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England fans are all saying the same thing about Red Roses loss
By Ian Cameron
Gutted is the go-to word on the lips of English rugby this morning. The Red Roses, hot favourites for the tournament, lost 34-31 to New Zealand in the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Auckland.
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A red for Lydia Thompson proved crucial but other issues throughout hurt England, not least a lost lineout that if gathered, could well have seen the Red Roses steal the win in the dying moments of the game.
England head coach Simon Middleton admitted in a post-match interview, that while he was proud of his players, not winning the competition was a failure for his charges in terms of their goal.
English rugby didn’t know quite how to react on social.
Women’s rugby commentator and pundit Nick Heath wrote: “Tear in my eye tells me I was more invested in these Red Roses than even I realised. Spent a lot of time with those players and I’m truly gutted for them and everything they’ve invested. Hats off to the hosts. An incredible journey under Wayne Smith. Congrats to them.”
Tear in my eye tells me I was more invested in these Red Roses than even I realised.
Spent a lot of time with those players and I’m truly gutted for them and everything they’ve invested.
Hats off to the hosts. An incredible journey under Wayne Smith. Congrats to them.
— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) November 12, 2022
Topsy Ojo wrote: “Gutted for the #RedRoses. Heartbreak, gave it everything. Congratulations NZ, incredible performance and some turnaround over the 11 months.”
Gutted for the #RedRoses. Heartbreak, gave it everything. Congratulations NZ, incredible performance and some turnaround over the 11 months #RWC2021
— Topsy Ojo (@topsy_ojo) November 12, 2022
The official England Rugby Twitter account summed things up well, posting: “Sport can be tough, but we’re still proud of our Red Roses. You gave it your all. Hold your heads high.”
Sport can be tough, but we're still proud of our #RedRoses ?
You gave it your all. Hold your heads high.
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 12, 2022
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“Jesus, what a game,” wrote RPA Chairman Ethan Waller. “Absolutely gutted for the Red Roses. What a performance with 14 players for the majority of time, and in it for the full 80.”
Jesus, what a game.?
Absolutely gutted for the #RedRoses What a performance with 14 players for the majority of time, and in it for the full 80. ??
— Ethan Waller (@beef324) November 12, 2022
“I feel exhausted after all that,” wrote one England fan. “An unbelievable game and proof that women’s sport continues its ascent. So disappointed for the #redroses but to hang on with a player down for over 50 mins was amazing & I hope they feel as proud as I do!”
I feel exhausted after all that. An unbelievable game and proof that women’s sport continues its ascent. So disappointed for the #redroses but to hang on with a player down for over 50 mins was amazing & I hope they feel as proud as I do! #NZLvENG #RWC2021 @EnglandRugby
— Laura Wood (@mrslaurawood) November 12, 2022
Elliott Butlin wrote: “Oh sport, you’re so so cruel. Absolutely heartbreaking for the Red Roses. They’ve done us all proud. Gutted for them all.”
Oh sport, you’re so so cruel. Absolutely heartbreaking for the Red Roses. They’ve done us all proud. Gutted for them all ???
— A View From LE2 / Elliott Butlin (@FromLe2) November 12, 2022
Another fan said she preferred the Women’s team to Eddie Jones’ men’s side. “Absolutely gutted for the Red Roses, they played until the very end and gave their all. Personally I’d rather watch the ladies then the England Rugby men at the moment.”
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Absolutely gutted for the Red Roses, they played until the very end and gave their all. Personally I'd rather watch the ladies then the @EnglandRugby men at the moment #doneusproud #RedRoses pic.twitter.com/57LIZHF7rG
— Tracey Westmoor (@TraceyN67) November 12, 2022
Even Wales fans were commiserating. “Unbelievably heartbreaking. What a final,” wrote Squidge Rugby.
Unbelievably heartbreaking. What a final.
— Squidge Rugby (@SquidgeRugby) November 12, 2022
England will no doubt go back to the drawing board, with an eye to 2025.
I am struggling to understand why the TMO is heard to make the call for Lydia Thompson to get a red card ??? I thought it was the Referee's decision. And why was there a New Zealand official in the TMO's box acting as a Technical Advisor.
Lydia was attempting to tackle Woodman and had made a run assuming Woodman would keep to the touchline, but Woodman moved in field stopping Lydia dead. Woodman ran into her, and there was a clash of head's something Lydia could do nothing about. So why did the TMO give a red ??
Red Roses will be tough to beat come '25 WRWC on home soil
sunshine i did watch the whole tournament and the ferns delt with Welsh and French the same way with strength and to cut a long story short a game plan not one dimensional and if the roses had so many injuries maybe the replacement. anyway sometimes the truth can hurt i do apologies
Not ONE English commentator thinks that the Black Ferns simply out-thought, out ran, and out-pointed the English team. Speed, agility, guile, ball skills, and sheer TOUGHNESS are what won the Final for the Black Ferns. They are superb. The English have played one-dimensional rugby for so long that it's now almost entrenched in their DNA, and when an opposition plays completely another free-spirited way, the Poms have no idea of how to cope with it. Wayne Smith is an absolute genius, and his girls played like the Grim Reaper was chasing them - they left it ALL on the field. Congratulations ladies - your names will now be household words around the whole of New Zealand!!
As a Kiwi I still feel empathy for the English. This test could have gone either way - it spun on a pin. It's hard being the favourites coming into a sudden death tournament - an extra burden for them to carry. We Kiwis should know. Just ask an All Black team that's gone to a World Cup as favourites and come home empty handed. Sports a funny old thing.
Great game Ladies. Disappointed with the English Style/game plan
Why didn't you run it like the Kiwi ladies did, that's what Rugby Union is all about, its not the Northern Hemisphere crash bash stuff. Really enjoyed the whole 90 + minutes
As a Kiwi and loving the result I would say to English viewers, be disappointed for the Red Roses, do NOT be disappointed in them
i watch the game and was proud of the black ferns for when it came down to genuine rugby the ferns did win it they had the fleer pure and speed and skill for 80min while the roses had by far brute strength and if i want to witness a game of train carriages and how many are towing it i will know where to go. 30 games unbeaten is an amazing feet congratulations but maybe now Simon you will add some fleer and speed into your game
Nz fan here but that not the case with this England side at all. Only from half the back line being missing in the last game due to injury did they lack the speed/flair. They have all the flair and speed the black ferns have if not more. Shows you did not watch the full tournament if that is what you believe. Proud of the NZ girls but I believe it’s a different game with a full English side, we got a break with those injuries.
No risk, no reward.