2014.

It was a dizzying, end-to-end contest for the first 70 minutes, before New Zealand finally managed to secure a decisive lead, and although Izzy Noel-Smith had the last word for England, it was purely a consolation score.

How good was the final?

Pace, power and class were evident on both sides, but in the end it was the individual superiority of the Black Ferns that combined to overrun England.

The Red Roses had some fine performers, with Emily Scarratt shrugging off an early leg injury to again show her class from full-back, while young prop Sarah Bern was once more irrepressible and Thomas showed superb finishing ability to score her brace.

But although England's pack looked the more cohesive unit for the first half hour, the longer the game went on the more the relentless physicality of the big New Zealand runners knocked them back, with Aroha Savage and the rest of the pack joining Natua in delivering big performances.

Alongside them carrying hard into the England defensive line was mighty fly-half Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, who combined the size and power of a front rower with fine footwork, crisp distribution and a measured kicking game to help guide the Black Ferns to victory.

England give it a go

After an early shock, when Winiata sped onto Subritzky-Nafatali's chip to open the scoring, England looked as though they were going to retain their title.

Their pack had the upper hand at the set-pieces and they mixed up their game, with forwards and backs combining beautifully, to take a 12-point lead with half-time in sight.

They had turned 72% of possession into two tries - Thompson producing a fine finish for the first before a dominant scrum earned a penalty try - and Scarratt's boot had made it 17-5.

But then came the game's pivotal moment. England fly-half Katy Mclean, with a three-woman overlap outside her, decided instead to kick from just inside her own half.

The Black Ferns had players back for just such a decision and they mounted a surging, multi-phase counter-attack which ended a minute later with Natua bundling over, and the momentum of the game had changed irreversibly.

New Zealand stamp their authority

England tried to go toe-to-toe with the Black Ferns and they twice regained the lead, the second time courtesy of Thompson as she scorched down the wing, leaving the tournament's leading try scorer Portia Woodman floundering in her wake.

But, in the 15 minutes that followed England going back in front 25-24, New Zealand - who had 80% possession in the second half - blew the Red Roses away.

Natua went over to complete her hat-trick - the television match official happy she had released and regathered rather than knocking-on - Cocksedge sniped over and Carla Hohepa handed Winiata her second on a plate after another pin-point Subritzky-Nafatali cross-kick.

England's defence had been demolished and although they rallied to score the final try of a high-class match, there was no doubt that New Zealand are the best side in the world and deserving world champions.

England's Emily Scarratt was swarmed by the Black Ferns defence every time she received the ball

Defeat 'bitterly disappointing'

England's Emily Scarratt, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "It is unbelievably tough to take. When you come with one goal and get yourself into a position to achieve that, it is bitterly disappointing.

"We played some good rugby in that first half but it's hard to play well if you don't have the ball. We will come again in four years' time. Fair play to New Zealand, they executed their plan better than we did ours."

England coach Simon Middleton, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "It is a disappointment. We came here to win. We just could not get possession.

"They played a really smart game. When we did get the ball they had a massive physical presence, they are so good at playing that short game, that was the story of the second half.

"We did react, but we literally couldn't stop them. They were very efficient at keeping the ball. Full credit to them. When you get two great teams together, one is always going to come out on the wrong side."

World Cup final teams

England: Emily Scarratt; Lydia Thompson, Megan Jones, Rachel Burford, Kay Wilson; Katy Mclean, Natasha Hunt; Vickii Cornborough, Amy Cokayne, Sarah Bern, Abbie Scott, Tamara Taylor, Alex Matthews, Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter (capt).

Replacements: Vicky Fleetwood, Rochelle Clark, Justine Lucas, Harriet Millar-Mills, Izzy Noel-Smith, La Toya Mason, Amber Reed, Amy Wilson Hardy

New Zealand: Selica Winiata; Portia Woodman, Stacey Waaka, Kelly Brazier, Renee Wickliffe; Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Kendra Cocksedge; Toka Natua, Fiao'o Faamausili (capt), Aldora Itunu, Eloise Blackwell, Charmaine Smith, Charmaine McMenamin, Sarah Goss, Aroha Savage.

Replacements: Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Sosoli Talawadua, Aleisha Nelson, Rebecca Wood, Lesley Ketu, Kristina Sue, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Carla Hohepa</s>England fought valiantly against New Zealand in the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup but were ultimately unable to prevent the Black Ferns from winning a sixth title. The two sides exchanged the lead during the first half but England could not respond to New Zealand’s pressure in the second period
• Report: Toka Natua irrepressible as New Zealand end dream for battling England</s>New Zealand overwhelmed England with a five-try display in the second half to win a fifth Women’s World Cup and deny the defending champions back-to-back titles.

England has looked in control at half-time, leading 17-10 and dominating territory and possession. But the Black Ferns were a different beast in the second period, upping the intensity, putting more tempo into the game and rarely allowing England the ball.

Prop Toka Natua added two tries to the one she scored in the first half to end the game with a hat-trick while full-back Selica Winiata crossed for the first and seventh tries for the Black Ferns. Charmaine Smith and Kendra Cocksedge scored the other New Zealand tries, with the scrum-half kicking three conversions too.

For England it was the boot of Emily Scarratt, a penalty try and a touchdown for Lydia Thompson that gave them the half-time lead. Thompson added a second after the break but by the time Izzy Noel-Smith crossed late on, the cup was lost.

The trophy goes back to New Zealand again after the Black Ferns failed to even reach the semi-finals in 2014.

It is a bitter blow for England, particularly given the funding and coverage the XVs programme has experienced this year, but it was a fantastic game of rugby. Fast and furious, it was ideal Saturday night entertainment! As former England hooker Brian Moore tweeeted: “Your rarely get great World Cup finals but that was one.”

Black Ferns captain Fiao’o Faamausili, who is retiring from international rugby, said: “I’m extremely happy, on top of the world. The girls really delivered and I couldn’t ask for a better way to finish my rugby career in the black jersey than to take that cup home.

“I was in tears because those girls have worked so bloody hard. It’s been three years of commitment, training early hours of the morning, going to work and then training after work. That’s commitment right there. And to see them get their first World Cup gold medal, I’m extremely proud.”

England coach Simon Middleton paid tribute to New Zealand’s performance as well as his own team’s, saying: “Huge congratulations to New Zealand. They’ve had a great tournament and full credit to them. In terms of our team, I couldn’t be prouder. The girls gave everything but we just couldn’t get enough possession in the second half to turn the game how we wanted.”

Emily Scarratt concurred on that, adding: “They kept the ball better than we did in the second half and it’s hard to play rugby without the ball. We came to this tournament with a very specific goal, to come away with the trophy, and to reach this point is tough. I’m absolutely gutted.”

Captain Sarah Hunter also hailed the team spirit of her side and said: “This is a very special squad. We win together and we lose together.”

The final may have provided a fitting climax to this World Cup, but there were entertaining games played across Belfast as the teams played off for placings at both Kingspan Stadium and Queen’s University.

France, who fell short of making a World Cup final yet again, finished third by beating the USA 31-23. It was another hugely entertaining game, with end-to-end rugby as the two teams showed power and pace, and scored seven tries between them.

The French were worthy winners but the improvement shown by the States at this tournament – fourth is their best finish since being runners-up in 1998 – bodes well for the future.

Expect Wales to make strides going forward too. They beat hosts Ireland 27-17 to finish seventh and guarantee their place at the next World Cup – and did so with four teenagers on the bench.

The Irish will now have to go through the qualification process for WRWC 2021 – whatever that may be as it’s yet to be decided. Ireland failed to fulfil expectations at their own World Cup and it’s little surprise that coach Tom Tierney stood down after this defeat.

Over at Queen’s, Canada finished fifth by overcoming Australia 43-12 in their play-off but, like Ireland, they will have been disappointed by their overall campaign as they failed to be as competitive in the pool stages as they were in the June Tests.

Italy needed extra-time to beat Spain in the ninth-place play-off but eventually won 20-15 while Japan eased past Hong Kong 44-5 to finish 11th.

New Zealand: S Winiata; P Woodman, S Waaka (T Fitzpatrick T Fitzpatrick 64), K Brazier, R Wickliffe (C Hohepa 60); V Subritzky-Nafatali, K Cocksedge (K Sue 7); T Natua (S Talawadua 77), F Faamausili (captain, TK Ngata-Aerengamate 79), A Itunu (A Nelson 67), E Blackwell (B Wood 28-33), C Smith (B Wood 74), C McMenamin (L Ketu 71), S Goss, A Savage.</s>New Zealand wrecked England's hopes of retaining the Women's Rugby World Cup in a pulsating final at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium.

The Red Roses had high hopes of keeping an unforgettable summer of English women's sport in full bloom, following cricket World Cup success, a European Championship semi-final appearance by England's footballers and Johanna Konta becoming the first British women's singles semi-finalist since 1978.

But it was not to be as the Black Ferns overturned a seven-point interval deficit to triumph 41-32.

Prop Toka Natua led the way, scoring a hat-trick of tries, while there were also touchdowns for full-back Selica Winiata (two), lock Charmaine Smith and scrum-half Kendra Cocksedge, with Cocksedge adding three conversions.

Wing Lydia Thompson scored two tries for England, in addition to a seven-point penalty try, plus a late Izzy Noel-Smith touchdown, and full-back Emily Scarratt booted two penalties and two conversions, yet New Zealand were not to be denied a fifth world title.

Some England players now face an uncertain future - Rugby Foootball Union policy means that existing 15-a-side contracts will switch to sevens for the next two years - but such debate is for another day.

England gave it everything, but they had no answer in the second half, conceding 31 points as New Zealand's superior pace and power left them reeling.

Both teams went into the final with unbeaten records, winning all three of their pool games prior to the semi-finals,

England boss Simon Middleton made an enforced change from the semi-final victory over France, moving Scarratt to full-back as replacement for a concussed Danielle Waterman, while Megan Jones was drafted into midfield alongside Rachel Burford.

And England blasted out of the blocks, creating immediate pressure through their forwards following a superbly placed Katy Mclean kick, and free-scoring New Zealand were immediately forced into defensive mode.

But the Black Ferns struck from their first attack when fly-half Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali kicked cleverly into space and Winiata showed England's defence a clean pair of heels for an opening try inside 10 minutes.

Scarratt suffered a knock in trying to stem the New Zealand tide, but she was okay to continue after treatment as England looked to assert themselves on the contest, and she opened England's account through a 14th-minute penalty.

New Zealand were then reduced to 14 players after flanker Sarah Goss was harshly yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Mclean, and England, having dominated early territory, knew they needed to make that advantage count.

But they duly delivered, with England's pack exerting sustained pressure near New Zealand's line before referee Joy Neville awarded a penalty try, which meant the holders led 10-5.

The Black Ferns could not escape from England's grasp, and the Red Roses struck again nine minutes before half-time when centre Rachael Burford broke through in midfield and Mclean sent Thompson over via a supremely timed pass.

Scarratt's touchline conversion underlined England's supremacy, and New Zealand had it all to do, with the final beginning to drift away from them.

They responded, though, right on cue, with Natua crashing over from close range and England's advantage was trimmed to seven points at half-time, with the Red Roses leading 17-10.

And it got worse for England within five minutes of the restart, as New Zealand forward pressure resulted in a second try for Natua, with Cocksedge adding the conversion and the Black Ferns starting to enjoy considerable momentum.

A Scarratt penalty - via the post - put England back in front, yet it proved short-lived as New Zealand stormed back upfield and Smith touched down for her team's fourth try, with Cocksedge adding the conversion for a 24-20 lead.

The game now had no pattern to it whatsoever, and England went back in front when Thompson sprinted over from 40 metres out, only for New Zealand to hit back almost immediately as Natua completed her hat-trick and Cocksedge converted for a six-point lead.

Cocksedge then added a try, and England could find no way back, their World Cup campaign falling at the final hurdle and world-ranked number one nation New Zealand underlining that status in style.</s>England lost 32-41 to New Zealand in the Women's Rugby World Cup final at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

Former Hartpury College students Sarah Bern, who will play for Gloucester-Hartpury next season, Megan Jones, Natasha Hunt, Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews were in the England side.

Selica Winiata’s try after eight minutes gave the Black Ferns the lead but England were on the scoreboard through Emily Scarratt’s penalty.After Black Ferns flanker Sarah Goss was sent to the sin bin for her tackle on Katy Mclean, England took full advantage and got their first try from a five metre scrum when the referee awarded a penalty try.A Rachael Burford break eventually set up Lydia Thompson who finished out wide, but Toka Natua’s score for the Kiwis meant a 17-10 half-time lead for the Red Roses .Natua’s second levelled the game up before another Scarratt penalty edged England ahead, but Charmaine Smith’s try pushed the Black Ferns in front again.Thompson’s stunning second score, when she raced in down the right touchline, restored England's lead but the New Zealand prop Natua got her hat-trick, and then Kendra Cocksedge and a second from Winiata secured the win and their fifth Women's Rugby World Cup title, despite Izzy Noel-Smith's late score for the Red Roses.





England Women head coach Simon Middleton said: “I couldn’t be prouder as the girls gave everything they could. There was no shortage of heart, energy and passion.



“We just couldn’t get enough possession in the second-half to be able to turn the game how we wanted.



“We’ve had a fantastic year with the things we achieved, we pulled up short tonight but we’ve been everywhere and played everyone and until tonight we’ve been successful.



“I thought it was an amazing occasion for the game with the energy in the stadium and it was fantastic game for the spectators to watch”



England Women captain Sarah Hunter added: "The score line suggests a fantastic game of rugby; I’m not sure a Women’s Rugby World Cup final has seen a score like that before.



"We came here with one goal and we have just pulled up a little bit short and fair play to New Zealand they really took it to us.



"Rugby is a really hard game to play without the ball and in that second-half we did not have the ball; that was partly our fault and partly the pressure they put on us.



"Gutted is an understatement but we will move on from this. 



"The support back home has been phenomenal and I can’t thank people enough."</s>New Zealand wrecked England's hopes of retaining the Women's Rugby World Cup in a pulsating final at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium.

The Red Roses had high hopes of keeping an unforgettable summer of English women's sport in full bloom, following cricket World Cup success, a European Championship semi-final appearance by England's footballers and Johanna Konta becoming the first British women's singles semi-finalist since 1978.

But it was not to be as the Black Ferns overturned a seven-point interval deficit to triumph 41-32.

Prop Toka Natua led the way, scoring a hat-trick of tries, while there were also touchdowns for full-back Selica Winiata (two), lock Charmaine Smith and scrum-half Kendra Cocksedge, with Cocksedge adding three conversions.

Wing Lydia Thompson scored two tries for England, in addition to a seven-point penalty try, plus a late Izzy Noel-Smith touchdown, and full-back Emily Scarratt booted two penalties and two conversions, yet New Zealand were not to be denied a fifth world title.

Some England players now face an uncertain future - Rugby Foootball Union policy means that existing 15-a-side contracts will switch to sevens for the next two years - but such debate is for another day.

England gave it everything, but they had no answer in the second half, conceding 31 points as New Zealand's superior pace and power left them reeling.</s>New Zealand's Selica Winiata scores a try against England during their Women's Rugby World Cup final in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — New Zealand restored its supremacy in women's rugby by relieving England of the World Cup by 41-32 in the final on Saturday.

After winning four straight Women's Rugby World Cups, beating England in three finals, the Black Ferns failed to make the semifinals in 2014 and watched England triumph in Paris.

But in benign conditions in Belfast, the New Zealanders came from 14 points down in a grinding first half to win comfortably in the end by nine.

It was only after they scored their seventh and last try, a second by fullback Selica Winiata from a cross-kick by flyhalf Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, in the 69th minute that the Black Ferns made certain of their record-extending fifth title.

New Zealand 41 (Toka Natua 3, Selica Winiata 2, Charmaine Smith, Kendra Cocksedge tries; Cocksedge 3 conversions), England 32 (Lydia Thompson 2, Isabelle Noel-Smith tries; penalty try; Emily Scarratt 2 conversions, 2 penalties). HT: 10-17</s>England put up a brave fight in the Women's Rugby World Cup final, but New Zealand were worthy winners for a fifth time.

Toka Natua scored a hat-trick as New Zealand came from behind to regain the Women's Rugby World Cup with a 41-32 victory over defending champions England at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium.

The Black Ferns won four World Cups in a row between 1998 and 2010, beating England in the final three times, but it was the Red Roses who triumphed at the last edition of the event three years ago.

Another England win appeared likely on Saturday when they responded to Selica Winiata's early try by opening up a 17-5 lead after 33 minutes, aided by a yellow card for Sarah Goss.

However, New Zealand came roaring back to secure a fifth title, with prop Natua doing much of the damage as she crossed on three occasions.

Kendra Cocksedge and Charmaine Smith also touched down for New Zealand, who were much the stronger in the second period.

Touchdowns from Lydia Thompson (2) and Izzy Noel-Smith, in addition to a penalty try, ultimately proved in vain for England.</s>Megan Jones will start at outside centre for England in Saturday's Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand.

England head coach Simon Middleton has chosen the 20-year-old after Danielle Waterman was ruled out with concussion.

Jones is the only change to the XV that beat France in the semi-final, with Emily Scarratt moving to full-back and Amy Wilson-Hardy named on the bench.

"It's now about finishing the job and leaving nothing out on the field," said coach Middleton.

England will attempt to successfully defend their title against the Black Ferns, who have never lost a World Cup final.

The sides last met in June 2017, England scoring five tries to win 29-21 and end a five-game winning streak for the Kiwis.
• England's Waterman out of final with concussion
• Story of the first ever Women's World Cup</s>New Zealand made a stunning fight-back in the second half

New Zealand scored seven tries to England's four, including a hat-trick by prop Toka Natua.

It was the fifth successive final for England's Red Roses, but the fourth they suffered defeat to the New Zealanders.

They led 17-10 at the interval with a penalty try and some excellent kicking from Emily Scarratt, who had been moved to fullback.

But the world's No 1 side turned the tables with a dominant display in the second half.

Selica Winiata's try had put the Black Ferns ahead early on.
The Women's Rugby World Cup concludes with New Zealand defeating England 41–32 in the final.