The New Zealand's women's rugby team overcame a sloppy first half performance to run out 27-3 winners over Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.
The victory means the World Champion Black Ferns become the first holders of the Laurie O'Reilly trophy - the new symbol of trans-tasman supremacy in women's rugby.
The Black Ferns were expected to thrash the Wallaroos, but found it difficult to convert on a huge territorial advantage in the first half, leading just 5-0 at the break courtesy of a try from star winger Louisa Wall.
The New Zealanders were clearly more determined in the second spell and were able to capitalise better on their opportunities.
Centre Annaleah Rush, fullback Dianne Kahura, first five Anna Richards and halfback Monique Hirovanaa all crossed for tries in the second half as the Black Ferns demonstrated the mix of power and pace that swept them to victory in the World Cup at Amsterdam in May.
The Wallaroos' only points came from a Lisa-Jane Dwam penalty in the second half. The margin of New Zealand's victory would have been greater had goal-kicker Rush only landed more than one shot at goal. 

Author: TVNZ/Reuters
Date: Sat 29 Aug  21:28 1998 
Source: TVNZ     

It was not all doom and gloom for New Zealand sports fans at the weekend.

Our women's rugby and rugby league teams racked up impressive performances in test matches -- without conceding a try.

The New Zealand women won their first rugby match as the Black Ferns when they beat Australia, 27-3, at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.

The world champion led only 5-0 at half time but turned on its trademark backline flair in the second spell to win the inaugural Laurie O'Reilly Trophy, named after the late Commissioner for Children and former stalwart of women's rugby.

In Christchurch, the Kiwi Ferns rugby league team beat Great Britain, 44-0, in their second test.

The Ferns could now quite rightly claim to be unofficial world champions as they and Great Britain having beaten Australia. 

New Zealand's emphatic victory at the women's rugby World Cup should see a rise in the number of women and girls playing the game in this country.

New Zealand's emphatic victory at the women's rugby World Cup should see a rise in the number of women and girls playing the game in this country.

New Zealand thrashed the United States by 44-12 in Sunday's (NZT) World Cup final in Amsterdam.

About 3,000 women and girls play rugby in New Zealand, and the NZRFU chief executive David Moffett says this figure should rise because now there are female role models who are world champions.

He says prospective players will relate better to women who have achieved at the highest level.

Meanwhile, the players have said do not like their nickname the "Gal Blacks", and they hope soon to formally register the name the Black Ferns.

Black Ferns coach Darryl Suasua today named a strong New Zealand Test side to play Australia in Sydney on August 29.

Only injuries has forced changes to the New Zealand team that beat the United States 44-12 to win the Rugby World Cup in Amsterdam in May. The Sydney game is the curtain raiser to the third and final Bledisloe Cup match.

Missing from the starting line-up is fullback Tammi Wilson, who broke her fibular in a recent club match. Wilson, a triple international in rugby, touch and rugby league, is replaced by Dianne Kahura.

Injuries also see the loss of Tracey Waters and Exia Shelfold, replaced by Mata Piho and Nara Su'a respectively.

However Black Fern supporters will be pleased to see most of the World Cup stars, including the potent wing combination of Vanessa Cootes and former Silver Fern Louisa Wall. Cootes is remembered for her five try tally in the World Cup final.

Coach Suasua is delighted to put his World Champion team back on the field: "The game is a huge challenge for the team after the euphoria of the Rugby World Cup," he said.

"There is always a lot at stake whenever we play Australia, but this game has added significance."

For the first time, the two sides will play for the Laurie O'Reilly Memorial Trophy. Mr O'Reilly, the former Commissioner of Children, passed away earlier this year. He is a former coach and selector of the New Zealand women's rugby team.

Suasua added: "The trophy is very important to us. It is named after a special man who had a major influence in the history of women's rugby in New Zealand. We want to be the first holders of this prestigious piece of silverware. It will provide us with even greater incentive."

New Zealand has an undefeated record against Australia, having played them on four previous occasions since 1994. In fact, Australia has only ever scored one try (five points) against the Black Ferns in four matches, with the Black Ferns accumulating an impressive 149 points tally.

Coverage of the game will be shown on Television New Zealand at 9.35pm on Saturday, 29 August, prior to TVNZ's coverage of the Bledisloe Cup match. Sky Television will also show a highlights package of the Black Fern's test, prior to the live coverage of the All Blacks v Australia.

Black Ferns to play Australia:

Fullback	Dianne Kahura	Auckland
Right wing	Vanessa Cootes	Waikato
Left wing	Louisa Hall	Auckland
Centre	Annaleah Rush	Otago
2nd 5/8	Suzy Shortland	Auckland
1st 5/8	Anna Richards	Auckland
Halfback	Monique Hirovanaa	Auckland
No 8	Rochelle Martin	Auckland
Openside flanker	Davida White	Auckland
Blindside flanker	Melodie Robinson	Wellington
Lock	Fiona King	Otago
Lock	Fiona Richards	Auckland
Tighthead prop	Emma Thomas	Bay of Plenty
Loosehead prop	Regina Sheck	Auckland
Hooker	Farah Palmer (captain)	Otago
Reserves
16	Cheryl Waaka	Northland
17	Nara Su'a	Auckland
18	Kellie Kiwi	Bay of Plenty
19	Brigitta Lotu I'iga	Auckland
20	Monalisa Codling	Otago
21	Mata Piho	Otago
22	Toni Konui	Auckland

New Zealand's women showed rugby union supremacy is not confined to their male compatriots as they lifted the third women's World Cup by trouncing the United States 46-12 in Amsterdam on Saturday.

New Zealand were the stronger in the loose and had devastating power and speed on the flanks.

Right wing Vanessa Cootes proved the star of the game with five tries, completing her hat-trick in the first 30 minutes to setup a 29-0 lead at halftime.

The Americans, the inaugural winners, lacked the penetration of their opponents but restored some respectability in the second half with two tries.

England, winners of the last World Cup in 1994, lost 44-11 to New Zealand in the semifinals but gained some compensation with third place after an 81-15 victory over Canada.

Ecstatic New Zealand skipper Farah Palmer said her players had worked tirelessly over the past six months to achieve the victory and they would "be partying hard for sure".

Farah also paid tribute to coach Daryl Suasua and the entire squad of 26 players, not just the 15 that won the final.

Its official. The New Zealand womens rugby team is the best in the world. And by popular proclaimation, they want to be known as the Black Ferns.

Finding a name for the womens team has aroused almost as much public discussion as their world cup chances in recent weeks, with seemingly everyone jumping on the band-wagon as the prospect of a Kiwi victory in the tournament heighted. In the end, the players themselves came up with the name, which they announced in emphatic style to the rest of the world by hammering the United States 44-12 in the tournament finale.

The star of the show for the Black Ferns was speedy Waikato winger Vanessa Cootes who ran in five of New Zealands eight tries, as they simply swamped the Americans with a powerful first half performance.

By halftime the score was 29-0 and New Zealand was never going to be headed, even though they lost their way slightly in the second half, and were restricted to a 15-12 advantage during this period.

The final match in the 16 day tournament was watched by an appreciative crowd of 2500 spectators, who were left with no doubts as to which the best team at the competition was.

The winning New Zealand team, which was captained by Farah Palmer and coached by Darryl Suasua was: Tammi Wilson, Vanessa Cootes, Annaleah Rush, Suzy Shortland, Louisa Wall, Anna Richards, Monique Hirovanaa, Tracey Waters, Farah Palmer, Regina Sheck, Fiona King, Fiona Richards, Melodie Robinson, Davida White and Rochelle Martin. The replacements were: Kiwi Kellic, Exia Shelford, Dianne Kahura, Emma Thomas, Toni Konui, Brigitta Loyuliga and Jacinta Nielson.

England beat Canada 81-15 to finish third while Australia took home the plate when they beat Scotland 25-15. Spain won the other playoff in the cup section, beating France 22-9.

Farah Palmer, the captain of the New Zealand women's rugby team, is confident that her side can win the World Cup final in the Netherlands.

New Zealand play the United States in the final, which kicks off at 0200 Sunday NZT.

Farah Palmer says her side has shown already what they are capable of, but they have still got something in reserve.

The match will be shown live on TV One with coverage starting at 0135 Sunday.

The New Zealand women's rugby team has a couple of players in doubt for Sunday morning's (NZT) World Cup final against the United States in Amsterdam.

New Zealand qualified for the final with a 44-11 victory over England in the semifinals, while the USA beat Canada 46-6.

Bay of Plenty prop Emma Thomas suffered a knee injury during the match, while Auckland second-five Suzy Shortland dislocated her shoulder.

It is the third time Shortland has popped her shoulder at the tournament and the medical staff feel that it is something that will continue to happen and so she might as well continue to play.

Captain Farah Palmer says Thomas is the main concern, but they do have a few days before they have to name their team.

The New Zealand women's rugby team overcame a slow start in their semifinal against England to book a berth in the final at the World Cup in Amsterdam.

The New Zealanders eventually scored six tries to run out out comfortable winners, 44-11.

However first-five Kelly Kiwi says it was a tight first half, with New Zealand ahead just 10-6 at the break in the face of some tough English defence.

New Zealand will meet the United States in the final after the US beat Canada 44-6 in the other semi.

The New Zealand women's rugby team has moved into the semifinals of the World Cup in Amsterdam with a 46-3 drubbing of Spain.

New Zealand was given a tougher workout than in their previous two games, but the result was never in doubt. The Kiwis have now scored 256 points and conceded just 9 in their three games to date.

The New Zealanders will now meet England, who crushed Australia 30-13 in their quarter-final.

England won the second World Cup in 1994, but this is the first global competition to be approved by the International Rugby Board.

England skipper Emma Mitchell admitted: "We accept New Zealand deserve to be favourites but this is the game we've been waiting for all season and we know just what to expect."

Scotland's bid ended as they lost 25-10 to the USA, the 1991 champions.

The Americans play Canada in Wednesday's (NZT) other last four clash after the Canadians beat France 9-7 in a tight battle.

New Zealand has scored another big win at the women's rugby World Cup, this time thrashing Scotland 76-0 in their second round match in Amsterdam.

The Scots were rated one of the top teams at the tournament after winning the women's version of the Five Nations earlier this year.

New Zealand captain Sarah Palmer says it was not until midway through the first half that the Kiwis were able to stamp their dominance.

Palmer says it was obvious they were a lot fitter than the Scots and moved the ball wide at every opportunity to keep it away from the Scots' strong forward pack.

The New Zealanders' 12 tries were shared by 10 players.

Their match is against Italy at the weekend.

Darryl Suasua, the coach of the New Zealand women's rugby team, has made two changes to the side that thrashed Germany for their second match at the Women's World Cup in Holland.

Vanessa Coutts replaces Diane Kahura on the wing, while Tracey Waters comes in at loose-head prop ahead of Regina Sheck for the match against Scotland.

Kahura was the player of the game against Germany, but Suasua says Coutts is the incumbent and deserves a chance to claim the position back after injury.

Suasua says the Scots will be very tough with a strong forward pack that lead them to a Grand Slam in the women's version of the Five Nations competition earlier this year.

The New Zealand women scored 22 tries in all and will meet the winner of Scotland's clash with Italy for a place in the quarter-finals.

Women's rugby is anticipating its finest hours in Amsterdam over the next two weeks (May 1 - 16) as 16 countries challenge for the first Women's Rugby World Cup (WRWC) backed by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Previous competitions in Cardiff (1991) and Edinburgh (1994) owed everything to the enthusiasm and effort of the organisers and players; this time the host union, the Nederlandse Rugby Bond (NRB), has secured strong financial support from the game's governing body.

IRB chairman Vernon Pugh QC says the board has agreed to meet most of the costs of the tournament in recognition of the still-developing commercial aspects of WRWC.

The Opening Ceremony at the NRB's National Rugby Centre on Friday May 1 will involve the 16 teams and more than 500 players and officials. It will be followed by the first of the tournament's 40 matches between the Netherlands and Canada.

Friday's winners can expect to face the formidable challenge of defending champions and top seed England on May 5. England took the 1994 title 23-38 over the USA after losing the 1991 Edinburgh championship 19-6 to the then all-powerful Americans.

Sweden, seeded 16, are unlucky to have drawn England for their opening match on May 2 when the USA accept the intriguing challenge of former cold-war rivals Russia. Third-seeded France open against Kazakhstan with New Zealand, seeded four and regarded as the strongest of challengers after missing out on the 1994 event, play Germany in their first match. The top three seedings reflects the 1994 finishing order.

The New Zealanders come to the Netherlands determined to unleash the brand of rugby that decimated Canada 88-3, the USA 86-8 and France 109-0 when the Canada Cup tournament was staged in Edmonton in 1996. Since then they have added to their reputation at the expense of visiting England (76-0) and Australia (40-0).

The tournament format means all the teams play five times over the two weeks with the winners moving toward the May 16 WRWC final while those less successful compete against each other for the WRWC Plate, Shield and Bowl.

The pools (with seedings in brackets):

Pool A: England (1), Canada (8), Netherlands (9), Sweden (16).

Pool B: USA (2), Spain (7), Wales (10), Russia (15)

Pool C: France (3), Australia (6), Ireland (11), Kazakhstan (14)

Pool D: New Zealand (4), Scotland (5), Italy (12), Germany (13).

The New Zealand women's rugby team is heading off to compete in the first official World Cup competition today.

The tournament is being played in Amsterdam, over the first two weeks of May.

The New Zealand team is only ranked fourth, but despite that coach Daryl Suasua says his side is the hot favourite to take the title.

Suasua says the World Cup has raised the profile of the women's team, and an increase in sponsorship and the number of women playing the game are also good signs for the future.

The NZRFU today announced a 45-strong squad to take part in a three day training camp at the Burnham Military Camp, 8-10 August, 1997.

The camp is part of the build-up for next year's Women's Rugby World Cup, to be held in Amsterdam.

At the conclusion of the Burnham Camp, the squad to play the test match against Australia in Dunedin on August 16 will be announced. That game is the

curtain-raiser to the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup match at Carisbrook.

The squad is:

D Apiti (Auckland) A Richards (Auckland) F Barclay (Otago) F Richards (Auckland) K Blue (Wellington) M Robinson (Wellington) V Cootes (Waikato) A Rush (Otago) V Cunningham (Auckland) J Saunders (Manawatu) M Edwards (Otago) R Sheck (Auckland) N Frew (Otago) S Shortland (Auckland) J Heenan (Northland) L Simpson-Brown (Waikato) R Heimer (Wellington) R Smart (Otago) M Hirovanaa (Auckland) N Su'a (Auckland) S Holden (Manawatu) P Tahiwa (Manawatu)

K Kiwi (Bay of Plenty ) B Tahu (Auckland) N Knight (Wellington) N Tamai (Wanganui) T Konui (Auckland) E Thomas (Bay of Plenty) M Kupa (Hawkes Bay) H Vaaga (Auckland) W Kupa (Hawkes Bay) C Waaka (Auckland) B Lotui'iga (Auckland) L Wall (Auckland) R Martin (Auckland) T Waters (Canterbury) V Mathews (Wanganui) L White (Auckland) J Neilson (Otago) E Williams (Bay of Plenty) F Palmer (Waikato) C Winters (Wellington) G Paul (Bay of Plenty) M Young (Bay of Plenty) M Piho

 

For further information, contact:

Jackie Maitland

NZRFU Communications Manager

04-4994995 or 025-2411146