England winger Abby Dow yesterday lit up Eden Park with two tries in their 26-19 win over Canada in the semi-finals at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, but coach Simon Middleton said that she would not even have been on the pitch had it not been for the Red Roses’ medical staff.
Dow was told she would be out of action for nine months when she broke a leg against Wales in April, but she returned well ahead of schedule to be included in Middleton’s squad for New Zealand.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Abby and I can’t speak highly enough of our medical department, who six months on from what was a nine-month injury returned her to play,” Middleton said. “Emily Ross, Lewis Jones and the team just said: Give us six months and we’ll do it, we’ll get her there. And she’s so valuable we were never going to question that.”
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“They have spent nights with her putting her through rigorous [physiotherapy] and Abby committed fully to doing it,” he said.
All that hard work paid off yesterday, with Dow extending England’s lead in the 15th minute after Marlie Packer had put them in front, but it was her second score that caught the eye in a thrilling clash in Auckland.
Canada had pulled to within six points and were putting England’s defense under sustained pressure when Claudia MacDonald burst out from behind her own try line and fed Dow.
The 25-year-old sprinted more than half the length of the pitch to finish off the move with a score that effectively clinched the game and extended England’s record winning run to 30 matches.
“We were absolutely under the pump and then they pulled that out. It was one of those moments in sport,” Middleton said.
England face New Zealand in next week’s showpiece after the hosts downed France later yesterday.
France flyhalf Caroline Drouin missed a last-gasp penalty as New Zealand claimed a 25-24 thriller at Eden Park.
With a shot awarded in front of the posts after Santo Taumata was yellow-carded for a high tackle, Drouin shanked her kick left as New Zealand made a great escape in front of a roaring crowd.
Down 17-10 at halftime, the Black Ferns charged into the lead through tries to Ruby Tui and Theresa Fitzpatrick.
France No. 8 Romane Menager scored a brace of tries, her second pulling France within a point with 14 minutes left.
However, a yellow card for loose forward Safi N’Diaye for a high tackle proved costly for France before Drouin’s late miss sealed their fate.
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