New Zealand rally for victory over England in Women’s Rugby World Cup final
The Black Ferns overturn a seven-point interval deficit to triumph 41-32.
New Zealand wrecked England’s hopes of retaining the Women’s Rugby World Cup in a pulsating final at Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium.
The Red Roses had high hopes of keeping an unforgettable summer of English women’s sport in full bloom, following cricket World Cup success, a European Championship semi-final appearance by England’s footballers and Johanna Konta becoming the first British women’s singles semi-finalist since 1978.
But it was not to be as the Black Ferns overturned a seven-point interval deficit to triumph 41-32.
Prop Toka Natua led the way, scoring a hat-trick of tries, while there were also touchdowns for full-back Selica Winiata (two), lock Charmaine Smith and scrum-half Kendra Cocksedge, with Cocksedge adding three conversions.
Wing Lydia Thompson scored two tries for England, in addition to a seven-point penalty try, plus a late Izzy Noel-Smith touchdown and full-back Emily Scarratt booted two penalties and two conversions, yet New Zealand were not to be denied a fifth world title.
What they said
Tweet of the match
Moment of the match
New Zealand prop Natua completing her hat-trick of tries in the second half. She was at the heart of a relentless physical effort by the Black Ferns forwards, and England had no answer as they conceded 31 second-half points.
Star woman – Toka Natua
It is rare for a prop to score three tries any time anywhere but to do it in a World Cup final was something else.
Stat of the match
It was New Zealand’s fifth world title, adding to the four successive World Cup triumphs they enjoyed from 1998 to 2010. And having recently regained the world number one ranking from England, a memorable Belfast performance underlined their status as currently the best in the business.
England ratings
Emily Scarratt: 7 (out of 10), Lydia Thompson: 8, Megan Jones: 7, Rachael Burford: 7, Kay Wilson: 6, Katy Mclean: 8, Natasha Hunt: 6, Vickii Cornborough: 6, Amy Cokayne: 6, Sarah Bern: 8, Abbie Scott: 7, Tamara Taylor: 6, Alex Matthews: 6, Marlie Packer: 7, Sarah Hunter: 7. Replacements: Amber Reed: 6, Vicky Fleetwood: 6, Rochelle Clark: 6, Justine Lucas: 6, La Toya Mason: 6, Harriet Millar-Mills: 6, Izzy Noel-Smith: 7, Amy Wilson-Hardy: 6.
