On Top of The World

By Aiden McLaughlin

It’s a final that will never be forgotten by anyone who watched it.

Roared on by the vast majority of the 42,579 in attendance at Eden Park and an estimated million plus people watching at home in Aotearoa alone, this Black Ferns squad etched their place in history and became the sixth New Zealand women’s side to win the Rugby World Cup.

If you thought their semi-final victory against France a week ago had everything, think again. Against an English team that had won 30 in a row, the home side left everything out there and it proved to be enough – just.

A 34-31 victory represents just how close the two teams were, with the final going right down to the last play, where the English line-out, so strong for so long, just fell short as they lined up their do or die push for a try that would have seen the cup return to the other side of the world.

It was the Red Roses that started the stronger, in a relentless, breathless first half that produced seven tries and a red card. Full back Ellie Kildunne scored the opening try for England after just three minutes while under penalty advantage, converted by centre Emily Scarratt.

After Black Ferns full back Renee Holmes missed a penalty from kickable range in the seventh minute, England doubled their lead. In the thirteenth minute they kicked a penalty to the corner, before the formidable lineout drive led to the second try scored by hooker Amy Cokayne, who would end up securing a hat trick of tries.

But the course of the game would change in the eighteenth minute after a high tackle by English right winger Lydia Thompson caused not only the departure of Portia Woodman, but her own exit as she received a deserved red card.

From the resulting penalty, kicked to the corner, the Black Ferns executed their own line out drive, with  Georgia Ponsonby scoring her first try for the Black Ferns, converted by Holmes, to reduce the deficit to 14-7.

Woodman was replaced by Ayesha Leti-l’iga and the Black Ferns would lose nothing with one of the most potent attacking weapons in World rugby scoring two tries, including the vital final score with nine minutes left that would see her team nudge ahead by three vital points.

England, with their forward pack showing their strength, went in at half time with a 26-19 lead, but if we know one thing, it’s that this Black Ferns team will never give up and the electric Stacey Fluhler reduced the deficit to 26-24 with her try at the start of the second half.

With Holmes unable to find her range (she ended up with two successful conversions from six attempts) the Black Ferns were unable to build a significant lead which meant a nerve wracking second half. England’s quality ensured that they were only a try away from taking victory away from the home side. In the last ten minutes of the match, England had 87% territory as New Zealand clung on, tackling everything they could, but also conceding a number of kickable penalties that, if taken sucessfully by England, would have seen the game go into extra time.

But with the clock striking 80 minutes, the decision to go for the try to win the game eventually fell over and with it the Black Ferns had secured the victory that a year ago looked pretty much impossible.

This is a team, a squad, a movement that has won the support of the nation during this competition. They’ve shown to many doubters that women’s rugby IS a sport worthy of our support, our attention and our love. But not only have they achieved that, they’ve achieved the ultimate goal – a deserved World Cup victory.

 

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