Ferns slam Wales with 11-try storm
The Black Ferns took their World Cup frustrations out on a hapless Welsh outfit yesterday and will look to finish with a flourish against the United States on Monday.
Ruled out of the semifinals after their shock loss to Ireland in pool play, the defending champions had nothing other than pride to play for at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris.
They responded with an 11-try 63-7 rout of Wales, displaying the sort of running game that was meant to bring them a fifth title.
Instead they now face the Americans in a match for fifth place (12.30am Monday, NZ time) while England and Canada fight out the final for the World Cup.
It was too much, too late for New Zealand yesterday, though coach Grant Hansen was certainly proud of their demolition of Wales.
‘‘After a frustrating week the girls certainly put it together today,’’ Hansen said.
‘‘At halftime they were really excited and their aim was to keep the momentum going and really put the foot on the throat – so (I’m) very proud.
‘‘That’s the way we like to play it and I think we’ve sent out a bit of a message that there’s still a bit left in this team.’’
Left wing Shakira Baker had a hat-trick inside 25 minutes and finished with four tries from New Zealand’s relentless attack.
‘‘It was a good team effort and the girls played well. They hit it up in the midfield and then spread it out wide where I was lucky enough to be there to finish it off,’’ she said.
Hansen liked the team’s balance yesterday.
‘‘You’ve got to match the Welsh passion at set-piece and around the break-downs and once we got dominance there it was clearly to our advantage to play one-on-one rugby out wide.’’
The Black Ferns have a day off in Paris today before turning their attentions to the Americans who upset Australia 23-20 with a late penalty yesterday.
‘‘Our last game together and it’s been a big campaign which has taken a long time. We’re all excited and we live to fight another day – so it’s all on,’’ Hansen said.
But the reality is this was a wasted campaign. Ireland were embarrassed 40-7 by England in the first semifinal yesterday and Canada edged France 18-16 in the other semi.