Article by Melissa Nel
The New Zealand Black Ferns spoiled a historic afternoon in South Africa, exploiting defensive lapses to cruise to a dominant 52-20 victory over the Springbok Women in Soweto.
Hosting the Black Ferns on South African soil for the very first time, the hosts showed flashes of brilliance up front, but their midfield defence was cut to pieces almost at will by a lethal New Zealand attack.
The Black Ferns started like a house on fire. Just two minutes into the match, flanker Elinor-Plum King sliced through the Springbok midfield to open the scoring. Ten minutes later, aimless kicking from the hosts gifted possession back to New Zealand, allowing Braxton Sorensen-McGee to sell a brilliant dummy and dot down before converting her own try to make it 12-0.
South Africa fought back through their powerful forward pack. In the 14th minute, Lindelwa Gwala crashed over off the back of a driving lineout maul. The Boks then capitalised on a yellow card to New Zealand's Mererangi Paul; Aphiwe Ngwevu took a quick penalty tap and bulldozed through two defenders to pull the score back to a tense 12-10.
However, the final minutes of the half belonged entirely to the visitors. Chryss Viliko powered over from a quick tap, and right on the stroke of halftime, Sorensen-McGee ghosted through for her second try, leaving the Boks trailing 24-10 at the break.
The Springbok Women struck first in the second half, with Vainah Ubisi scoring off another robust lineout maul to reduce the deficit to 24-15 while drawing a second yellow card against the Ferns.
Any hopes of a comeback were instantly snuffed out as New Zealand hit back immediately. Maia Joseph crossed the whitewash, followed shortly by King securing her brace after another defensive breakdown from the hosts.
As fatigue set in, the Black Ferns' clinical attack dominated the final quarter. Amarante Sititi and Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu added rapid-fire tries to push the score past the half-century mark. South Africa had the final say deep into injury time, exploiting a third New Zealand yellow card, as Vainah Ubisi crashed over for a consolation try, leaving the final score 52-20 to the world champions.
Scorers:
Springbok Women: Try: Lindelwa Gwala, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Vainah Ubisi (2).
Black Ferns: Tries: Elinor-Plum King (2), Braxton Sorensen-McGee (2), Chryss Viliko, Maia Joseph, Amarante Sititi, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu. Conversions: Braxton Sorensen-McGee (6).
Teams:
Springbok Women: 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayan cuda 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 (c), 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.
Black Ferns: 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.