England thrash Australia despite first-half sloppiness

It is the slightly peculiar aspect of this Women's World Cup that England, winners in Brighton 47-7, might have come away only marginally more pleased with their performance than the Australia side that they thrashed.

- By HARRY LATHAM-COYLE AT THE AMEX STADIUM

The Red Roses were pretty far short of their best in a sloppy first-half showing here, rocked and roughed up by a highly physical and intelligent Australian side.

The hosts came through to power out of sight in their trademark fashion to match their own record 30-match winning run, but play so sloppily for so long in the semifinals or final and they may find themselves deeper in the mire.

In the end, perhaps everyone got what they desired. England know they will have to overcome tough tests if they are to fulfil their World Cup destiny, and for half an hour here, they were in a proper contest, pushed back on to the ropes by Australia in a way that few have managed against the women's rugby heavyweights. That they came through to win, again, in such style will serve them well, with Scotland next up in the quarterfinals and France likely to come after that.