Roses squeeze past France to keep trophy hopes alive

And so England, just about, march on, the Red Roses winning machine and the 82,000 that will accompany them rolling into Twickenham next week.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE AT ASHTON GATE

How hard they had to work, though, to book their ticket to their own party; how deep they had to go to overcome a French wave that threatened to sweep away their World Cup dreams.

Forget the final scoreline, an 18-point margin not reflecting how close a contest this had felt. If the first semifinal between Canada and New Zealand had produced a performance to remember, this was a final-four clash of old school charm – niggly, nervy, and contested with hellacious physicality in spaces open and tight.

Crucially, though, the Red Roses do go on – the thought of a dispiriting final week with the hosts' competition over dismissed in two flashes of fullback Ellie Kildunne's bright, white boots.

This was not a performance to leave Canada quaking yet England's World Cup chances remain very much alive. Kildunne will get the kudos but credit to their forwards, who came through in the final quarter to tilt it their way. This was a proper, proper battle of the kind that the Red Roses had been yet to face at this tournament. By the end, they had made 200 tackles to France's 88, the underdogs swelling significantly having so nearly exited to Ireland to threaten to upset the established world order at a tournament that many feel the hosts have to win. They missed their co-captain Manae Feleu, who is suspended and concussed starting fly half Lina Queyroi, but for some red-zone profligacy France might have powered out of sight of their fancied opponents; as it was, a 17th win on the spin against their fiercest foes advanced England into a final that promises to be some contest and occasion.