New Zealand 34-31 England: Black Ferns win World Cup with dramatic victory

England's winning streak came to an end in the most important game of all as New Zealand won the World Cup for a sixth time.

The Red Roses went down to 14 players after Lydia Thompson was shown a red card in the 18th minute of the World Cup final.

After losing four previous finals to New Zealand, England's hearts were broken once more as the hosts regained a three-point lead with nine minutes remaining.

The Red Roses had a chance at victory with one last line-out - their most potent weapon all tournament - with the clock in the red, but lost their throw to the delight of a ferocious record crowd.

The England players had tears in their eyes as they reflected on the fact that their 30-Test winning streak had ended.

England start strongest in entertaining final

It was clear that this would be a day that women's rugby fans would remember for a long time when England spread across the pitch and stared back.

Both sides were able to deliver pure entertainment from start to finish.

New Zealand was given a glimpse of their own running game by England. The first try was found by Emily Scarratt.

There was enough action in the first 10 minutes for three finals and Amy Cokayne, who was called up to a Black Ferns camp as a teenager, went over for her first of three tries.

Thompson was sent off for a high tackle on Woodman, who was trying to score a try.

New Zealand relied on their unpredictable backline play in previous rounds but proved they could maul as Georgia Ponsonby went over after a line-out.

The Black Ferns responded to another England maul try with a try of their own from Leti-I'iga.

Again England turned to their pack, another try for Cokayne, as England's focus clashed with New Zealand's chaos and Black Ferns prop Amy Rule closed out the half by peeling off the back of a maul to go over and make the score 26-19 in England'

New Zealand break English hearts again

After such a promising start, it seemed as though Sarah Hunter might finally get her revenge on England.

The Black Ferns didn't feel the same. Their union took action after they suffered two losses to England. Two-time men's World Cup-winning coach Smith was brought in to lead the side after they were made professional earlier in the year.

The effects of those changes were seen. Scarratt was sent the wrong way by the woman who ran out of her own number. A conversion would have tied the scores, but the full-back missed it.

Suddenly England struggled to contain New Zealand's backline and as the pressure mounted in their 22, Krystal Murray barged through Lucy Packer to put the Black Ferns ahead.

England chose to kick for the corner rather than take a penalty that would have tied the game again.

New Zealand joined England on 14 players because Kennedy Simon was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle after Cokayne completed her hat-trick.

The Black Ferns struck their final strike. Theresa Fitzpatrick kicked ahead for Fluhler, who offloaded the ball as she fell to the floor to send Leti-I'iga over and give New Zealand the lead.

England had the chance to tie the scores with a penalty but again they kicked to the corner. For the first time at the World Cup, their line-out let them down and New Zealand regained the ball to win the game.

There was a time when no one knew who the Black Ferns were.

The image of them lifting the trophy as a full Eden Park chanted their name, before they performed a Haka for their fans can definitely be filed under icon.

Line-ups

The English: Kildunne, Scarratt, Aitchison, Aitchison, Harrison, L Packer, Cokayne, Bern, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter.

The replacements were Davies, Brown, O'Donnell, Kabeya, MacDonald and Heard.

New Zealand: Demant, Cocksedge, Love, Ponsonby, Rule, and A Bremner.

The replacements were Simon, Bayler, Tubic, Leti-I'iga and Murray.

There is a referee and a Sco.