England maul Black Ferns
England have delivered the Black Ferns a wee reminder that they’re not the world champs for nothing, with the World Cup just a couple of months away.
In the deciding match of the four-nation series being hosted by New Zealand, it was England who showed their class with a 29-21 victory at Rotorua International Stadium yesterday evening.
England had ended New Zealand’s run of four successive World Cup titles with victory in 2014, but the Black Ferns had won the previous five clashes between the sides, including two last year, which had them as the No 1 ranked side in the world\.
But ahead of the next global tournament, in August in Ireland, the Black Ferns may have a few sleepless nights with the sight of the surging England forwards in their heads.
In a match which featured several intense defensive hits in the drizzly conditions, both sides showed plenty of will to shift the ball, but the English pack gradually took control and the visitors scored 22 unanswered points after being 14-7 down.
England had looked the more dangerous early, and they opened the scoring in just the third minute, with centre Emily Scarratt finishing well in the left-hand corner.
But the visitors’ lead lasted all of six minutes, with the Black Ferns hitting back in brilliant style, as halfback Kendra Cocksedge produced a sensational individual, chipping and chasing beautifully from 25 metres out to score alongside the sticks.
The hosts followed that up with another stunner when winger Portia Woodman brought the crowd – a big contingent in early on the terraces – alive once more, when she plucked an intercept and scorched 70 metres to run around under the bar.
With a sustained period of pressure inside England’s 22, it looked like New Zealand would add to their lead, but they weren’t able to capitalise, and from there, they were really bullied out of the game.
With a superb rolling maul near the goal-line, Black Ferns captain Fiao’o Faamausili was sin binned for bringing it down, five minutes before halftime. England went again with their maul, and they were successful, as lock Abbie Scott crashed over, which saw the scores level 14-14 at the break.
Still down to 14, the Black Ferns then conceded early in the second spell, as England shifted the ball nicely and winger Lydia Thompson finished wide on the right.
That was enough from the backline, though, the English forwards seemingly felt. Having enjoyed strong efforts in the pack earlier on in the piece, New Zealand were then suddenly put to the sword – shunted back in a massive scrum, which led to a penalty and another unstoppable lineout drive, where openside flanker Marlie Packer dotting down.
With ill-discipline not helping their cause, New Zealand conceded a third rolling maul try, with substitute hooker Vicky Fleetwood touching down.
The Black Ferns did manage a consolation effort via substitute Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, but it was too little too late.