Ruby Tui scores four as Black Ferns thump Wales in Dunedin
The Black Ferns were out for redemption after being dismantled by France in WXV 1’s opening round. The loss saw the world champions’ dangerous backline starved of any attacking opportunities by a clinical and aggressive defensive line. The team were determined things would go differently against Wales.
A first-half quartet of tries to superstar Ruby Tui put the result beyond doubt early, and the second half only compounded the pressure for Wales.
Just three phases into the match New Zealand were breaking down the left sideline, with Mererangi Paul found in space and bursting free of Wales’ grasp.
The Kiwis were perhaps a little over-anxious in the opening stages, struggling to execute their lineouts against an organised Welsh defence and getting held up in their first attempt at the try line.
While Wales proved themselves to be the more composed team in the early exchanges, the Black Ferns found their way into the match through the breakdown. Winning a number of turnovers, Ruahei Demant kicked her side down the field and once in the 22, the Black Ferns unleashed a well-versed backline move that put Paul over in the corner.
Three minutes later Wales were once more backed into their own 22 and a cross-field kick fielded by Ruby Tui saw the superstar winger take on three Welsh defenders and cross for the second score of the game.
The Black Ferns continued to press deep into Welsh territory as more breakdown indiscipline was exploited. New Zealand’s backline was a different beast without the threat of the rush defence they saw a week ago, isolating Welsh defenders and tearing them apart in the wide channels.
Centre Amy du Plessis was the critical link in distribution when the ball went through the hands, finding Ruby Tui in space twice in five minutes to hand the winger a hat-trick at the 25-minute mark.
Both New Zealand wingers’ fitness was tested with huge running metres early in the Test. Tui had her fourth before the half-hour mark rolled around courtesy of more quick hands throughout both the forwards and backs. A goose step powered Tui past a string of covering defenders, breaking through when space looked to be all but gone.
Wales were resilient but any attempt at attack came through a rolling maul off their lineouts, which was swallowed by an unforgiving Black Ferns pack who consistently won the penalty.
The Ruby Tui quadruple saw New Zealand enter the sheds with a 27-0 advantage.
Both teams threatened in the opening stages of the second period. An intercept from Ruahei Demant saw the World Player of the Year with nothing but green space in front of her but the pace of Jasmine Joyce was up to the challenge of both a chase down and the breakdown turnover.
Then the Welsh lineout maul finally found some pay but the joy was short-lived as Maia Roos charged down the ensuing box kick.
Glue-girl du Plessis then traded her selfless distributions for a direct running game and crashed over under the posts.
Wales made the restarts difficult with contestable kickoffs throughout the contest but while it wasn’t always tidy, New Zealand managed to consistently secure possession.
Lineout time continued to haunt Wales who conceded penalty after penalty and handed New Zealand the freedom to attack under advantage. Cross-field kicks, wrap-around plays and inside balls were all deployed as the Black Ferns attacked from deep into Wales’ half regularly.
Mererangi Paul was the next to strike for the women in black, collecting a deft inside dropoff from Demant and fending off the Candians’ last line of defence to bring the scoring tally to 41.
Two penalties in quick succession won Wales an attacking opportunity five metres out from the Black Ferns line and it wasn’t long before Abbie Fleming dotted down for Canada’s first and only points of the match.
The New Zealand wings couldn’t be denied for long though and Katelyn Vahaakolo refused to be denied within her opening minute on the field – having replaced Ruby Tui as Robyn Wilkins converted the Wales try.
Sitting just shy of the half-century on the scoreboard, New Zealand’s ambitious attack continued. Wales’ ability to pester and slow down ball at the breakdown challenged the Black Ferns’ ability to play at pace, but it made little difference once the ball was put through the hands.
Ruahei Demant, Super Rugby Aupiki MVP Lucy Jenkins and Mererangi Paul’s third finished off the scoring in the final 10 minutes to add extra emphasis to an already dominant victory. Fulltime score: 70-7.
Comments on RugbyPass
SACK HIM !
1 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
77 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
77 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
77 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
77 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
77 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
77 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
77 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
77 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
77 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
77 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
77 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to comments