Scarborough’s world rugby player of the year Zoe Aldcroft says England will go into tomorrow’s World Cup final with New Zealand with the mindset of being the challengers.

Despite going into the showpiece final as the top-ranked team on the planet and on the back of a record-breaking 30-match unbeaten run, it is the hosts who should be considered favourites.

So says 25-year-old Scarborough-born lock Aldcroft, whose prominent role in helping England rise to No 1 in the rankings, helped her be named the best player in the world last December.

She seeks validation of that status at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday night (6.30am UK time), in front of an expected crowd of 40,000, a world record for a women’s rugby union game.

Zoe Aldcroft of England looks on during Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final match between Canada and England at Eden Park (Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images)

And the fact New Zealand are the holders and were the last team to beat England, gives them the edge.

“There’s so much talk about us being No 1 in the world but we are the team going to get that trophy, we don’t have anything to lose,” Aldcroft told The Yorkshire Post.

“That’s a massive help for our mindsets going into the game.

“It’s a massive game so we’re not trying to put too much pressure on ourselves.

Scarborough's Zoe Aldcroft of England breaks a tackle to score a try during the Pool C Rugby World Cup 2021 New Zealand match between Fiji and England at Eden Park. (Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

“Since we’ve been out here people have been saying England are world No 1, obviously there is a lot of pressure on us but we’ve got to think about it like there’s nothing to lose.

“We’re going out to try and win a trophy. That’s the way we’re looking at it.

"We’re so focused on our game goal that if we let everything get on top of us and start thinking about the enormity of it that will distract us.

"We have just got to stay focused and play our rugby.”

England were making serene progress in the tournament until they were given an almighty scare in the semi-final with Canada last week.

Aldcroft believes the way they ground out a victory will stand them in good stead on Saturday.

“That semi-final with Canada put us in the best possible place to go forward,” she said. “Having played France and Canada, two of the hardest teams in the world, it will have prepared us well going into New Zealand.”

England are underdogs for RWC final with New Zealand, insists Yorkshire's Zoe Aldcroft