Classy Black Ferns too good for brave Bok Women

New Zealand’s Black Ferns won their one-off Test against the Springbok Women by 52-20 (half-time 24-10) in windy conditions at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, underlining their experience and class with a strong performance against a South African team that gave their all but didn’t have enough in their arsenal to topple the Kiwis.

While the South Africans preferred route one through the middle, playing with power, the Kiwis’ pace, skills and tactical awareness were simply too good in the end and the Bok Women will also be first to admit they made too many basic mistakes.

Although they gave it their all in front of a good crowd at FNB Stadium for Castle Double Malt Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, it was clear why the Bok Women are eight spots below the Kiwis on the world rankings.

The Blacks Ferns had a very stiff breeze in their backs in the first half and soon after kick-off, they used that to kick deep for a 50-22 line-out throw. Keeping the ball through the phases, they won a penalty and from a quick tap, Elinor Plum-King scored for a 5-0 lead.

South Africa managed to get their hands on the ball but could never really exit from their half into the strong wind.

From a miscued kick, the Black Ferns worked the ball wide to a speeding Braxton Sorensen-McGee who raced clear to score. Hannah King converted and after 10 minutes, the visitors led 12-0.

The Bok Women did not stop playing though and scored their first try after 14 minutes, from a lineout maul. The Kiwis were pinged for offside and after putting the ball into the cover, Lindelwa Gwala was driven over for an unconverted try.

Gaining in confidence, the Bok Women found their rhythm, but they lost a lineout near the NZ line and a scoring opportunity was wasted. From the resulting scrum, the Boks earned another penalty with a mighty shove but another throw-in missed the jumper, with yet another opportunity wasted.

New Zealand's scrum was under pressure and they conceded penalties at every engagement. To add to their woes, wing Mererangi Paul was yellow carded after slapping down a SA pass.

With momentum on their side, the Bok Women scored next when Aphiwe Ngwevu crashed over following a quick tap by Unam Tose close to the NZ line, after the visitors were penalised for pulling down a driving maul. The conversion was wide but trailing by 10-12, the hosts were back in the game after 30 minutes.

However, they lost Zintle Mpupha to injury, with Maceala Samboya coming on, before two late first half tries for the Black Ferns – by Chryss Viliko (prop) and Sorensen-McGee both from quick-tap penalties – pushed their lead to 14 points at the break.

The first points in the second half belonged to Vainah Ubisi, again from a strong driving maul in the 49th minute, with the Kiwis losing two players to the sin bin in quick succession. Unfortunately, the conversion again sailed wide but the Kiwis’ lead was cut to 24-15.

From the restart, South Africa lost possession and after some patience on attack, scrumhalf Maia Joseph stepped past a South African defender to score their fifth try, with Sorensen-McGee adding the extras to make it 31-15.

Gaps were starting to open up in the SA defence, while they also didn’t look after the ball well enough, which allowed Plum-King to go over untouched for her second try.

The Bok Women shored up their defence, and it took New Zealand another 22 minutes before they scored again, with Amarante Sititi crashing over from close range and shortly thereafter Maama Moonia Vaipulu’s converted try pushed them past 50.

The final say belonged to the Bok Women though, when Ubisi went over for her second try from a quick-tap penalty to give the crowd something to cheer about.

Score

Springbok Women 20 (10) – Tries: Lindelwa Gwala, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Vainah Ubisi (2).

Black Ferns 52 (24) – Tries: Elinor Plum-King (2), Braxton Sorensen-McGee (2), Chryss Viliko, Maia Joseph, Amarante Sititi, Maama Moonia Vaipulu. Conversions: Hannah King, Sorensen-McGee (4).