| Venue: Eden Park, Auckland Date: Saturday, 12 November Kick-off: 06:30 GMT |
| Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live; comply with dwell textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site and app. |
Being in a World Cup final clearly means every thing – profitable it will too, after all.
But this final and a doable trophy transcend rugby for me. When England face New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday, we’re going to have so most of the greatest gamers on the earth on the pitch on the similar time.
Two of the world’s greatest groups will give completely every thing they’ve in entrance of a packed crowd for 80 minutes and folks will see simply how thrilling girls’s rugby could be.
Obviously, I hope England win. Not only for myself and my team-mates, however to indicate that investing in girls works.
We have had full-time contracts for our XVs aspect since 2019, investing more within the girls’s sport than another union.
Winning the World Cup would present the ability that may have and, I hope, encourage others to comply with us.
As a lot as you will get pissed off that it has not occurred already, it is by no means too late to begin investing to see outcomes.
England’s semi-final towards Canada and New Zealand’s towards France have been extremely aggressive too.
Straight after the Black Ferns gained, an additional 8,000 tickets have been bought for the final and the organisers are actually seeking to see if they will launch more for a good greater crowd.
I can perceive why individuals don’t wish to miss out. Both sides could have a number of the quickest wingers on the earth dancing alongside the touchlines.
Then you’ll have large, heavy forwards going at one another. Whether you recognize a lot about rugby or not, you may be entertained.
‘I by no means thought I used to be going to play within the World Cup’
This World Cup additionally means rather a lot to me personally.
When I used to be first picked for the event in September, I wrote about being proud that I had defied society’s expectations of me.
I arrived in New Zealand as a non-playing reserve, anticipating to assist the matchday aspect of their marketing campaign.
I used to be a late call-up to play towards South Africa within the pool stage as a result of Vickii Cornborough had taken a knock, after which I used to be introduced into the semi-final squad the day earlier than the match after Hannah Botterman was injured in coaching.
Someone mentioned to me as soon as that my life is like a Disney film – I like that analogy as a result of I by no means know what is going to occur to me subsequent.
In the South Africa sport, I used to be crying throughout the nationwide anthem. I used to be already emotional as a result of the music they play earlier than each sport – Unstoppable – is near mine and my fiance Benjii’s hearts.
I believed I used to be not going to play within the World Cup in any respect.
I’m only a child from Peckham chucking round an egg-shaped ball – effectively truly, principally grabbing on to it and working into different individuals. I can not imagine the place life has taken me.
‘A conflict of the titans’
This England aspect has had its sights set on this final because the final World Cup in 2017 – the place the Red Roses lost the decider against New Zealand.
Since that day, every thing I’ve ever accomplished in rugby has been about enjoying in a World Cup.
I watched the 2017 final at house as a result of I had solely not too long ago taken up the game having competed internationally in hammer throw earlier than.
Since I’ve been within the England squad, every thing we’ve got accomplished has been in preparation for this.
Because of the funding to present us full-time contracts, we’ve got been capable of develop a large squad of gamers who know our system and may transfer out and in of the aspect.
That signifies that it doesn’t matter what is thrown at us or who we play, we’ve got confidence that we’ve got received this.
New Zealand have thrown the ball round this event. England have been more about construction and everybody realizing precisely what their position is.
It shall be a conflict of the titans. This final will present individuals what girls’s rugby gamers are able to. Why would you not wish to watch it?
That is why it is so essential to me and why it is about a lot more than simply the game itself.
But additionally, simply so we’re clear, I actually wish to win.
Shaunagh Brown was chatting with BBC Sport’s Becky Grey.
