Kiwis draw first blood as Black Ferns down brave Bok Women

MATCH REPORT: New Zealand’s class was simply too good as Black Ferns recorded a 52-20 win over Springbok Women in a historic encounter at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

It was an extremely physical contest as the two sides went head-to-head on South African soil for the first time, with the iconic Soweto stadium providing the backdrop for another historic chapter in the Greatest Rivalry.

Despite a brave effort from the Springbok Women, the No.2-ranked Black Ferns ultimately showed their class, outscoring the hosts eight tries to four.

*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!

Elinor Plum King and Braxton Sorensen-McGee both crossed twice for New Zealand, while Vaniah Ubisi scored a brace for South Africa.

Libby Janse van Rensburg got the game underway, but it was a nervous start for the Springbok Women flyhalf.

She kicked directly into touch, handing the Black Ferns their first lineout inside the Boks’ 22.

New Zealand immediately applied pressure and, after a series of phases, Elinor Plum King powered over the line for the opening try after just two minutes.

The Springbok Women showed glimpses of their attacking ability with ball in hand, but their kicking game let them down.

After a long passage of play, the Black Ferns counterattacked, with Braxton Sorensen-McGee finding a gap to score New Zealand’s second try.

Sorensen-McGee added the conversion to put the visitors 12-0 ahead.

The Bok Women struggled at the breakdown during the opening exchanges, but Alichia Arries provided one of the positives.

The winger was strong in defence and carried the ball with purpose.

In the 14th minute, the Springbok Women finally found their way onto the scoreboard.

Returning to one of their strengths, they set up an effective driving maul before Sharks hooker Lindelwa Gwala broke away and crossed for the try.

The Springbok pack then won back-to-back scrums and began to dominate the set-piece battle, although troubles started to creep into their line-outs.

The Black Ferns were reduced to 14 players when Mererangi Paul was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown.

New Zealand also struggled with their discipline, conceding six penalties to one after 29 minutes.

The Springbok Women retained their own line-out and built another powerful maul before Tose broke away and sent Aphiwe Ngwevu through.

Ngwevu bumped off Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i and raced over to score the Boks’ second try.

However, the Black Ferns responded almost immediately.

New Zealand absorbed the pressure at the set-piece before getting the ball wide to their dangerous runners. The ball was recycled for Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, who took a crash ball and powered her way over the line.

On the brink of half-time, New Zealand added another blow.

After some clinical passing, Sorensen-McGee crossed for her second try of the afternoon to give the Black Ferns a 24-10 lead at the break.

The Springbok Women made three early changes in the second half, with Anushka Groenewald, Yonela Ngxingolo and Logan Welman taking to the field.

Despite the changes, the Boks’ scrum remained a major weapon.

Georgia Ponsonby was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements and collapsing the maul, and the Bok Women took full advantage.

Vaniah Ubisi powered over at the back of another driving maul to give the hosts renewed hope.

But cerlrbation was short-lived.

A missed pass by Janse van Rensburg allowed the Black Ferns to retain possession before Maia Joseph produced incredible footwork to beat the defence and score.

The Springbok Women continued to enjoy periods of possession, but despite the Black Ferns being reduced to 13 players at one stage, New Zealand’s defence held firm.

It was a major positive for coach Whitney Hansen.

Amarante Sititi, whose brother is part of the All Blacks squad to face the Springboks, was introduced from the bench.

The pair became only the second set of siblings to represent New Zealand on the same day.

And the replacement made an immediate impact.

Following another Springbok line-out error, Sititi powered over the line for the seventh try of the match and her second in the black jersey.

With five minutes remaining, the Black Ferns’ quality was simply too difficult to contain.

Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu joined the try-scoring party to add her name to the scoresheet.

The Bok Women, however, refused to give up.

Ubisi stretched over for her second try of the match and the Springbok Women’s fourth.

It was ultimately too little, too late, as the Black Ferns had done more than enough to secure a comprehensive 52-20 victory.

The Black Ferns will face France next week, while the Springbok Women’s next challenge comes against Wales.

Player of the match: Braxton Sorensen-McGee was outstanding for the Black Ferns, scoring a brace of tries and keeping the scoreboard ticking with her accurate boot.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Gwala, Ngwevu, Ubisi 2

For New Zealand:
Tries: E. King 2, Sorensen-McGee 2, Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Joseph, Sititi, Vaipulu
Cons: Sorensen-McGee 5, H. King

Yellow cards: Mererangi Paul (Black Ferns, 27 – deliberate knock down), Georgia Ponsonby (Black Ferns, 47 – repeated infringements), Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Black Ferns, 49 – foul play and repeated infringements), Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (Black Ferns, 79 – dangerous tackle, head contact)

Teams: 

South Africa: 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (captain), 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.
Replacements: 16 Anushka Groenewald, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Nomsa Mokwai, 20 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 21 Logan Welman, 22 Anacadia Minnaar, 23 Maceala Samboya

New Zealand: 15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 14 Mererangi Paul, 13 Amy du Plessis, 12 Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, 11 Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 10 Hannah King, 9 Maia Joseph, 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Elinor-Plum King, 6 Mia Anderson, 5 Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 1 Chryss Viliko.
Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Maddison Robinson, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Laura Bayfield, 20 Amarante Sititi, 21 Tara Turner, 22 Ruahei Demant, 23 Justine McGregor

Referee: Zoe Naude (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Giana Viljoen, Angie Bezuidenhout (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)