The Black Ferns

The brilliant and bulldozing Black Ferns take on England in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final tomorrow morning, and what a tournament they’ve had so far. Superstar winger Portia ‘‘Wonder’’ Woodman has been pivotal in getting the team to the final, blitzing the opposition along the way.

In the four matches she’s played, she’s scored an incredible 13 tries, including eight against Hong Kong and another four in the semifinal against the United States. There’s more to a team than one player, but it’s been difficult not to be drawn to Woodman’s exploits, whether she’s out-running and evading defenders or going straight through them.

Much like women’s cricket, women’s rugby is riding a wave of support and success that is long overdue. Much comes down to investing more in the game and increased belief among administrators in promotion. The more the players are allowed to prepare and train like professional athletes the better the finished product will become. It’d also help if the women were allowed a week to recover between games, like the men, instead of four days.

The final pits the two best teams in the world against each other and is sure to be an epic encounter. The crowd at Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium – the home of Ulster rugby – will have plenty of fans in black cheering, with plenty more back home doing the same.

A win in Ireland over the old foe would be a fitting end to a stellar tournament. What Bledisloe Cup?