Serena Guthrie critical of Australia's "physical play'

England's Serena Guthrie has slammed Australia's "over the top" physical play following her side's 49-48 defeat earlier today.

The England centre was sent tumbling on two occasions by wing defence Sharni Layton at the SECC Hall in a thrilling encounter.

"It felt a bit over the top today, but that's the game," BBC Sport quotes Guthrie as saying. "We will see what they can bring in terms of skill, because the physicality is certainly there.

"I know Sharni well. I came up with her through the Under-21s. She's a physical player and put on there for a reason. I don't think it got to us in the way they wanted it to. We held strong as a team. We deserved to win and that Aussie team didn't."

The loss for England means that they are now likely to face a strong New Zealand outfit in the next round.