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Four-Peat: The Black Ferns celebrate another World Cup win - Source: Reuters -
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New Zealand overcame three sin-binnings to notch a narrow 13-10
win over England in this morning's final of the women's World Cup
rugby tournament and secure their fourth title at Twickenham in
London.
The Black Ferns backed-up territorial dominance with a strong
defence as England, playing them in the final for the third
consecutive time, threw the kitchen sink at them in front of a
crowd of 13,253.
Centre Kelly Brazier kicked what proved to be the winning penalty
with 14 minutes left.
Winger Carla Hohepa opened the scoring with a 33rd-minute converted
try, touching down for the seventh time in the tournament for the
only points of the first half.
England first-five eighth Katy McLean and Brazier traded penalties
before Charlotte Barras barged over for a 61st-minute try.
McLean landed the conversion to level the score but Brazier's late
penalty clinched victory for New Zealand.
New Zealand ripped into England from the kick off and only a superb
one on one tackle from Danielle Waterman on Brazier halted the
centre after a jinking run.
It was all New Zealand in the opening 10 minutes as England
defended desperately. Emma Jensen's 14th minute penalty miss
kept the game scoreless after another England transgression.
The pressure on England lifted slightly when New Zealand first
five-eighth Anna Richards was sin binned for not rolling away but
Katy McLean couldn't capitalise for England when her first penalty
effort drifted just wide.
The penalty count continued to rise against New Zealand as England
finally got some ball to work with and prop Mel Bosman was also
yellow carded.
But despite playing with less than their full complement, the Black
Ferns struck first when Carla Hohepa just evaded Rachael Burford
and stepped Amy Turner to score the game's first try and her
seventh of the tournament. Brazier converted for 7-0.
In the last kick of the half, McLean hit the upright with a penalty
attempt leave New Zealand 7-0 in the lead at halftime.
McLean made amends with an early second half penalty but New
Zealand came back.
Hohepa nearly added a second try when she pounced on an England
turnover but lock Joanna McGilchrist produced the cover tackle of
the tournament.
Brazier stretched New Zealand's lead to 10-3 with a penalty but
they lost their skipper Melissa Ruscoe to yet another yellow
card.
England equalised when they opted to scrummage from the
penalty and, after great work from the pack, the ball was popped
onto the blindside for Charlotte Barras to score her fourth try of
the tournament which McLean superbly converted.
New Zealand's winning points came off a penalty after they drove
deep into English territory and Brazier landed a nerveless penalty
from just inside the 22m line.
The New Zealand defence then proved impenetrable as England sought
to win the game from deep inside their half in the final
minutes.
For her efforts, Hohepa was adjudged the International Rugby
Board's personality of the year.
