New Zealand v England, the Final – Eden Park
A game of unspeakable intensity and drama saw the Black Ferns snatch a sixth World Cup trophy and end that 30-match winning run of the visiting Red Roses.
Pre-match
The first thunderclap came with the announcement that Leanne Infante had failed a fitness test. This was less of a surprise to the selectors, as she had struggled through the week to recover from a leg injury. That made three absentees from the probable 23; Helena Rowland and Hannah Botterman had to watch on as well. And England were committed to that 6-2 split, which left the backs dangerously under-represented.
The second was the decison to replace her with Lucy Packer. At once, the management’s mistaken discarding of Mo Hunt seemed to be their just reward. In the event Packer had a thoroughly fine game. And, to make matters even more ironic, when Claudia MacDonald finally appeared in her place, she played so close to Hunt’s style that that early selection decision looked even odder. And remember, both Bemand and Middleton were in agreement on it.
Several times Macdonald sought a hole in the Kiwi defences, without tangible success.
The match
A full house saw the Red Roses start as they meant to continue. Zoe Harrison offered the first of a string of telling kicks into Black Fern territory; Abby Dow produced another fend and delivered an inside pass. The ball whistled across field to Ellie Kildunne on the right, and she was over. (0-7)
When Kendra Cocksedge hoisted a box-kick to get her wide backs into the game, Harrison produced another long relieving response. On nine minutes Portia Woodman had her first threatening run. As she was held she flung a hopeful pass inside – all part of the Wayne Smith philosophy, we may be sure – but England snaffled the ball and Harrison cleared lengthily again. Woodman had another run; but Hollie Davidson awarded England a penalty to keep things tight.
When the Ferns offended at a breakdown, Harrison kicked to within 10 metres of the line. That was good enough for the forwards; they drove irresistibly and Amy Cokayne completed the job. (0-14)
Lucy Packer proved her worth when yet another clearance kick by Holly Aitchison was charged down. She reacted sharply to save the situation.
The deciding moment
Now the game turned on its head. On 17 minutes the Black Ferns attacked so strongly down their left flank that Lydia Thompson had to rush in to halt the raid She met Woodman head on head and paid the penalty with a red card. No questions asked; she had to depart, distraught. Equally significant, Woodman left the field as well. Her replacement, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, was to have another stormer of a game.
That left the Red Roses with 63 minutes still left on the clock. Could they possibly survive?
In their practice sessions they had been through all the possible downturns that could befall them; they were fit, but this was asking a great deal.
At once the Black Ferns exploited the advantage. They produced their version of a rolling maul and Georgia Ponsonby was over. (7-14)
Astonishingly, England responded to that set-back within a minute. New Zealand allowed them a line-out on their 22, from where the Red Rose pack trundled the ball all the way to the line; Marlie Packer the insatiable scorer. (7-19) That gave them some breathing space – or did it?
A careless off-side at the kick-off undid the good work. The Ferns drove towards the line for Leti- I’iga on the wide left to cross to great jubilation. Kildunne was left marking the outside centre with the winger in open country. (14-19).
The drama continued remorselessly. Ruahei Demant kicked the ball straight out; then Zoe Aldcroft went off for an HIA (replaced by Cath O’Donnell). The next moment a New Zealand relieving kick gained little ground, but they were facing a breeze. Now came another big English drive; as the ball was spun wide, an interception looked dangerous, but Davidson called a penalty. Harrrison planted the ball into touch eight metres out. The follow-up was inevitable; a second try to Cokayne. (14-26)
Could the 14 really finish the job? The Black Ferns were making tiny errors; Harrison’s right boot went on producing results. Despite a penalty against O’Donnell for a neck-roll, England’s out-half chipped an exquisite kick to within five metres. This time no score ensued. instead, the Ferns resorted to their handling game, and England were manning the dyke again.
As Davidson was glancing at her watch, Amy Rule was on the end of another drive, a vital score at a vital moment.
Half-time 19-26
That was seven tries and a red card squeezed into half a match. Could England possibly survive? The answer was a dramatic NO. Poppy Cleall came on at once to replace the skipper, but Stacey Fluhler worked more magic to send Renne Holmes over within a minute. (24-26). Smelling salts needed.
A long Scarratt punt was caught on the full by Leti-I’iga, but she knocked it on. Another kick went straight to Cocksedge who aimed for touch. Her reward, a defining try.
It involved a weakness spotted as soon as Lucy Packer was preferred to Hunt in the group of 32: Krystal Murray barged her way through her to give the Ferns the lead for the first time.
That was an unequal one-on-one. (29-24)
The drama was far from over.
On 50 minutes Sadia Kabeya and Macdonald were sent on.
England at last managed to apply their own pressure. A knock-on in the Ferns’ 22 allowed them another shot at a drive. It worked; a hat-trick for Cokayne. Irony of ironies.
The strain was beginning to tell on the English, but as Dow retrieved a nasty position and started haring towards the right touch-line, Kennedy Simon tackled her too high. A yellow was the decision after a TMO referral. 14 v 14 now! Dow was carefully checked and alllowed to continue. A while later she was hauled off for a proper HIA, to be replaced by Kildunne.
The Black Ferns attacked again. Fluhler again showed her class as she off-loaded to Leti-I’iga who was over for her second.
As the seconds ticked by, the Red Roses displayed their tenacity by hammering at the line. It seemed impossible for the tension to squeeze any higher, but it did. They had two line-outs in succession on the 5-metre line. The first drive failed to get over the line, but a second chance followed. Was it inevitable that at the winner-takes-all moment possession was lost? Lark Davies had already failed once to find her target, the rarest of occurrences. The ball found its way pronto into touch and the game was done.
Result: New Zealand 34 England 31
Player of the Match: Ruahei Demant
Atendance: 42,579, a new record by a country mile
Teams:
New Zealand
15 Renee Holmes, 14 Ruby Tui, 13 Stacey Fluhler, 12 Theresa Fitzpatrick, 11 Portia Woodman, 10 Ruahei Demant (co-captain), 9 Kendra Cocksedge, 8 Charmaine McMenamin, 7 Sarah Hirini, 6 Alana Bremner, 5 Chelsea Bremner, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Amy Rule, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 1 Phillipa Love
Bench:
16 Luka Connor, 17 Krystal Murray, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Joanah Ngan-Woo, 20 Kennedy Simon (co-captain), 21 Ariana Bayler, 22 Hazel Tubic, 23 Ayesha Leti-I’iga
England:
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 30 caps), 14 Lydia Thompson (University of Worcester Warriors, 57 caps), 13 Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 107 caps), 12 Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 14 caps), 11 Abby Dow (Wasps, 29 caps), 10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 45 caps), 9 Leanne Infante (Saracens, 57 caps), 1 Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 74 caps), 2 Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 69 caps), 3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 51 caps), 4 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 37 caps), 5 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 60 caps), 6 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 55 caps), 7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 88 caps), 8 Sarah Hunter (captain, Loughborough Lightning, 139 caps)
Bench:
16 Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 43 caps), 17 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 16 caps), 18 Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins, 29 caps), 19 Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 23 caps), 20 Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 62 caps), 21 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 7 caps), 22 Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps), 23 Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 8 caps)
Officials:
Referee Hollie Davidson (SRU) AR1 Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR2 Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) TMO Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
This was a game of the most unbelievable tension and drama. The previous final had been hailed on all sides as the greatest women’s rugby match ever played. This one, for all its faults, outranks it.
Wayne Smith now retires. And Simon Middleton’s future?
The inquests begin
