Summary

  • England through to World Cup final with battling victory at Eden Park in Auckland

  • Marlie Packer and Abby Dow scored early England tries but Canada hit back to level

  • Emily Scarratt penalty gave England slender 15-12 half-time lead

  • Dow finished superb move to put England 23-12 up in second half

  • Tyson Beukeboom try closes gap as amateur side Canada pressure England

  • But Red Roses hold firm to win 30th Test match in a row

  • Hosts New Zealand play France in second semi-final at 06:30 GMT

Live Reporting

Tom Rostance

  1. Canada 5-12 England

    Canada captain Sophie de Goede, the number eight, takes the conversion but pulls it wide. Both sides maybe struggling with the wind a touch as Zoe Harrison kicks the restart straight out of play.

  2. try

    Try - Canada 5-12 England

    Karen Paquin

    Maybe not! Canada breakaway from a scrum and kick it ahead brilliantly, flanker Karen Paquin shows superb pace down the right and grounds it. Huge score!

    Karen Paquin of Canada scores a try and is congratulated by Maddy GrantGetty Images

  3. Canada 0-12 England

    Canada hooker Emily Tuttosi goes over the back from a line-out, just giving the ball back to England. Signs of fatigue already, perhaps.

  4. Canada 0-12 England

    Emily Scarratt hits the near post with her conversion so it stays at a 12-point lead. Canada are the last amateur side in the competition, remember, so this is a real test now.

  5. 'Fantastic finish!'

    Canada 0-12 England

    Kat Merchant
    2014 England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

    That was fantastic from Abby Dow. She's a prolific try-scorer. Helena Rowland held onto the ball just enough to give Dow the room but that was not an easy finish!

  6. try

    Try - Canada 0-12 England

    Abby Dow

    Bang! Abby Dow again with the power, she folds Alex Tessier in half as the fly-half makes a desperate tackle in the corner but there's no stopping the England wing.

    Great finish!

    Abby DowGetty Images

  7. Canada 0-7 England

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Eden Park

    This is the most intensity I've seen from England all tournament.

    Abby Dow palming people off, Tatyana Heard punching holes... there are going to be some sore Canadians after this.

  8. Canada 0-7 England

    Get down! Abby Dow smashes two players to the floor as she makes some yards for England...

  9. Canada 0-7 England

    Alex Tessier, the Canadian fly-half, has a kick charged down as England pile on the pressure. This is looking good from the Red Roses now.

  10. Canada 0-7 England

    That's an early blow for Canada's resolve. Let's see how they regroup.

  11. 'England a line-out machine'

    Canada 0-7 England

    Kat Merchant
    2014 England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

    England showed their class. We have spoken so much about their line-out. That's sending a message going for the line-out instead of the penalty.

    They are a machine when they do this. Canada had numbers in there but could not stop them.

  12. converted try

    Converted try - Canada 0-7 England

    Marlie Packer (con Scarratt)

    Like clockwork! England's forwards have been doing this all tournament, a catch and drive from the line-out and they power over the line. There's nothing Canada can do to stop that! Marlie Packer had the ball in her hands.

    Emily Scarratt nails the conversion.

  13. Canada 0-0 England

    England get a penalty right under the posts, England consider a quick tap but instead kick it to the corner. They want a line-out.

  14. Boring, boring England?

    Canada 0-0 England

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Eden Park

    There have been a few complaints about England's potentially "boring" forwards-led game at this World Cup.

    Emily Scarratt's beautiful offload to Tatyana Heard after some lovely backs play is a good sign we could be in for something different today.

  15. 'High intensity'

    Canada 0-0 England

    Kat Merchant
    2014 England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Nerves are high but the intensity is too. It is a bit scrappy but both defences are coming up so hard and fast.

  16. Canada 0-0 England

    Both sides exchange kicks before England now finally get their hands on the ball in the Canada half. Can they force a way through? Another handling error, Abbie Ward this time missing her pass...

  17. Canada 0-0 England

    Plenty of Canada ball as they work away at the England line, up to eight phases before the ball is knocked on - England can't get hold of it though and it's kicked away. Scruffy stuff.

  18. Canada 0-0 England

    Error from England as Emily Scarratt knocks on to gift Canada a scrum. The underdogs making a bright start, England under early pressure.

  19. Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup-winning captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

    England need to start quickly, be accurate in possession and match Canada’s intensity from the off.

  20. Kick-off

    Canada 0-0 England

    And we are under way! Canada all in black, England in the familiar all-white affair...