Another bite of the cherry - WXV will ignite epic New Zealand vs England rivalry once again
Sports writers and indeed sports fans love a good list. The best this, the worst that, records, times, streaks and any other miscellany you can think of are lapped up in forums, radio phone-ins and praised by the content engagement gods.
The next time the inevitable list of “greatest rugby games ever” is compiled one sure to feature is last year’s World Cup final at Eden Park between New Zealand and England. Not only will it be on that list, it also set a new benchmark for the greatest rivalry in the women’s game and if the rematch at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland in the final round of WXV1 in November even comes close, consider yourself lucky to witness it.
For 80 of the most pulsating minutes ever seen, 14-player England and a New Zealand team that had been written off prior to the tournament went toe-to-toe with punch and counterpunch in front of a then-record crowd which at times felt as if it might combust with energy and excitement.
“That Final” as it will henceforth be known added to a rich tapestry of matches between the Black Ferns and England’s Red Roses. Both teams have had their moments over the years, periods where one side has dominated the other, but it’s New Zealand who has the superior record of the two. Of the 30 matches played between the sides, the Black Ferns have 19 wins to England’s 10, with one draw in 2011.
England’s 137-cap former front-rower Rochelle “Rocky” Clark says nothing compared to playing New Zealand.
“New Zealanders eat, breathe and sleep rugby and so the passions of both nations make for no better test. Although France comes close I‘d have loved to have played New Zealand every week.”
Despite the Black Ferns winning record, recently retired halfback Kendra Cocksedge actually lost more matches than she won against England. Of the 18 matches she had against the Roses Cocksedge won eight, lost nine and played in the draw.
“I remember the first time I played them I woke up the next day feeling like I was hit by a bus. They are the ultimate competitors and sometimes it got a bit niggly, and there were always a lot of mind games going in the lead-up and pre-matches.”
What could appear as a seemingly bland 8-all draw in Esher is in fact a significant indicator of how the rivalry has progressed. That series, and the one which followed in 2012, seems to mark the time when it shifted from one of Kiwi dominance to England showing themselves to be a true force, perhaps setting the tone for what has followed in the decade since.
Prior to the 2011 series, England had had just two wins in 13 attempts, the first a historic 22-17 victory at North Harbour Stadium which ended New Zealand’s ten-year, 20-match unbeaten run, and the second coming at Twickenham in 2009.
But everything changed in the 2011 series when England won the first test 10-0 and the second 21-7 before that third test stalemate. A year later, again on home soil, the Red Roses would sweep the Black Ferns in all three tests, handing New Zealand what was then their worst-ever losing streak.
Although the Ferns would regain the ascendancy the following year it was of course England who would surge to a famous Rugby World Cup victory during that four-year cycle, while New Zealand failed to make the semis at the showpiece event in France in 2014.
On a cold, misty, moody night in the middle of a New Zealand winter in 2017 England would again flex their muscles. In front of a building crowd prior to the match between the Maori All Blacks and British and Irish Lion in Rotorua, a hardened England team rumbled through the Black Ferns’ defences in brutal fashion.
It remains at the top of Clark’s list of favourite matches against the Kiwis.
“We just had the perfect game. We kicked in the right places, our forwards worked superbly and tore apart New Zealand’s set piece, and I remember looking around as the crowd got bigger by the minute and knew they didn’t have an answer for us that night.”
Cocksedge says matches like that were always a reminder of England’s world-class players.
“They are fit and physical and have some really athletic players,” she says. “In the past, they played a different style of footy compared to us but in recent years they have played good fast flowing rugby. Their wins came in tough patches for New Zealand but they were almost a wakeup call for us and New Zealand Rugby.”
What was a statement performance from the Roses ahead of their World Cup title defence in 2017 indeed became a rocket for the Ferns. If there’s one thing about this rivalry that stands out like a sore thumb it’s World Cup finals and the Black Ferns’ complete superiority.
Despite England’s impressive performance in the lead-up, the 2017 decider in Belfast would go the same way as previous finals between the teams in 2002, 2006 and 2010. And then, someway, somehow the Black Ferns did it again in 2022.
“I have so many memories of playing England,” says Cocksedge “The 2010 World Cup final where we beat them in England is a stand out…it was the start of the rivalry for me even though I was on the bench and never got on in the final. But nothing beats the recent World Cup final on home turf after such a disappointing 2021 season.”
It beggars belief that the Black Ferns only played their 100th official test in November 2021 in a match where then England captain Sarah Hunter played her 127th, but if “that final” itself was a watershed moment for the women’s game, what happens now with WXV will set the platform for years to come. Three tiers and a consistent Test match schedule for 18 teams is a game changer for every nation.
“We’ve seen massive numbers at the World Cup, England’s 58,000 record crowd at Twickenham for the Six Nations game against France and we’re now getting the biggest stages and exposure for all nations,” says Clark. “There’s been massive momentum behind the football, cricket and Rugby World Cups and everything will keep growing…the game has changed.”
The game may have changed but the rivalry between the Ferns and Roses remains as fierce as ever.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments