HAVING REACHED THE World Cup semi-finals for the first time, Ireland Women were ultimately undone by traditional tournament heavyweights, England.

Despite Ireland’s strong start yielding a try through Tania Rosser, England’s Chariot rolls on into the final for the sixth time in seven tournaments.

Here’s how it looked.

Last-minute prep

Nora Stapleton gets ready to guide the team

Lynne Cantwell and Ashleigh Baxter share a joke before they’re booted

Shoulder to shoulder

Claire Molloy and Paula Fitzpatrick tackle Jo McGilchrist

England's Danielle Waterman gets a tackle on Alison Miller

Ireland get off to a flyer as this maul brings the opening try

England soon began to show their pedigree, this Katherine Merchant try made the score 15 - 7

Ireland's powerhouse Sophie Spence was well-marshalled

And there were precious few gaps for Lynne Cantwell to raid

Joe calls home to break the news

Maggie 'The Machine' Alphonsi gets ready to attack the breakdown after Briggs is tackled

Bruised and battered, Lynne Cantwell can only watch from                               the bench as England rack up more scores

A dejected Niamh Briggs reacts at the full-time whistle

Sisters in arms: Grace Davitt and Jenny Murphy console each                                                    other after the game

Try-scorer Tania Rosser is inconsolable at full-time

Davitt, Cantwell and Ashleigh Baxter, together standing tall

All images ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

As it happened: Ireland v England, Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final