On the walk through the crowd into Ashton Gate, Ellie Kildunne pulled out a disposable camera and took photos of supporters in cowboy hats. 

Sadia Kabeya danced to the beat of the steel drum band as England looked like a team without a care in the world.

Pressure has done funny things to English rugby teams in home World Cups. Just ask Stuart Lancaster what happened in 2015. 

Smiling in the face of danger was England’s way of dealing with it and now they will dance their way into next week’s final against Canada.

Yet there were times here when the pressure seeped through. This was not the catwalk many had expected. 

Meg Jones needed to be at her snarling best as the match turned into a scrap and Hannah Botterman’s turnovers got the English out of jail.

Ellie Kildunne (left) and Megan Jones (right) starred as England got the better of France

Kildunne scored twice as England set-up a Women’s World Cup final clash with Canada

Last month, England convincingly defeated France 40-6, but this time around, they found themselves barely holding onto a two-point lead at the 60-minute mark. Their slip-ups likely did not escape the notice of Canada’s head coach, Kevin Rouet, watching from the stands. 

It was an error-prone performance which will give the Canadians belief of an upset.

The turning point came with the strength of England’s substitutes and the brilliance of Kildunne. Their physicality allowed them to break through tackles and regain dominance, with the full-back completing what she started with her try in the fifth minute. 

No one can stop Kildunne when she gets the ball in space, although there were concerning scenes as she limped her way through the final minutes.

‘We’ll go through the medical process,’ said England coach John Mitchell on Kildunne’s injury. 

‘It’s pretty early so fingers crossed. She’s special, isn’t she? She deserves her accolades as world player of the year. She’s still very young. 

‘She’s a very humble girl, into photography, loves being creative and isn’t a girl that you put into box. She only needs a little bit of structure.’ 

Kildunne produced two moments of brilliance in what was a tough game for England 

England’s players celebrate reaching a second consecutive Women’s Rugby World Cup final

England are a powerful machine yet there were times when they lacked artistry. 

England faced difficulties getting through attacking phases near the try line, often losing possession when they had clear opportunities to exploit open spaces. 

‘Carry! Carry! Carry!’ blasted Jones at her players.

The team has invested more financially in women’s rugby than any other nation, resulting in players who are fitter and faster, able to chase kicks quicker than their opponents can fall back. 

Additionally, their players are bigger and stronger, excelling in individual confrontations. The depth of England’s squad eventually overcame the French defense. 

“France was applying pressure on us, and we needed to shift that,” said Mitchell. “Many of our mistakes were self-inflicted, and we had to address those promptly.”

‘No one will remember how we won today, over time. We’ve earned the right to contest the final. It’s a new game. We’ll switch off and get back together on Monday. 

‘We’ve got a short week, we’ve got to recover well, have some fun and really enjoy the week, with it being in our country.’

A strong crowd at Bristol’s Ashton Gate enjoyed a competitive game with France in fine form

Kildunne (left) and England are now just one game away from global glory on home soil

Now England are hoping to do what no other English team has done and win the World Cup on home soil. The title has felt like their destiny from the very start. The carnival feel will continue but the pressure will grow.

Mitchell has won every Test since he took over as head coach in 2023 but his legacy will be determined in the next seven days. 

Some say the gulf in funding between England and Canada is around £10million. The Canadians do not have a full-time programme and launched a million-dollar crowdfunding campaign to get here. 

The pressure is not just on Mitchell, but on the entire RFU to see a return on their investment. If they do, it promises to be a glorious crowning moment.