England look destined for World Cup final clash with New Zealand after powering through Australia

On the same day 15,000 Aucklanders took the long way round the city on its 26-mile marathon course, England once again went the direct route to World Cup success.

As they have done throughout the tournament in New Zealand, Simon Middleton’s Red Roses used their fearsome rolling maul and line-out drive to dispatch Australia in filthy conditions at Waitakere Stadium. England’s forward-dominated approach is not for everyone. Some want to see more.

Former captain Katy Daley-McLean has been among the critics who have argued head coach Middleton’s side should be playing a more expansive and entertaining brand of rugby.

Sarah Hunter celebrates scoring one of the seven tries against Australia in England’s big win 

Hunter became England women’s rugby most capped player with her 138th appearance 

It is a risible suggestion.

England are now 29 games unbeaten. In their driving maul they have a weapon their rivals are unable to stop. Why would they change tack?

It is also clear that should they have to do so, they certainly have the attributes.

‘It’s no different to what New Zealand are doing, but they’re doing it in the backs,’ said Middleton, when questioned over his team’s use of a power game.

‘When it gets to knock-out rugby, it’s about winning. You play to your strengths and I don’t really recognise the criticism. Does it frustrate me? Probably a little bit. It baffles me a little bit.

Marlie Packer in full flow as she converts won of her three tries as England thrash Australia 

‘It doesn’t have to be play, play, play. That’s southern hemisphere rugby – fantastic. We’re a northern hemisphere side. We’re very good at what we do.’

England’s quarter-final with Australia was played in atrocious conditions. Torrential rain meant running rugby was never on the cards. The direct approach was entirely right here.

Captain Sarah Hunter marked becoming English rugby’s most capped player with the first of her team’s seven tries on the occasion of her 138th cap. All seven English tries were scored by forwards with outstanding flanker Marlie Packer contributing a hat-trick.

‘A lot has been said about the driving maul and how we’re scoring tries,’ said Hunter.

‘But ultimately, no-one’s going to look back and go, “How did England score?” They look at the result and if it isn’t broke, you don’t need to fix it.’

England dominated the game and are now unbeaten in 29 games after the quarter-final win 

The clocks went back while this quarter-final was being played, but England’s time in New Zealand remains far from over. They will face Canada in the last four at Eden Park on Saturday.

A final with the hosts looks inevitable. Such a game would be a clash of styles with the Blacks Ferns the tournament’s chief entertainers.

In Portia Woodman and Ruby Tui, New Zealand have superstar backs. Woodman has seven tries in the tournament to date.

‘New Zealand play a fantastic brand of rugby,’ said Middleton. ‘They’re red hot, aren’t they? They’ve got to be favourites for the competition. They’re on home soil, they’ve demolished everybody.

‘Everybody is putting the favourites tag on us but they’ve got home advantage and the trophy.’

The England rugby team look destined to reach the final in New Zealand to play the hosts 

Hunter got England’s scoring underway in the first half against a determined yet limited Australia side. Heavy pre-match rain somehow got worse during the opening 40. It meant errors were common.

England’s gameplan was nonetheless on point as they dominated possession and territory and scored three tries to lead 19-5 at the break.

Packer added a brace to Hunter’s opener and scored two more in the second period. Abbie Ward, Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews all crossed too. England’s maul was unstoppable.

Before England think about getting to the final they must overcome Canada in the semi-final 

‘You’ve got to build through tournaments and I’m very, very happy with where we’re at,’ said Hunter, who received a good luck message from England men’s head coach Eddie Jones before kick-off.

‘My phone has not stopped. I’ve got a lot of people to reply to. It’s very, very humbling for sure.’

Middleton and England are right where they need to be leading into their final fortnight in New Zealand. They did lose Zoe Aldcroft to a first-half yellow card against Australia.

But when a team wins as often as this Red Roses side, it is often tempting to nitpick for the sake of doing so. Perhaps that is why some still want to see more from one of the most successful teams English sport has ever seen. Test rugby is about winning and that is what this England team does. ‘We’ve got multiple facets,’ Middleton argued.

‘Against Fiji and South Africa we played as good a rugby as anybody. We’ve said we want to leave here a better side than when we arrived.’