England have responded to criticism labelling them one-dimensional, believing they are showing different strings to their bow ahead of the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.
The world No 1 team completed their pool phase with a 75-0 thrashing of South Africa to set up a quarterfinal with Australia at Waitakere Stadium on Sunday.
Once again the score sheet was dominated by forwards as England used their feared rolling maul to good effect, though there were signs of an increasing willingness to spread the ball across the park as the demolition of South Africa progressed.
Andrew Cornaga/PHOTOSPORT
England back Tatyanna Heard found some space against South Africa.
Lock Rosie Galligan, who scored three tries, felt they had managed to douse a strong start from the South Africans before exerting their authority across the pitch.
“We said in the first half we wanted to play it safe, we wanted to get back into it” Galligan told RugbyPass of England starting some new combinations to give their squad some game time ahead of the playoffs.
“The first twenty minutes was a bit disjointed but we haven’t played as a team in awhile like that.
“So just getting back on track, making sure we got our front foot ball.”
“In the second half we said ‘right, we’ve got the points, let’s start playing a little bit’,” she said.
Andrew Cornaga/PHOTOSPORT
Poppy Cleall takes the short route to the try line for England against South Africa.
“Start playing a different England way, being able to stress and stretch and pull people around the pitch.”
“It does show we have different strings to our bow, we know that we’ve got a lot in Zoey [Harrison] and Holly [Aitchinson] at No 10 who can pull the strings in different ways.
“It’s believing in ourselves to put different things out there, show what we can do and score some good tries.”
England’s style came under attack following their second pool win over France, a 13-6 tussle.
England coach Simon Middleton felt that was unfair, even labelling it “hilarious” and “disrespectful” to a French side that showed some outstanding defence.
“It was pretty disrespectful to France because they are the best defensive side in the world. They have some great players and that was a real arm wrestle of a test match,” he said.
England are on a 28-match unbeaten run and Middleton is eagerly anticipating the knockout showdown with Australia.
“Everything is on the line now – one defeat and you’re on the plane going home. It’s a great draw against Australia – we haven’t played them since 2017,” he said.
“It will be a different challenge and the England-Australia rivalry adds an extra dimension.”
England were only seeded third for the quarterfinals behind New Zealand and Canada.
The playoffs draw means the New Zealand Black Ferns are likely to meet France in the semifinals.
Rugby World Cup quarterfinal draw:
Saturday at Northland Event Centre, Whangārei
France (4th) v Italy (5th) at 4:30pm; New Zealand (1st) v Wales (8th) at 7:30pm – winner from each match meets in the semifinal.
Sunday at Waitākere Stadium, Auckland
England (3rd) v Australia (6th) at 1:30pm; Canada (2nd) v United States (7th) at 4:30pm – winner from each match meets in the semifinal.
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