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Red Roses dominate Black Ferns to win inaugural WXV1 title
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.
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.
Match Summary 
0
Penalty Goals
0
5
Tries
2
4
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
144
Carries
128
4
Line Breaks
9
16
Turnovers Lost
20
4
Turnovers Won
7
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.
Comments on RugbyPass
To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
4 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
4 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
4 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
4 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to comments