YORK, England – New Zealand began the defense of their crown at the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a 54-8 victory over Spain on Sunday.
Despite the scoreline, which suggested a relatively quiet afternoon for the Black Ferns, the match was anything but, with the 7,458 spectators present enjoying an entertaining afternoon of rugby.
Spain matched New Zealand’s physical intensity and hampered the defending champions’ performance with a series of small victories during the first half. Their defense on the try line was resilient, and they played smart rugby, choosing the right moments to kick and run the ball.
A try by Inés Antolinez Fernández in the 80th minute drew the biggest ovation of the afternoon, delighting Spanish and neutral fans.
Mónica Castelo made 22 tackles, while Alba Campbell and Lourdes Alameda worked hard in the breakdown, where Spain had success at times.Portia Woodman-Wickliffe celebró su tercera Copa del Mundo con un try.Although the Black Ferns did not seem to be in real danger of conceding ground in the first half, they were frustrated by some handling errors that disrupted their rhythm and prevented more tries.
The Seven star, Jorja Miller, propelled New Zealand with two quick tries, the first on the left side, after good footwork that left the Spanish defense disoriented. She used her speed for the second try, after Braxton Sorensen-McGee found her in the open space on the right wing.
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, named Player of the Match, added a third try for the Black Ferns, advancing from close range. The three first-half tries were converted by Renee Holmes.
Coach Allan Bunting made significant changes at halftime, with Ruahei Demant, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, and Laura Bayfield coming on. The bench had an immediate impact, bringing energy and direct rugby in the second half.Ayesha Leti’-I’iga anotó dos tries en la segunda mitad.Ayesha Leti’-I’iga and Georgia Ponsonby added two more tries in the ten minutes following the restart, securing the bonus point for the Black Ferns.
Olsen-Baker’s match, and possibly her participation in the tournament, was cut short by what appeared to be an ankle injury. The 23-year-old player was stretchered off in tears after 50 minutes.
However, the crowd soon had reason to celebrate, with the entry of Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who scored her first try of the championship.
Leti’-I’iga scored a brace before also being withdrawn due to injury, while Theresa Setefano closed the account for New Zealand.
