There was yet more World Cup final heartbreak for England against New Zealand on Saturday morning, as an early red card contributed to their three point defeat in a thrilling finale in Eden Park.
It was a sensational World Cup final, one of the best in the competition's history, as England roared ahead before being pegged back by New Zealand, who finally clinched victory with a try in the final ten minutes.
England, however, did remarkably well to hold on for so long, after Lydia Thompson was sent off within the first 20 minutes of the first half for a "reckless" tackle.
World Cup final: Sensational New Zealand fightback seals 6th crown
England made a roaring start to the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday morning Irish time, with two tries in just 15 minutes putting them 14-0 up against hosts and defending champions New Zealand.
The major flashpoint of the match occurred mere minutes later, when Lydia Thompson was shown a red card for what the referee adjudged to be a reckless tackle. With the ball having been offloaded, Thompson made head-on-head contact with Portia Woodman, forcing the Black Ferns wing to depart on a stretcher.
The incident is at 1:10 in the below highlights video.
The red card did not, however, mar what was a brilliant World Cup final, with tries being traded back and forth between the teams throughout.
The winning score was one worthy of winning any match, let alone a World Cup final, as New Zealand's Stacey Fluhler pulled off a sensational offload to allow Ayesha Leta-l'iga to crash over and seal a fifth World Cup crown for the Black Ferns.
This is the fifth time in the last six World Cups that England have been defeated by New Zealand, and the fifth time that they have lost to New Zealand in a women's World Cup final.
The result will be bitterly disappointing for England, but they were a crucial part of an all-time classic in Auckland.
SEE ALSO: 'Tadhg Was Like The Acorn That Has Become The Oak Tree'
