England’s Red Roses have once again booked their place in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, but if you’re glancing at the scoreline from their 35-17 semifinal win over France, you might think it was a walk in the park. The reality? It was anything but. On a tense afternoon at Bristol’s Ashton Gate, the English side had to dig deep—really deep—to fend off a French team that dominated possession and kept the hosts on their toes from the opening whistle to the last.
France held onto the ball for a whopping 61% of the match, forcing England to defend like their lives depended on it. The Red Roses made a staggering 231 tackles compared to France’s relatively modest 90. That’s not a typo—231 tackles! It was a defensive masterclass, and at the heart of it was centre Meg Jones, who notched up four turnovers and inspired her teammates with a relentless display of grit and determination.
After the final whistle, Jones was quick to put the performance into perspective. “I asked one thing from the girls and that was to choose how hard you’re going to hit and inspire the person next to you,” she told assembled media. “100% I think it’s exactly what we needed. Everyone’s always going to have comment on how we play and what the game looks like but let me just tell you that defensive set sums us up.” According to Jones, the heart and desire within this England squad is what sets them apart, and she hopes fans can see the joy the team takes in playing together. “Hopefully you see the fun out there, there’s some good celebrations going on out there and we’re just trying to enjoy the game as much as we can. The pressure is already big, let’s not make it bigger. Let’s just enjoy it for what it is.”
The semifinal wasn’t just a test of skill; it was a test of character. England’s ability to absorb pressure and then strike clinically when opportunities presented themselves proved decisive. While France looked threatening with their extended spells of possession, England’s defense held firm, laying the groundwork for their seventh-straight trip to the World Cup final. And if you ask Meg Jones, that kind of battle was exactly what the team needed heading into the biggest match of their season.
But there’s more to this England side than just steely defense and clinical finishing. There’s a sense of showmanship—a desire to entertain and inspire. That’s something Ellie Kildunne, one of the squad’s brightest stars, knows all about. Kildunne, who began the tournament with a dazzling brace against the United States, has become synonymous with flair and excitement on the pitch. Yet, her own journey through the knockout rounds was interrupted. After being rested against Samoa, she suffered a concussion in the final pool game, forcing her to sit out the semifinal against France. It was a tough pill to swallow for the Harlequins fullback, who thrives on the big stage.
“It was tough,” Kildunne recalled in an exclusive interview with the London Standard. “More so because I love playing, I love rugby, I love playing at Twickenham. At that moment, I had to trust what my body and my mind was telling me. I knew I needed a break, but I had trust in the depth we had with the Red Roses.” Fortunately for England, Loughborough Lightning’s Helena Rowland stepped up in Kildunne’s absence, showing the squad’s impressive depth.
Kildunne’s mindset is all about putting on a show for fans. She’s so committed to this philosophy that she’s had the word ‘showtime’ emblazoned on the heel of her new signature boots—a little reminder to herself and her teammates that rugby isn’t just a game, it’s entertainment. “A game of rugby is more than just a game. It’s entertainment, showtime,” Kildunne explained. “We work so hard in the gym, on the pitch, behind the computer screen, doing analysis to make sure moves are done right at the right time, to make sure your lines are perfect to manipulate a defender. If you can see rugby in that way, it’s beautiful.”
For Kildunne, the artistry of turning a defense inside out with a subtle movement is what makes rugby special. “This is not just a game—this is a show. We’re going to put on a show, we’re going to entertain, and if you do that, [you] put smiles on people’s faces [and] get smiles out. To have it on my boots, it’s just a little reminder, it’s showtime already.” Those words ring especially true as England prepares for the final at Twickenham, with the prospect of 80,000 fans roaring them on.
Looking ahead, the Red Roses face Canada in next week’s final—a team whose journey to the World Cup has been nothing short of remarkable, having crowdfunded their way to this stage. The stakes couldn’t be higher: a chance to win the World Cup at home, in front of a packed Twickenham, and to inspire a new generation of rugby fans. For Jones, the emotion of the moment was almost overwhelming. “I was holding back the tears [after the semifinal], because I just think it’s everything we’ve built towards,” she said. “It’s huge for us. I honestly just think our biggest thing is inspiring a nation and little girls and boys around the country, super proud of what we’ve built and what we continue to build.”
England’s run to the final hasn’t been without its challenges. Four routine wins in the pool stages set the tone, but the semifinal against France was a stark reminder that nothing comes easy at this level. The Red Roses have shown they can adapt, absorb, and overcome—qualities that will serve them well against a Canadian side hungry to make history of their own.
As the team heads into a week of preparation, the mood is one of celebration and focus in equal measure. “We’ll enjoy the moment we’ve had together. There will be lots of singing and we know we’ll be straight back on it [on Sunday], big recovery day, big week ahead,” said Jones. “We’ve earned another week, and we’ll go again.”
With the Women’s Rugby World Cup final looming, all eyes are now on Twickenham. Will England’s defensive steel and attacking flair be enough to lift the trophy on home soil? One thing’s for sure: the Red Roses are ready to put on a show, and fans are in for a treat.
