Red Roses top Pool A to set up 'huge rivalry' clash with Scotland in Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final

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England beat Australia 47-7 after overcoming a patchy first half to finish the group stage in decisive and dominant style at Brighton and Hove Stadium. The Wallaroos were leading until the 32nd minute when Abbie Ward's try saw the Red Roses wrestle dominance back. England now face Scotland in the quarter-finals after their Six Nations rivals finished second in Pool B after losing to Canada.

Highlights: England beat Australia to set up last-eight clash with Scotland as Wales lose again

Video credit: TNT Sports

England finished top of Pool A after a 47-7 win over Australia in Brighton, in what was their toughest game of the Women's Rugby World Cup so far.

The Red Roses battled through an error-strewn first half where the Wallaroos led until the 32nd minute, when Abbie Ward's try saw them retake the lead.

They then ran in five tries in the second half to take a decisive victory in the end, and extend their winning streak to 30 Tests.

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A quarter-final clash with Scotland awaits them at Ashton Gate, and Ward is already relishing the chance to play out their Six Nations rivalry on a huge stage.

"Scotland at Ashton Gate, for me and Bristol Bears we've got plenty of Scottish contingent, that will be pretty special," the No. 8 said.

"There will be added flair, we love that game and that's such a huge rivalry. We know each other well, we're familiar. But gameplans will change a little bit and we'll see where we can take advantage and pose threats and opportunities."

It was undoubtedly England's toughest test of the tournament to date and John Mitchell watched his side be outplayed by Australia in the opening 30 minutes.

Australia's kicking was superb and they found supremacy at set pieces, particularly the lineout, from which hooker Adiana Talakai burrowed over at the back of a driving maul to take the lead.

"Australia, they posed such a good challenge," Ward said. "I love those games, we don't have all the answers straight away.

"But good teams are about adapting and hopefully we showed that we can adapt our gameplan and use what suits us, and that's what we did.

"We know we've got the backs to back it up, we can create forward momentum by keeping the team out wide. There's no way that Australia can come really tight because if they do we can unleash it out wide.

"Today at parts it was about putting the foot on the throttle with the forwards, we did that and flexed our muscles at times, and it got us over."

Scotland lost 40-19 to Canada earlier in the day but were guaranteed a second-placed finish after wins over Wales and Fiji.

Failing to spring a surprise on Canada means Bryan Easson's Scotland face the tournament's most formidable side in England.

"Really excited to be in knockout rugby," Ward added.

"We never get ahead of ourselves, we never take anything for granted, tonight it was all about this game. The message is very much about keeping yourself where your feet are."

Scotland caused issues for Canada, the second-ranked side in the world, and produced three impressive tries.

But they were ruthlessly punished at times and will need to curtail their number of mistakes against the Red Roses.

Scotland and England will meet at Ashton Gate in Bristol on September 14.

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