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Black Ferns overcome slow start to thump USA in Whitney Hansen era opener
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The new Black Ferns era under Whitney Hansen is underway with a 48-15 win over the USA, despite an uncomfortable and messy first half in Sacramento.
The Black Ferns head coach will be pleased with the result, but there were moments of rust and clumsiness in their first performance of 2026 under Hansen.
Hansen’s side added much more power and punch in the second half, managing to get on the front foot not only with ball in hand, but on the defensive side of the ball, too.
Mererangi Paul was the beneficiary of a strong Black Ferns right-side attack, scoring an impressive 56-minute hat-trick. There were some strong performances up front, while the experience of Ruahei Demant, who became the most capped Black Ferns captain with 36 Tests, kept Hansen’s side calm.
The home side began their Pacific Four Series campaign with a try to front rower Hope Rodgers during the opening five minutes in Sacramento.
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Hansen’s side started poorly, inviting pressure by gifting the USA the ball inside their half. Sylvia Brunt dropped one cold, before the home side attacked the Black Ferns with a rolling maul. Rodgers then powered over to open the scoring.
Whatever was said in the huddle after Rodgers’ first try worked a treat, as the Black Ferns slowly started to crawl themselves back into the contest after a slow start.
Black Ferns winger Mererangi Paul, who was nominated for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2o23, was the first Kiwi player to breach USA’s defence, down the right-hand touchline.
Some quick hands from the Black Ferns helped Paul find herself in space, before executing an inch-perfect kick and chase, regathering it over the line to score the first try of Hansen’s Black Ferns era. Renee Holmes converted, taking the Pacific Four Series opener to 7-7 after eight minutes.
Paul’s second of the game was much simpler, but the versatile outside back still had work to do with a covering defender looking to make a last-ditch try-saver. The Blues winger stepped off the right foot to give the Black Ferns the lead after eleven minutes.
The USA Women’s Eagles hit back with a penalty goal from out in front by first-five debutant Bella Vogel, a player who will be familiar to some in New Zealand, previously starring in the Global Youth Sevens tournament in Auckland.
After making an unforced error early on at Heart Health Park in California, Brunt took the game into her own hands to extend the Black Ferns’ lead, proving too strong for the Eagles’ defenders.
Brunt’s deception with ball in hand proved difficult to stop for Jack Hanratty’s USA side, as she strolled in close to the posts.
In the final stages of the first half, USA’s Katana Howard provided a bit of magic with a proactive kick in behind the Black Ferns defence as no one was in the backfield, giving Erica Coulibaly a chance to chase.
Chase she did, outpacing Paul and other Kiwi defenders to close the gap ahead of halftime. Vogel’s conversion went wide, but it was a promising end to a strong first half from the home side.
HT: 19-15 to the Black Ferns.
The second 40 minutes began with some ill-discipline by experienced loose-forward Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, catching Kathryn Treder across the face, resulting in a yellow card.
Hansen’s side continued to look for Paul’s pace and quality down the right-hand side, and they thought the winger had her hat-trick, but the put-down, or lack of, meant another opportunity went begging.
Minutes later, the Black Ferns made no mistake down the right-hand side, with a swift backline move resulting in Holmes going in untouched ten meters in from touch.
The Black Ferns winger wasn’t going to be denied again, with Amy du Plessis starring twice in the build-up as Paul finally secured her hat-trick.
Holmes then bagged her second try of the afternoon in Sacramento, through some excellent backline interplay between Du Plessis and Paul.
The Black Ferns then went down to 14 players after reserve prop, Tanya Kalounivale, was sin-binned for an illegal cleanout. The yellow was upgraded to a 20 minute red-card, meaning the Kiwis played the rest of the Pacific Four opener with one less player on the field.
Shortly after Hansen looked to her bench, the Black Ferns really started to put their foot down with ball in hand, with strong one-off ball carriers close to the ruck. Reserve playmaker Hannah King showed initiative by wrapping around the ruck, stepping her way to the line to score the Black Ferns’ final try in Sacramento.
A late yellow card for Vici-Rose Green was the Kiwis’ third card of the game, an area which Hansen and her coaching staff won’t be pleased with.
FT: 48-15 to the Black Ferns over the USA.
