Prop notches hat- trick as Ferns storm into semifinals
Black Ferns boss Glenn Moore says his side’s game plan worked to perfection in their 48- 5 demolition of Canada, securing a spot in the Women’s Rugby World Cup semifinals against the United States.
Moore’s team ran in eight tries to one yesterday, successfully luring Canada’s outside backs into the middle through forward power- plays.
In an eventful display in Dublin, tighthead prop Aldora Itunu bagged a hat- trick and a yellow card, while Eloise Blackwell was also sin- binned.
Yet the side’s 20- minute stint with 14 players mattered little as they stormed into the semifinals and a match- up with the Americans.
The Kiwis had earlier beaten Hong Kong 121- 0 and Wales 44- 12, ensuring they qualify from pool play with three bonus- point wins.
“For the first time in the tournament, we’ve seen combinations of forwards scoring, backs scoring, forwards taking on the power plays through the middle and bringing in defenders on both edges,” Moore said. “What we’d shown in the preview was how it all rolled out, and we made some real strides forward [ yesterday]. We put them under a lot of pressure.”
The win was particularly special for skipper Fiao’o Fa’amausili, who brought up an unprecedented 50th Black Ferns test cap and celebrated with a try. The 36- year- old veteran is playing in her fifth World Cup — three of which she has won — and has captained the Ferns since 2012.
New Zealand Rugby announced on Wednesday that the player of the year award for the Farah Palmer Cup women’s provincial competition would be named after Fa’amausili.
The Black Ferns also honoured her with a haka after the win over Canada.
“That was absolutely magnificent. Gosh, 50 games, and the girls really pulled through, so really stoked,” Fa’amausili said. “I told the girls [ yesterday], it’s do or die. You’ve got to play every game like it’s your last and this is our final, and that’s what they went out there to do.”
The US qualified for the semifinals as the best- ranked runner- up in the World Cup’s three pools.