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Red Roses dominate Black Ferns to win inaugural WXV1 title
By Finn Morton
While the hurt, pain and disappointment from last year’s Rugby World Cup final may never go away, England has claimed some revenge by dominating New Zealand 33-12 to claim the inaugural WXV1 crown on Saturday evening.
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The Black Ferns etched their names into rugby history with a stunning three-point win over the Red Roses in the World Cup final 51 weeks ago. England were on a sensational unbeaten run and few were brave enough to tip against them ahead of that decider.
But the New Zealanders made the most of their one-player advantage as they became world champions for the sixth time. That result will never be forgotten, but it could avenged.
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Playing at the North Island’s Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday evening, the Red Roses had an opportunity to claim some payback and win the inaugural WXV1 title against their arch-rivals.
The Red Roses shot out of the blocks with a barrage of tries early as they set the tone in the highly anticipated blockbuster. England ended up running away with a commanding win in Auckland.
England playmaker Holly Aitchison got the Test underway and the Test almost got off to the worst possible start for the women in black. Fullback Renee Holmes had an attempted clearance charged down, but the deflection was knocked on by England.
Breathe. The Kiwis had stumbled at the first hurdle, but they appeared desperate to relieve the pressure early on against their favoured rivals.
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But England is the world’s top-ranked side for a reason. After getting the ball back, prop Sarah Bern made an eye-catching break into the New Zealand 22.
The Red Roses spread the ball wide left as they continued to threaten the Black Ferns’ defensive line. Eventually, after 16 phases, New Zealand hooker Georgia Ponsonby looked to save the day with a steal at the breakdown but ended up carrying the ball back in goal.
It was still all England. With the first scrum of the Test, the Red Roses’ scrum monstered their rivals. Backrower Alex Matthews peeled off the back to score the opening try of the night after crashing through the Black Ferns’ defensive line.
England had the lead, and they had all the momentum too. New Zealand’s World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Ruahei Demant dropped the ball cold in the seventh minute, and the English hit back with a well-worked attacking play down the right edge.
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Wing Abby Dow was bundled into touch, but a shambolic lineout gifted England an attacking scrum. Moments later, Matthews came close to a brace after being held up over the try line, but the play was called back to a penalty advantage in the Red Roses’ favour.
Kicking for the corner, England reaped the rewards from their trademark rolling maul with hooker Lark Atkin-Davies crashing over. Prop Sarah Bern scored England’s third try of the evening 11 minutes later.
New Zealand had to hit back next – it was just that sort of Test. The Black Ferns had to score next.
Just before the half-time break, Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Simon crossed for a much-needed try as the Kiwis spread the ball wide-left to space. With a quick show-and-go, the openside flanker ended up crossing relatively easily.
But England were still firmly in control. The Red Roses took a dominant 19-7 lead into the sheds at half-time.
Much to the delight of the home crowd, the New Zealanders started the better of the two sides. The hosts looked the more threatening with the ball, including an attacking lineout after just eight minutes.
The Black Ferns set up a rolling maul but after being stopped by the English forwards, spread the ball wide through multiple pairs of hands for replacement Katelyn Vaha’akolo to cross untouched in the corner.
Fullback Renee Holmes pushed the tough conversion attempt wide, but New Zealand had still reduced their once 19-point deficit to one converted try. It was game on in Auckland.
But the English showed their class during the next five minutes or so. The Red Roses regained possession and hung onto it, and it led to a decisive try to blindside flanker Morwenna Talling. The conversion from Aitchison restored England’s big lead.
Once again, there was just a feeling that the Black Ferns had to score next.
As the match clock ticked beyond the 60-minute mark and ever closer to full-time, the Red Roses seemed to grow in confidence, belief and ability.
Lock Zoe Aldcroft scored her first WXV try as the Red Roses ran up a commanding 21-point lead. With just 10 minutes to play, the Black Ferns needed a miracle to repeat their heroics from last year’s World Cup final.
But it wasn’t to be for the Kiwis. England avenged their defeat from last year with a dominant display at Mt Smart Stadium against one of their greatest rivals in the women’s game.
Note. Two Rugby world cup finals now where cards dominated. Yet some are still believing there is no problem.