World Cup: Kiwis complete hat trick of titles

In the end it was a problem that had been hinted at in the games with the USA and Canada - and even right back to Wales - an inability to turn possession and territory into points.

Without question England possess the strongest pack in world rugby. For the first thirty minutes or so they pushed the New Zealanders around, almost at will, with almost the entire first half taking place not only in the Kiwi half, but inside their 22. In particular England successfully targeted - and all but neutralised - New Zealand's full back and possibly leading player of the tournament, Amiria Marsh.

But despite all that pressure the only reward was a single penalty early on. New Zealand, on the other hand, found their way into the England half maybe three or four times, scored a try just before half time, and came in at he break leading 10-3.

The English tactics of keeping the ball with the forwards worked much of the time, but the few times it was released to the New Zealand backs they looked devastating, slicing through the English defence at times with amazing speed. And it was a flowing backs move at the start of the second half that lead to their second try, and a 15-3 lead.

This was soon cut to 15-10 when English pressure finally resulted in a penalty try, but from then on it was the turn on of the New Zealanders to put on the pressure. With the English tight five beginning to showing the effect of all the hard work they'd put in, the boot was now on the other foot and a classic forwards try, driving from a line out, extended the Kiwi lead to 10 points with only minutes to spare.

But England were not finished. With 77 minutes on the clock the fresh legs of Helen Clayton finally drove the England pack over the New Zealand line. With Shelley Rae slotting the extras the score was 20-17 as the game moved into injury time. Could we have a fairy tale ending?

No, in short. Desperate attempts by England to win back the ball from the restart lead to their being penalised from offside and pushed well back into their own half. Now having to run the ball from deep saw England turned over, and the ball in the Black Fern backs' hands - and finally into the hands of Amiria Marsh. For once free of English pressure she touched down in the corner to complete what was, ultimately, a deserved 25-17 New Zealand win.

So England have been frustrated by New Zealand again. What is the answer? Well, Sue Day, talking straight after the match, thinks its you! :

"If I can just add the big thing that is chaging in England, I think, is that girls are playing from a much younger age and some of the talent coming through is very exciting. They play the right kind of rugby - really good, exciting rugby - and I'm really looking forward to those players coming through when I'm sitting on the sidelines in a few years time"