The Black Ferns won the 2017 Rugby World Cup. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2017 © INPHO
The Black Ferns have one final hurdle to get past to lift the Rugby World Cup trophy for a sixth time.
In a repeat of the 2017 final New Zealand face England on Saturday at what is on track to be a sold out Eden Park.
New Zealand and England had met in four previous finals and the Black Ferns had won each time.
Black Ferns forwards coach Whitney Hansen said a number of England players had extra motivation to knock over the defending champions.
"They've been pining for this for probably over five years," she said.
A lot of the England team that lost the last final were with the squad at this year's world cup in New Zealand.
"They'll be bringing everything and they're on a hot streak at the moment so we're going to have to lift again for sure."
Portia Woodman is a leading try scorer and was at the last world cup with the Black Ferns. Photo: Supplied
The final would be a clash of styles between New Zealand's backline flair and England's forward dominance.
After cracking France's famous defence with a one-point win and watching Canada push the world number one side to within seven points in the semi-finals, Hansen liked what she saw.
She said England were beatable despite their record winning streak.
"It's exciting to know that there's not just one style of rugby that can win and I think that will be the real test [on Saturday]."
Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith was in unfamiliar territory heading into the final.
He has won back-to-back world cups with the All Blacks as an assistant coach but the Black Ferns were different.
"We're underdogs I've never been in that position before, other than with the Crusaders, but with the All Blacks never. It'll be a new feeling for me," Smith said.
Smith admitted he worked all hours during the tournament scouting the opposition and refining the game plan.
Though some weight would be lifted off his shoulders this week.
"I'll probably be a bit freer this week, the fact that we're in a final gives you now an opportunity to really let loose and go for it. You've got nothing to lose."
England coach Simon Middleton was not disappointed to be playing the Black Ferns in the final.
"We came here and we celebrated New Zealand getting the world cup because it gave us a shot of trying to achieve the ultimate goal for any rugby player which is to win a world cup in the backyard of the world champions."
France have never made a Rugby World Cup final and will have to wait another three years until they can try again. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
France had the most third place finishes at the world cup of any nation - with five bronze medals.
The bronze play-off between France and Canada would kick off the finals day action at Eden Park.
Canada were guaranteed to finish better than their 2017 placing of fifth and captain Sophie de Goede hoped they would be seen as bigger threats in the future.
Canada captain Sophie de Goede wanted to leave a legacy for Canada at the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
"We're Canadian and we're really proud of it but it's not a rugby nation and so I think globally it's not recognised and we really wanted to bring recognition to Canada and Canadian rugby."
Fans who missed out on tickets could still snap up one of the final release tickets which will be made available this week.
