WORCESTER Ladies stars Jo Yapp, Nicky Crawford and Kim Shaylor have been at the heart of England’s impressive march to the IRB Rugby Women’s World Cup Final in Canada.
Scrum-half Jo, the England captain, played the pivotal part in launching her side’s drive to an 18-0 victory in a hard-fought opening match against the physical USA Eagles at Ellerslie Park, Edmonton, in a match where Kim was in impressive form all game.
Then Nicky helped herself to a brace of tries in the Red Roses’ 74-8 demolition of South Africa in Edmonton, four days later, and Jo was at the centre of activity as her forward pack dominated France en route to a 27-8 victory that gave them a semi-final against the hosts.
That turned into their toughest test yet, as Canada played for their lives and staged a nerve-racking comeback that left the England players “slightly disappointed” to be hanging on for a 20-14 victory, according to Jo.
They now face reigning champions New Zealand in Friday’s final.