Black Ferns take bronze at WRWC
- Dave Worsley
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Black Ferns have won the bronze play-off at the Women's Rugby World Cup, surviving a late French comeback for a 42-26 win at Twickenham
Defending champions New Zealand, the six-times winners who were beaten by Canada in the semifinals took the triumph over France and the consolation prize of bronze.
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France, beaten by England in the semis last weekend, had been seeking a third-placed finish for a remarkable eighth time, having never reached the final.
The Euorpean side went ahead after 10 minutes when scrumhalf Pauline Bourdon Sansus escaped down the right but New Zealand hit back almost immediately when Ruahei Demant slipped through a tackle to score under the posts.
The Black Ferns started to gain the upper hand on the game and forged clear with three tries in the last eight minutes of the half as their slick handling repeatedly cut through the French defence.
The first was finished by 21-year-old centre Silvia Brunt before a second, with four players shifting passes back and forth to send Renee Holmes over. Jorja Miller then launched a counter-attack from deep in her own half that Laura Bayfield finished off.
Holmes landed three conversions as the Ferns looked assured going into the break 26-7 ahead.
Eighteen-year-old wing Braxton Sorensen-McGee stretched the lead with two tries at the start of the half, taking her tournament tally to 11 and 14 in total in her eight tests since her debut in May.
Sorensen-McGee was later awarded World Rugby Women's 15s Breathrough Player of the year.
The Black Ferns looked to be in control, however France came back through their replacements scored three tries in 10 minutes by Lea Champon, Gaby Vernier and Emile Boulard to make it 39-26 with 10 minutes remaining.
But New Zealand managed to close the game out and finish with a penalty by fullback and player of the match Holmes.
In the Grand Final favourites England beat Canada 33-13