New Zealand's women claimed their fourth successive World Cup title on Sunday but were given a huge fright by England.
Courageous defeat for England at the Stoop
New Zealand's women claimed their fourth successive World Cup title on Sunday but were given a huge fright by England.
The hosts were unable to capitalise of the first-half sin-binning of Anna Richards and Mel Bosman to go in 7-0 down at the break.
However, Charlotte Barras crossed after an hour to help level the scores only for Kelly Brazier to kick the winning penalty for the Black Ferns, who ran out 13-10 winners.
Flanker Maggie Alphonsi was once again pivotal for the hosts, who nevertheless began nervously at Twickenham Stoop.
New Zealand dominated the opening exchanges and were camped in the England half for much of the first quarter but had no points to show for their toils, Brazier and Emma Jensen both missing early penalties.
They looked to have handed the hosts the initiative when 45-year-old fly-half Richards, playing in her fourth World Cup, was yellow-carded in the 22nd minute.
She was joined in the sin bin seven minutes later by Bosman, but England could not capitalise on their two-player advantage and found themselves trailing soon after Richards' return.
The prolific Hohepa, whose two tries in the semi-final helped the New Zealanders thrash France 45-7 on Wednesday, burst through an England defence which had not conceded in three of its four World Cup matches to date, and touched down for a fine opening score - her seventh of the tournament.
Brazier added the extras to give the defending champions a deserved 7-0 half-time advantage but England were by no means out of it.
Fly-half McLean missed two penalties in the first half but converted one three minutes into the second to reduce the arrears, although Brazier responded in kind 13 minutes later to restore the Black Ferns' seven-point cushion.
New Zealand captain Melissa Ruscoe was then sin-binned in the 57th minute, and this time England did make their numerical superiority count.
Barras powered over the line just after the hour mark following a five-metre scrum and McLean coolly added the conversion to draw England level.
The parity lasted only four minutes, however, before another Brazier penalty edged New Zealand into the lead once again and this time there was no way back.
