England run in 12 tries in WRWC Kazakhstan victory

England 82 Kazakhstan 0

England marched to an emphatic 82-0, 12 try victory over Kazakhstan on Tuesday in the second round of the Women’s Rugby World Cup pool games at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford.

Pocock scores a hat trick for England

The host nation, who also defeated Ireland 27-0 in the tournament opener last weekend, put on a dominant display which left Kazakhstan with few answers for most of the match.

Richmond’s Fiona Pocock, who grabbed a hat-trick of tries, was named Woman of the Match but there were many stand out players during this clash. No. 8 Sarah Beale enjoyed a storming game while Charlotte Barras grabbed a hat-trick. Both Beale and Barras were also playing in their first match for England this year having been out of action through injury and illness.

England Head Coach Gary Street said: “It’s really pleasing to get a result like this, especially in these windy conditions. We have still got to look to iron out some errors so there are things to work on but Kazakhstan certainly put on a physical and committed performance tonight. Our defence was good, the forwards grafted hard and got the good clean ball out to our backs, so really they deserve a lot of credit for this result.

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England women score impressive victory over NZ

England 10 New Zealand 3

England Women recorded their first victory over world champions New Zealand in eight years  in the Investec Challenge Double Header at Twickenham on Saturday with an impressive 10-3 win.

englandbeatNZEngland, who last defeated the triple world champions in 2001, bounced back from a 16-3 defeat seven day ago to record the historic win just nine months before the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 in London.

The Red Roses, playing in front of a record crowd of 12,500, were in impressive form, scoring the only try of the match courtesy of skipper Catherine Spencer. The Bristol No.8, on her 50th cap, also went on to win the Investec Women of the Match award. Vice-captain Katy McLean also stoked over the conversion and a second half drop goal.

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England team to face NZ – Shaw, Worsley & Erinle in

England have made three changes in personnel to the side to face New Zealand in the Investec Challenge international at Twickenham on Saturday (2.30pm).

London Wasps lock Simon Shaw, flanker Joe Worsley and Biarritz centre Ayoola Erinle come into the starting line-up and there is a positional switch at full back where Mark Cueto trades places with Ugo Monye.

Shaw takes over from Louis Deacon and wins his 53rd cap at the age of 36, former Wasps and Leicester centre Erinle makes his first start in place of Shane Geraghty (Northampton Saints) and experienced Wasps flanker Worsley replaces Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers) in the back row.

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England Women must now wait for Twickenham to conquer Ferns

England 3 New Zealand 16

England Women will have to wait until Saturday November 21st to have a second chance of conquering the reigning world champions New Zealand after today (Saturday) succumbing to a 16-3 defeat at Esher RFC.

In their first meeting against the Black Ferns since the 2006 Rugby World Cup final England produced a determined and gutsy performance but were let down by ill discipline in the first half which then left them playing catch-up in the second half.

England, however, will not get a better stage than Twickenham Stadium to reek their revenge when they compete in the Investec Challenge Double Header in a week’s time. The rematch kicks off immediately after the men’s match at 445pm, with entry to the stadium free at 415pm.

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England Women’s A team announcement

Richmond's Fran Matthews starts for England A

Richmond's Fran Matthews starts for England A

The England Women’s A team to take on the world champions New Zealand on November 17th, kick off 7pm at Esher RFC, has today (Tuesday) been announced.

England A take on the Black Ferns as part of a three test series for the New Zealanders. New Zealand will also play England on November 14th at Esher RFC, kick off 4pm, and at Twickenham Stadium on November 21st as part of the Investec Challenge Double Header. Entry to the game at Twickenham is free after 415pm. Kick off is at 445pm.

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