Match report
That’ll be that. With nothing more to bring you from the live feed I’m going to get going.
It’s a shame the game descended into a one-sided affair because that opening 40 minutes was honestly up there with the best I’ve seen. Australia roared to a 17-0 lead and for a moment I wondered if we were about to witness something remarkable.
In the end, we did. Woodman and Tui were sublime and deserved to be on the winning side.
New Zealand’s title defence off to a great start. Australia will dust themselves off and fancy a crack at Wales and Scotland who play tomorrow.
41-17 tells some of the story, but not all of it. Hopefully I helped fill in the gaps.
Thanks for sticking with me. Catch you soon.
The ITV feed has gone to England’s match against Fiji, showing highlights of their crushing victory. Hoping to hear from a few of the protagonists from this NZ-AUS game.
I’m not sure I’ll get my wish though.
As good as New Zealand were (they were very good), it’s crucial to keep in mind the dynamics of the tournament.
the difference in fitness between professional & (semi) amateur teams in this tournament is going to be a massive factor, which is obvious and unfortunate #RWC21
— Rhys J (@reezj12) October 8, 2022
David Flatman on the ITV feed agrees with me. “Even if Ruby Tui didn’t score a try, she’d be the most valuable player of the night”
100%. She was so good!
New Zealand’s skipper Rauahei Demant is up first:
It was definitely a game of two halves. For most of us this was our first RWC. We’re proud of the way we closed that first half.
It’s never been done before, the first time women have sold out Eden Park.
It means so much to the group. This is a massive milestone
FULL TIME: New Zealand 41-17 Australia
At 17-0 an upset was on the cards. New Zealand never panicked. They knew they had match winner across the park. Two of them wear the 11 and 14 on their backs and Woodman’s three tries and a brace from Tui, who was sensational all night, saw the Black Ferns charge to a commanding lead that they were never going to give up.
A great game from captain Demant at 10 is also worthy of praise. She’ll have tougher games to manage but is clearly equipped to do so.
McKenzie missed a sitter to give her team the lead at 17-17, but the telling moment came around the 50th minute mark when Parry and Wong both received yellow cards. In their absence New Zealand scored two tries and that was that.
Australia battled well and can take great heart from their first half performance, but New Zealand were too strong, too powerful and too quick.
80 mins: Kiwi penalty in the centre of the park is tapped quickly. OH! Du Plessis is nailed in the tackle. Didn’t quite catch who the culprit was but that was the biggest hit of the night. So Australia have it back.
It’s tight until Cramer scythes up field with a great run. She runs out of mates though so welcomes the contact. The cavalry arrives and helps her out but New Zealand win the ball back and send it back up field with a charging run from Bremner.
It gets scrappy and eventually the siren sounds and New Zealand kick it out. Game over.
77 mins: New Zealand have a line-out in Aussie territory. Demant, the captain with 10 on her back, collects a flat ball. She has been wonderful, dictating the play.
Australia win it back and stab a kick through but it comes back swiftly with another New Zealand counter. Australia’s kicking has let them down this half. It’s been too easy for New Zealand to regroup and counter before the Australian line has set.
TRY! New Zealand 41-17 Australia (Tui, 74)
The pick of the bunch. What a try. Tui is just sublime. A hand off, a step, a try from 30-odd metres out. What a score.
She received the ball from a delicious flat pass against the grain from Mikaele-Tu’u. Hard to describe that pass. It was more of a palm-off but it worked. And it caught the Aussies napping. Tui was awake to the potential and skipped through the half-gap and soared to the corner where she dotted down. Delicious.
TRY! New Zealand 36-17 Australia (Tui, 68)
Too easy, but that’s what you get when class players do the basics right. New Zealand are so direct and the replacement No 9 Marino-Tauhinu’s fresh legs brings extra zip. So the Black Fern runners are getting great go forward ball. They keep hammering around the fringe inside the Aussie red zone until the go right. Tui is there, collecting a stiff pass. She’s too quick and too strong and gets over the line, winning her collision.
Woodman may have scored three tries but Tui has been my player of the match. Outrageous talent.
66 mins: A break in play as a few subs are made, including Fluhler, who has been magnificent. She beams a broad smile as she waves to the crowd and makes her way off the park. It’s a Black fern penalty 10m out and it’s kicked into touch for a line out. Cockseage milked that, passing straight into a Wallaroo who had strayed offside. Fair play. That’s what rugby know-how gets you.
Oh, but Australia have won it back on the line-out and drive up field. McKenzie kicks into touch but only 20m out. Not a great clearance but at least she finds touch.
64 mins: Momentum is a weird notion in rugby. Earlier in the game, when momentum was with them, they looked to run it and back themselves. This time, with numbers out wide, they choose to kick but hoof it out on the full. New Zealand’s ball in Aussie territory.
They run it and jink here and there. Tui involved again, as is Amy du Plessis from midfield, running hard straight lines. A kick through trickles over the dead goal line as Woodman lurks, searching for a fourth.
64 mins: It’s 15 against 15 again. But what a costly 10 minutes for the Wallaroos. Two Black Fern tries has put them in command.
TRY! New Zealand 31-17 Australia (Woodman, 61)
My goodness! What an offload in the tackle from outside centre Stacey Fluhler! Portia Woodman has her hat-trick. That was the easiest of her three scores and it’s down to the brilliance of her good mate Fluhler who shaped to pass, held on, welcomed the contact from two tacklers and then unfurled a no look shift to the left winger.
New Zealand earned the right to go wide with some great carries up front from the forwards. Once they sucked in enough defenders on the right they went left. Quick hands and a darting run from Demant opened the space before Fluhler did a magic trick. A great conversion from Holmes on the line deserves plaudits as well.
59 mins: Tui has been everywhere. What a superstar she is. She’s hauled in, though, by a scrambling Friedrichs (I think it was Friedrichs) but comes up with a smile.
TRY! New Zealand 24-17 Australia (Tangen-Wainohu, 57)
That’s clinical. Australia manage to secure the ball from the base of their scrum but McKenzie’s clearing kick doesn’t find touch. Tui counters, dazzles with a few hot steps and is dragged down 8m short. So the forwards get going. Crash ball, crash ball, crash ball. The replacement prop Tasngen-Wainohu has the final crash and comes up with the ball. A solid conversion opens up a healthy lead. New Zealand finding an extra gear now.
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55 mins: Australia scrumming with their heels brushing their own line. And they have seven against eight. Can they hold?
YELLOW! Australia (Parry, 53)
Oh no! Australia are down to 13. And once again they can’t really have too many complaints. Parry clearly had no arms in the tackle. According the referee team there wasn’t enough force to warrant a red (not sure about that, to be honest) so it’s just a yellow. Still, this is a mountain of a task for the 13 left on the field. In the blink of an eye they’ve lost a winger as well as their captain and star loose forward. If they emerge from this 10 minute spell without too much damage they might be in with a shot. However, this could be the game if things go awry.
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Shannon Parry could be in trouble here. The TMO is looking at a possible shoulder to head. I reckon the Aussie skipper is heading to the sin bin.
YELLOW! Australia (Wong, 53)
Can’t complain there. That is a clear deliberate knock on from Wong after New Zealand were building with some great off-loads and runs against the grain. No choice for the referee. Australia down to 14.
53 mins: McKenzie has missed it. Should have been a sitter but she brushes the post. Big miss. I sincerely hope that doesn’t prove to be the difference.
51 mins: That’s a scrum penalty against the feed for Australia. Huge shove from the Aussie pack. It’s bang in front and they’ll go for the points. Should be kickable.
50 mins: Scrum in the middle of the park 10m in to New Zealand territory.
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TRY! New Zealand 17-17 Australia (Woodman, 46)
Woodman with her second and what a score that was! She doesn’t do boring, does she? It started waaaay back in New Zealand’s 22 after a box kick from Australia from the back of phase play that went nowhere.
So New Zealand had it. Tui straightened and punched a hole for Holmes who cantered up field.
Runners in support kept the ball alive and Demant sussed the situation out and commanded it go left. It did. Quick hands from Nga-Woo freed up Woodman, who still had loads to do on the left. She did it. Oh, how she did it. Her second levels the game up. From 17-0 down, the Black ferns have parity once again.
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44 mins: A rare mistake from Woodman. She knocks on with space in front of her on the left touch line.
11 turnovers for New Zealand and just one for Australia. (Told you I’d find out, though to be fair it did come up on the screen). Tells a story.
42 mins: We’re back and New Zealand have shown they mean business by winning a penalty on the floor. How many’s that now? (I’ll find out). It’s kicked into touch and a maul gets rolling inside Aussie territory, but they can’t free the ball and Australia have the scrum. Fantastic work on defence. Big set piece coming up. New Zealand will want to counter shove.
HALF TIME: New Zealand 12-17 Australia
I tell you what, if you weren’t a convert to the women’s game before, you bloody well are now! What a half of rugby. Pulsating, scintillating, breathless. Genuinely, this has been a cracker.
Australia defied all the prematch chat and stormed out of the blocks, bossing the gain line, punching holes in midfield and getting go forward ball with strong carries from their forwards. A breakaway try from Wong that spanned 60m either side of two strong scores from 19-year-old Terita opened up a 17-0 lead. But the Black Ferns were never going to lie down and take it.
They stormed back with a short-ranger from Ngan-Woo after firm build up play before Woodman scored a stunner in the corner to bring her team within a score of taking control.
The half-time whistle came at just the right time for the Australians, who look shattered. I don’t blame them. This has hurtled along at a frenetic pace.
I’m going to grab a much needed glass of water. Catch you in a bit.
39 mins: A penalty for Australia on the half way line. They look knackered. McKenzie hoofs it into touch. They won’t be a rush to form this line out just out of NZ’s 22.
TRY! New Zealand 12-17 Australia (Woodman, 36)
Breathless! What a passage of play. I don’t quite know where to start. New Zealand were battering away at Australia’s line on the right but a huge steal on the ground got the ball back for the Walalroos. McKenzie’s clearing kick couldn’t find touch (how costly will that be?) and Tui gathered and spiralled it back in field. It went through the hands and made its way to Woodman on the left wing. She had one thought in her mind and she darted for the corner. Two tacklers couldn’t stop her. Brilliant score and it’s game on!
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TRY! New Zealand 7-17 Australia (Ngan-Woo, 31)
That’s more like it. New Zealand’s first shot at a score and they come up with the goods. Tui exceptional with the chase from the restart and Waaka carried well to get her forwards on the front foot in Australia’s 22m.
From there it was the rumbling strength of the heavies up front and lock Joanah Ngan-Woo came up from the mess of bodies with the biggest smile having scored from close range.
Two more points from Kendra Cockseage’s boot closes the gap just a little bit more.
TRY! New Zealand 0-17 Australia (Terita, 28)
Sensational! Australia have come to Eden park and knocked the stuffing out of their guests. They’ve never beaten the Black Ferns but I tell you what, they just might after a second for Bienne Terita. 19 years old in her second Test. What a story!
A line-out 5m out on the left is thrown to the middle of the line-out. It doesn’t stay there long and is swiftly sent right. It gets to Terita who puts on the after burners and beats one on the outside, bounces the challenge and stretches out to score. Stunning rugby.
McKenzie misses a tough kick.
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27 mins: Another penalty from New Zealand in the red zone. Surely the next one must be carded? I’d have thought that was last chance saloon. We go again for an Aussie line-out. 5m out on the left.
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25 mins: Love goes from hero to villain, conceding a penalty which allows McKenzie to nudge it back into Black Fern territory for a line out. Around 12m from the line. Williams hovering in midfield with Wong in the mix as well. Ball goes to the back of the lineout and maul forms. What can they do with it?
24 mins: A pattern is emerging and it’s almost a reverse pf what we expected. Australia are dominating possession and territory but New Zealand are bossing the breakdown. Another penalty on the floor, this one from Ruby Tui, who has made all six of her tackle attempts, comes up with the ball near the right wing. New Zealand clear and get the chance to catch their breath.
23 mins: Now that is a big steal on the ground from Pip Love. The Black fern prop was back peddling with the rest of her teammates as another Aussie attack surpassed 10 phases. New Zealand have made six times as many tackles as the Wallaroos and were once again in their own 22. By Love gets over the ball and comes up with the penalty.
But the clearing run includes a knock on and Australia have the ball back with a scrum 15m in New Zealand territory.
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19 mins: Australia are all over New Zealand. A delightful box kick from Batibasaga pins the Black Ferns back in their own territory. Oh, and Australia have the feed as well. It’s a 50/22. Sensational!
TRY! New Zealand 0-12 Australia (Wong, 16)
Another one! From nothing Australia have another one! New Zealand had the ball, starting putting some passes together but the ball goes loose. Before anyone can say the “banana skin” Ivania Wong grabs hold of it, pins her ears back, and gallops 60m up field. McKenzie’s second shot at goal is good. Oh my. This was not in the script.
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TRY! New Zealand 0-5 Australia (Terita, 14)
The Wallaroos are on the board and they deserve that! Another penalty in the red zone and they shape to kick it into touch. It’s a bluff. A quick tap and a swift pass right finds Bienne Terita in space. It’s only her second Test but she is a world cup winner with the sevens team and knows how to turn a half chance into points. She skins her opposite number, rides a stiff challenge and finishes in the corner. Brilliant rugby. The extras are missed from a tough kick on the touchline but what a start for the women in green and gold.
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12 mins: HELD UP! What fantastic defence from New Zealand! Ruby Tui makes a monster tackle over the line on the Aussie ball carrier. But Australia come again from the drop kick restart.
10 mins: Australia hammering at the door but New Zealand refusing to let them in. Williams involved, Rule with a pick and go as well. Outstanding defence from New Zealand, I felt for sure that Australia had found a hole. But no, it’s an impenetrable black wall. New Zealand knock on so it’s a scrum 5m out for Australia on the left.
8 mins: A penalty for Australia. A no-arms tackle and tackler not rolling away, take your pick. It’s all from the back of a rolling maul from clean ball off the line-out. Australia keep it tight but Williams is involved as well. She’s having a great game so far.
Aussies go to the line again. 5m out.
6 mins: Aussie line-out 5m out thanks to some brilliant hustle on defence, chasing the kick and putting the Black Fern under pressure near the line in the corner. Big opportunity.
5 mins: Sarah Hirini knocks on just as her team was building momentum with short pick up and gos. Aussies scrambled well and get the ball back in their own 22.
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3 min: McKenzie kicks off and Australia win a scrum after a New Zealand error. It’s a minor detail, but you know what, momentum is a tricky fish and that will give the Wallaroos and early shot in the arm.
The ball comes out the back cleanly and Williams at first receiver has two strong carries.
The ball goes left and the forwards get their hands on it but Luka Connor makes a great steal on the ground for the Black Ferns.
The Wallaroos advance on the Haka, shoulder to shoulder, accepting the challenge. I was only slightly cynical about the prematch ritual a few weeks back, but I’ve got to admit, it’s such a vibe!
Goosebumps! Honestly, that was incredibly moving. What a rendition of God Defend New Zealand/Aotearoa and Advance Australia Fair.
You only had to look at the tears streaming down cheeks and the beaming smiles to know how significant this is. Loved that! Absolutely loved that.
Now for the Haka.
FYI, the Wallaroos have NEVER beaten the Black Ferns!
They’re in for a big ol’ task here in front of a record crowd. The set piece will be crucial. If they can keep it loose and fast they’re in with a shout.
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Time for one more read before kick-off? Go on then. This one from Rob Kitson shows that it’s not just the players on the brink of something special. This is a massive moment for everyone involved in the women’s game.
Rita Ora is on screen! So get to one!
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You said it, Kendra.
Today is the start of end! Fair to say the last 18 months have been rollercoaster 🎢 but the day is finally here and I can’t bloody wait to get out there tonight in front of family and friends. NZ we are feeling ya 💪🏽💪🏽 #dayishere #soldout #longjourney #werready @BlackFerns pic.twitter.com/U1rTeqAOt4
— Kendra Cocksedge MNZM (@kenj0119) October 7, 2022
Of course, it’s a big moment for Australia, too. I spoke to coach Jay Tregonning and their skipper, Shannon Parry, about the challenges they face while staying upbeat in this new golden age of women’s rugby.
Not long to go now. While you wait, get stuck into this ripper from Tess on what this World Cup means to New Zealand.
England rout Fiji by a score of 84-19. Brutal from the favourites, though they were made to sweat.
Wallaroos name strongest possible outfit
If there’s one area of the park where Australia have parity with their professional opponents, it’s in the back row. Skipper Shannon Parry leads a formidable trio with Emil Chancellor on the opposite flank and Grace Hamilton packing down at No 8.
Can they secure enough ball for Arabella McKenzie? They’ll need to. And hope that their backs can make the most of their opportunities.
Here is your #Wallaroos side for Saturday’s #RWC21 opener against New Zealand at Eden Park! 🙌🔥🏉 pic.twitter.com/qwDriozcuB
— Wallaroos (@WallaroosRugby) October 6, 2022
Black Ferns name powerhouse line-up
It’s hard to find too many faults in this one, so I’m not going to nit pick. Instead, let’s all get super chuffed for Ruby Tui who is an absolute gem whose interview with the BBC last year converted countless people to women’s rugby.
If you’re looking for some meatier analysis, Portia Woodman on the win should be in business tonight and Sarah Hirini will arguably have the toughest assignment keeping the Aussie back row in check.
Introducing your team for opening day of @rugbyworldcup! 🎉#RWC21 | #LikeABlackFern pic.twitter.com/SY344tufPR
— Black Ferns (@BlackFerns) October 5, 2022
Preamble
Folks, this is it. After five transformative years, women’s rugby union is about to go somewhere it has never gone before. Eden Park has sold out. 50,000 people will set a new attendance record as New Zealand’s Black Ferns take on Australia’s Wallaroos. This is going to be thrilling!
Welcome to the live blog. My name is Daniel and I am buzzing. Of course it’s not exactly the curtain raiser. France and England both got off to winning starts but were made to work for their victories by South Africa and Fiji, respectively. I don’t anticipate an upset here, after all, it’s a team of pros versus a team of amateurs. Still, the Wallaroos will throw themselves into this with gusto and it should be a cracking contest.
Kick off is at 7:15pm local time/5:15 AEST/7:15am in the UK.
Wherever you are in the world I say nau mai haere mai. Thank you for joining me. Drop me an email or a tweet if you fancy.
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