New Zealand 25-24 France: Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final - live reaction
From 4m ago 04.24 EDT Full-time! New Zealand 25-24 France Oh my god, heartbreak for France. Elation for New Zealand.
2m ago 04.26 EDT I can’t believe it. I really though France had done that, they did all the vital work. They won the penalty in kickable range but Drouin’s kick was way wide. The pressure definitely got to her and I hope France Rugby give her huge support.
5m ago 04.23 EDT 80 min: Oh my word she has biffed it. She has completely missed.
6m ago 04.22 EDT 79 min: The referee is just making sure they get the right mark in order for France to take the penalty, my nerves cannot cope! WHAT A MATCH.
7m ago 04.21 EDT YELLOW CARD! New Zealand 25-24 France (Taumata, 79') It’s Sochat that is hit, it seems she has been hit in the head by a shoulder. My heart is beating so fast! It’s a yellow card and France have the penalty! Oh my word can they steal this at the death?
8m ago 04.20 EDT 79 min: Joy Neville is looking at something here, I think they are checking a tackle by a New Zealand player – could France have one more chance? It is kickable if this is a penalty! OMG I can’t cope.
9m ago 04.19 EDT 79 min: France are going to have to build this try from their own half. Boulard is the latest to take the ball forward and France then stretch the ball wide. Left to right they are trying to find a way through this defence but so far no luck. It’s spilled and New Zealand reclaim it. So close France but that could be it.
11m ago 04.17 EDT 77 min: The driving maul from the line-out is halted and France are forced to put it through the hands. What a hit from Fitzpatrick and it causes New Zealand to win the penalty! This could be the turning point here as Demant clears their lines, an opportunity missed from France. France almost steal the line-out but it is New Zealand’s and they are looking to close this out. But Bourdon has turned over!
13m ago 04.15 EDT 75 min: France kick upfield and win the line-out. France have the penalty from the breakdown and Drouin kicks upfield! Any penalties given away from the hosts now could result in a kickable pen. I am so nervous!
15m ago 04.13 EDT 73 min: Demant spills again but it is knocked on by France. New Zealand take it quickly but Drouin turns it over! This match is absolutely insane and breathless! Tui has it now but Menager gets the tackle. But, you guessed it, France turn it over. The brutal nature of this game is showing with multiple players receiving treatment.
18m ago 04.10 EDT 71 min: New Zealand kick to the corner but France steal the line-out! France know just how close they are to their first World Cup final, just a few points! Jacquet makes some vital metres as France look to build from deep. But Boulard is chucked into touch.
20m ago 04.08 EDT YELLOW CARD! New Zealand 25-24 France (N'Diaye, 70') There’s contact to the head by N’Diaye’s shoulder and she is off! What impact will that have.
Updated at 04.09 EDT
22m ago 04.06 EDT 69 min: New Zealand win the line-out and they are on the charge. There’s a TMO check for a high tackle by N’diaye.
23m ago 04.05 EDT 68 min: We are back underway and Lindelauf has come off injured so Desahye is back on.
25m ago 04.03 EDT 68 min: New Zealand have the advantage as they play from their own half. But it’s advantage over and Demant spills! Escudero kicks away but there’s a break in play with players receiving treatment.
26m ago 04.02 EDT 67 min: What an exciting and thrilling semi-final this is! The hosts have a one point lead with 13 minutes to go, it is all to play for! Ferer is off and Mayans is on for France. New Zealand on the ball.
28m ago 04.00 EDT TRY! New Zealand 25-24 France (R Menager, 65') France have the line-out and it is good. They put the driving maul to work but they run it and Menager is under the posts!! Oh my word this is coming down to the wire, drouin gets the extras.
Updated at 04.01 EDT
29m ago 03.59 EDT 64 min: Woodman is singing and bouncing along with the music at Eden Park, New Zealand are jumping. Fall and M Menager are off and N’diaye and Jacquet are on for France. There’s a break in play as Fluhler has cramp.
32m ago 03.56 EDT 62 min: It may be a French scrum but New Zealand have the penalty! Cocksedge takes it quickly again and her team are flying here – they have the advantage here. We come back for the penalty and they point to the sticks.
34m ago 03.54 EDT 60 min: This is the first time New Zealand have been ahead all match! France will have to put in quite a shift to get the hosts to give up this lead. Leti-I’iga, who is on from the bench, is inches away from collecting a cross field kick from Demant. A French scrum to come.
36m ago 03.51 EDT TRY! New Zealand 22-17 France (Fitzpatrick, 58') New Zealand kick to the corner and their line-out is good. They employ the maul and it is marching forward. France bring it down though and the hosts run it through the hands and Fitzpatrick comes from nowhere to crash over! Demant is on the kicking duties and slots the extras.
Updated at 03.52 EDT
38m ago 03.49 EDT 56 min: Rule is down injured here again but she is fit to continue and France are making a replacement with Deshaye off for Lindelauf. The TMO has picked something up and the penalty has been reversed as there was a tackle off the ball from France!
40m ago 03.48 EDT 55 min: It’s a bit like tennis at the moment with the possession changing hands. Fall makes an incredible break but she holds on at the breakdown, Cocksedge clears and now the kicking game is in play. Fitzpatrick has it and she muscles through some defenders and New Zealand win the penalty – they play it quickly! This is breathless. France manage to turn it over through Deshaye at the breakdown, wow.
Updated at 03.48 EDT
42m ago 03.46 EDT 53 min: Apologies it was Joyeux who was down injured and she has been replaced – I shall confirm who with when I have the info. New Zealand are fighting to get out of their own half here and Cocksedge box kicks away. France are in attack now but Grisez lobs the ball infield to keep it in play. Possession exchanges hands every few seconds here!
45m ago 03.43 EDT 51 min: New Zealand steal the ball at the line-out! This second half is so end-to-end. AS I say that France turn the ball over and they are coming again. France don’t release at the ruck though and New Zealand have it. There’s a break in play as Sochat receives some treatment.
46m ago 03.41 EDT 50 min: Holmes misses the penalty and New Zealand remain behind. France boot the ball upfield and the hosts are soon in possession. Boulard gets the ball back in the kicking game and she slots a 50:22! Murray is on for Love for New Zealand.
49m ago 03.39 EDT 48 min: New Zealand have been fuelled by that Tui try and they are going through the hands. But the pass to Tui is loose and France come away with it, they don’t have the ball for long though as New Zealand win a breakdown penalty! I’m finding it hard to keep up with all the action. They have pointed to the sticks.
50m ago 03.38 EDT 47 min: Wow, this game is impossible to call! New Zealand are currently on the ball but Brendan has got in touch via Twitter: “My preference in the Final would definitely be France. I think the lift for NZ playing in a home final would be one of the few things which could disrupt the Red Roses.”
52m ago 03.36 EDT TRY! New Zealand 15-17 France (Tui, 44') It is awarded! Boulard couldn’t collect it and Tui pounces – wow, wow, wow. Holmes misses the extras.
Updated at 03.36 EDT
53m ago 03.35 EDT 44 min: A frantic start to the second 40 but it seems New Zealand are shaken by a strong France side. The France scrum sees them come away with it but Bourdon kicks away and Woodman starts New Zealand’s attack. They kick through and France cannot re-collect and Tui dives on the ball over the line! Wow, the TMO is checking but if that’s scored that is impressive
1h ago 03.33 EDT 42 min: New Zealand knock on from the restart and France play with the advantage. Fluhler is scrappy under high ball too but it is backwards this time, New Zealand on the attack. But France have turned it over, Bourdon’s clearance kick is out on the full – New Zealand line-out to come. France really need to be more clinical with their kicking game but they manage to pull back to ball at the line-out!
1h ago 03.25 EDT England fans who would you rather see your team face in the final? France or New Zealand? Whatever the match up it will be a huge Test match. But let me know if you have a preference via Twitter and email.
1h ago 03.18 EDT A run down of that half, France got the first points with Drouin kicking a penalty. They also got the first try with R Menager going over before New Zealand launched a comeback. It was a mirror of France’s points with Holmes adding a penalty and then Fluhler went over. But France managed to nudge themselves ahead before half-time. Game on!
1h ago 03.16 EDT Half-time! New Zealand 10-17 France Well, France could be knocking out the hosts here! They are 40 minutes away from their first World Cup final.
1h ago 03.15 EDT TRY! New Zealand 10-17 France (Vernier, 40') Amazing in defence and now in attack from Vernier! France will love having that try right on half time, they do deserve to be ahead it feels. Drouin adds the extras.
Updated at 03.16 EDT
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