Black Ferns Win Rugby World Cup   5 Sep 2010

Michael Hinds

RUGBY WORLD CUP: The New Zealand Black Ferns have won the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup for the fourth successive time, beating home favourites England 13-10 in an epic final.

Having only lost three times in their playing history, the Black Ferns were worthy winners in a match both sides desperately wanted to win. With only one converted try from each side, it was a penalty from second five Kelly Brazier that eventually separated the sides after a thrilling and tense 80 minutes of rugby.

Playing in front of 13,283 spectators, a world record Women’s Rugby attendance, it was the Black Ferns that dominated all the plays and runs as England spent long periods of play tackling and defending wave after wave of New Zealand attack.

Referee Sarah Corrigan from Australia must have thought she had swallowed her whistle before kick-off dishing out 12 penalties in the first 25 minutes. Both sides were willing to attack but were guilty of slowing down the ball when not in possession.

So much so, that two yellow cards handed out to first five Anna Richards and prop Mel Bosman, left the Black Ferns with 13 on the pitch at one stage. Incredibly that spurred the team on further and they still kept England scoreless before scoring themselves, through flying winger Carla Hohepa, who broke the deadlock on 33 minutes, converted by Kelly Brazier to take a 7-0 lead. Crowd silenced.

England’s most dangerous player, openside Maggie Alphonsi was living up to her reputation of being a hard hitter and quality poacher of the ball. However England were not able to provide her with a second wave of support that she so much needed – in effect gifting the Black Ferns more options at the ruck. Spinning the ball wide effectively ruled Alphonsi out of the game.

England were not about to roll over yet. They rolling mauled their way up the pitch, creating some good plays, making New Zealand defend with almighty vigour and determination. Captain Melissa Ruscoe saw yellow for not rolling away and in her absence England scored through winger Charlotte Barras, converted by Katie McLean it was 10-10 and 18 minutes to go.

With 1000’s of fingernails and some fingers chewed clean off, coaching staff and the crowd alike, the game really roared into action. End to end play, darting runs and try saving tackles all took place before an England infringement saw an opportunity for three points.  Up stepped Kelly Brazier who duly obliged breaking the deadlock and giving New Zealand that three point lead they would never relinquish for the remaining 14 minutes.

Credit to the Black Ferns who really did turn up to play rugby today. The ran at every opportunity as they have done all tournament, were one step ahead of their opponents at all times and should relish this moment as they have been a cut above all other competition at this tournament. Winger Hohepa was named IRB Personality of the Year to go along with her seven tournament tries.

In a week where a plane crash and earthquake have hit the news back home, these wonder women bring much needed smiles to the nation who already await with eager anticipation, theirs and the trophies’ arrival back home.

 

Source: NZ News UK
Photo credit: Martin Seras Lima

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