Summary

  • Final score: England 20-3 France

  • Bern, Jones tries, Scarratt 2 pens, 2 cons for Eng, Izar pen for Fra

  • England are reigning world champions

  • New Zealand thrash USA 45-12 in first semi

  • Portia Woodman scores 4 of NZ's 7 tries

  • Earlier Ireland lost to Australia and Wales were thrashed by Canada

  • Click speaker button to listen to BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentary

  1. Onto the final...published at 22:01 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    FT: England 20-3 France

    That's it from me.

    We're back on Saturday from 19:00 BST with live text and radio commentary as England take on New Zealand in the World Cup final.

    See you then!

    EnglandImage source, Getty Images
  2. Home nations round-uppublished at 21:59 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    In the day's other games...

    Canada hammered Wales to ensure they will face Australia for fifth place.

    Ireland, who earlier lost to Australia, await Wales on Saturday with seventh place on the line.

    Japan also lost to Italy and Hong Kong were beaten by Spain in the ninth-place semi-finals.

  3. Postpublished at 21:52 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    FT: England 20-3 France

    And add Mike Brown to that...

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  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    #bbcrugby

    I think Chris is as excited as Sarah Hunter...

    Chris Adams: Yes! Yes! Yes! Get in! Well done England! Great effort all round. Bring on the Kiwis! #SendHerVictorious, external#RedRoses, external

  5. England into finalpublished at 21:48 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    Sarah HunterImage source, Getty Images

    Right, so New Zealand beat USA and England saw off France in a nail-biting second semi to make the World Cup final.

    If you missed any of that, or couldn't join me for the double-header, have a read of James Standley's report here.

    It will explain all.

  6. Recap: New Zealand beat USApublished at 21:44 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    New Zealand 45-12 USA

    Portia WoodmanImage source, Getty Images

    New Zealand scored seven tries in the first semi-final to hammer USA after a close opening half.

    Portia Woodman - a former netball player - bagged four of them as she was unstoppable on the wing.

    A tough test awaits England in the final on Saturday.

  7. Full-time verdictpublished at 21:41 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    FT: England 20-3 France

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  8. Postpublished at 21:40 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    FT: England 20-3 France

    England go over to applaud their fans - who endured a wet night in Belfast to support their side. And they delivered.

    England fans
  9. Postpublished at 21:36 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    FT: England 20-3 France

    France had 84% possession for the first 10 minutes of that game and England were under severe pressure from the outset.

    But their defence stood up and never really looked like leaking a try.

    It wasn't a classic in terms of running rugby, but England stood up and edged out a talented French side.

    The next test for their defence? The world number one side New Zealand.

  10. 'Defence won that game'published at 21:33 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    FT: England 20-3 France

    Sarah HunterImage source, Getty Images

    England captain Sarah Hunter speaking to ITV:

    "It's fantastic that we've come and done the job that we wanted to do. Our defence won that game. France came at us and they've given us the greatest test we've had so far in this tournament.

    "We knew we had the mindset.Both defences stood up and the tackle count shows that but we had a white wall and there was no way they were getting across our try line tonight.

    "One try and France would have been back in the game but we pride ourselves on our defence and Megan Jones made a fantastic tackle."

  11. Bern's try decisivepublished at 21:28 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    FT: England 20-3 France

    So England will have the chance to defend their crown after a hard-fought victory over France on a wet night in Belfast.

    In a game full of errors, Sarah Bern came up with the crucial try for England as their forward pack handed the world champions victory.

  12. get involved

    Get Involved - #bbcrugbypublished at 21:26 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    FT: England 20-3 France

    Ian B: Superb focus and long error free phases despite the conditions from England in second half, thoroughly deserved finalists.

  13. Full-timepublished at 21:25 British Summer Time 22 August 2017

    England 20-3 France

    England will play New Zealand on Saturday in the World Cup final.

  14. try

    Converted try - Jones, con Scarrattpublished at 81 mins

    England 20-3 France

    England have done it.

    It was Meg Jones' try-saving tackle which denied Julie Annery on 68 minutes and she's sent England through to the final.

    Emily Scarratt puts the icing on the cake.

  15. Postpublished at 79 mins

    England 13-3 France

    England win it safely and it's given to captain Sarah Hunter to carry it up the middle.

    France are defending ferociously and they force another knock-on, this time it's Hunter.

    We're into the final minute and England pop up with the ball at the scrum.

    What can France do in the final 30 seconds?

    Kay Wilson almost plucks an intercept out of the night sky but she can't keep hold of the ball.

  16. Postpublished at 78 mins

    England 13-3 France

    England are edging towards the World Cup final and they're continuing to play with ambition.

    Lydia Thompson is away down the right but they won't be rushing this.

    The ball comes loose in the tackle but it's an England scrum!

    Two minutes to play.

  17. Postpublished at 75 mins

    England 13-3 France

    England on the front foot again as they go in search of the killer blow.

    But it's stolen by the French and that's great running by the substitute scrum-half Jade Le Pesq before she's hammered into touch by the cover tackle.

    England are awarded a penalty as France fail to roll away.

    Five minutes to play and they're in the French half.

  18. Postpublished at 73 mins

    England 13-3 France

    And to mark the final 10 minutes of the match, we get another unforced error.

    Safi N'Diaye with the knock-on this time for France.

    It's clearly still wet out there.

  19. Postpublished at 71 mins

    England 13-3 France

    It's a good start for the new front three as they win the penalty at the scrum and Vicky Fleetwood has success with her first line-out throw too.

    But as the referee screams use the ball, England obstruct in the transfer of the ball and France have the ball back.

    We're into the last 10 minutes...

  20. Postpublished at 70 mins

    England 13-3 France

    England survive the French onslaught once again as their entire front row leave the field.

    On come Vicky Fleetwood, Rochelle Clark and Justine Lucas.

    Their first task? A scrum.