Asked to answer a novel question after a first failure to win in 39 matches, the Red Roses successfully started the streak again – but only at the very, very last. For such a long time in this rip-roaring contest it seemed as if New Zealand would go one better than Canada and deal England a first defeat in nearly four years – though in the end it was their desire to chase victory that proved their undoing.
With the scores level and the clock dead, the Black Ferns threw the ball about in their own 22 with reckless abandon and watched agonisingly as it landed in English hands. Credit to Zoe Harrison, a welcoming recipient and winning try-scorer mere moments having left a penalty from long range some way short of the uprights. It was, all told, the simplest of scores, Amy du Plessis the most unfortunate of visitors as she inadvertently gifted England the most hard-fought of victories.
Credit to New Zealand for having the desire to try to go the length of the field to snatch a win they would have deserved both in that last act and in the game’s totality. Credit, to, to a programme transformed over these last 12 months under the leadership of Whitney Hansen and again looking something like England’s equal; it took a defensive effort of nearly 300 tackles for the Red Roses to survive, just about, still standing. Those rightful critics who suggest that this side of the sport needs more compelling contests and grandstand finishes have been provided with irrefutable evidence in these last two weeks.
It was almost exactly a year to the day since the World Cup final and again the late September weather had been awfully kind, a few turned a rosy red in the bright sunshine. The Black Ferns had been here on that day too, of course, winning a third place play-off they did not at all wish to be in. On their return, they carried a quiet confidence that they could challenge a host side they had not confronted for nearly two years.
So it proved. While Claudia Moloney-MacDonald provided the game’s first points with a scoot into the left corner following an Ellie Kildunne shimmy, there was precious little else for the 59,871-strong crowd to shout about. One of the themes of this WXV Global Series so far has been the development in teams being able to exert pressure via the boot – an area in which England have for so long had an advantage but are now starting to be caught up. International coaches have rejected the notion that it may have something to do with the smaller ball trial but New Zealand’s upskilling felt clear in the first 40 as they bedevilled the English backfield with kicking variety and quality.
Their first score came a little too easily nonetheless, Du Plessis given great open green acreage to kick into in broken play and then turning on the afterburners to gather and ground. One might also wonder how Hannah King could find such a gaping hole with a simple dummy from a lineout, though the Black Ferns were relentless in attacking the seam at the tail; Ayesha Leti-I’iga, who had earlier had a try chalked off, provided good support and did the rest.
If not for an errant cross-kick from Maia Joseph, Mererangi Paul would have extended the lead to something more like something New Zealand merited from a half that they had spent more than two-thirds of in the English half. With the Red Roses lacking jackal threat, and struggling for collision dominance, there is plenty for the newly-arrived consultant Shaun Edwards and co. to fix even with a remarkable tackling effort.
Jess Breach and Kildunne had been among those to struggle defensively and in the kicking exchanges, but the pair’s attacking gifts are not in question. A game that had not gone to script called for the pair’s improvisational skill to provide a sharp riposte, a sharp and smart exchange from former to latter providing the most popular of English scorers.
The creator soon had one herself. New Zealand lost prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu to the sin bin after an ugly – if accidental – head-on-head collision with Marlie Packer. A scrum as a result in retreat at something like the speed limit left space in the fast lane for Breach to finish off sharp hands in the right corner. But back came New Zealand, level again with Paul this time found in space with a raking pass and Braxton Sorensen-McGee, such a star of last year’s World Cup, providing the necessary conversion.
Had England learned from such a similar scenario seven days ago? A penalty 40 metres out presented a dilemma having failed to take three points late on last week, but up stepped Harrison with calm. Erroneously, as it turned out – not that it mattered, as she gratefully accepted New Zealand’s gift seconds later to provide another magic Twickenham moment.
“We didn’t want to come out to draw; we came out to win,” New Zealand head coach Hansen stressed. “To be really honest, the biggest feeling I have at the moment is pride. We’re on the beginning of a journey of what Black Ferns rugby looks like. Everyone wants to win, but for us it is about chasing a performance. We know we’ve got greatness in us and we’ll be humble and hungry in the future.”
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