Black Ferns thrash Spain at Rugby World Cup
- Dave Worsley
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Black Ferns have started their Rugby World Cup campaig in style with a 54-8 win over Spain at York Community Stadium.
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After an erratic start, the Black Ferns improved throughout the match; however, concerns will remain regarding the welfare of Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Ayesha Leti-I'iga, both of whom left the field due to injury.
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Leti-I'iga charged down Spain's opening clearance from Amalia Argudo, with it taking three minutes before Spain even touched the ball.
Jorja Miller then then started and finished a move for a try out wide and then just on the 16 minute mark it was Miller again on the other wing
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u was officially acknowledged as Player of the Match. Her powerful runs from No. 8 often left Spain sprawling. When she barrelled over in the 24th minute, the score was 19-0.
Spain showed determination, mauling strongly and tackling fiercely. Alba Capell (23) and Monica Castelo (22) led the individual tackle counts, with a dozen players making ten or more tackles.
In the 34th minute, Amalia Argudo slotted a penalty from the 22-metre line. Argudo, who has overcome six collarbone surgeries over six years, is a Sevens player who won the Elite 1 championship with Stade Toulousain in 2021 and 2022.
The Black Ferns emptied the bench in the second half, with Georgia Ponsonby, Chryss Viliko, Tanya Kalounivale, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, and Ruahei Demant injected into the game.
The Black Ferns' approach became more aggressive, with Mikaele-Tu'u and Layla Sae combining for 36 carries and 215 metres gained. Sae made a strong run up the middle before Holmes wobbled a pass to Ayesha Leti-I'iga for the Black Ferns' fifth try.
Hooker Georgia Ponsonby then rumbled over from a 15-metre rolling maul for the sixth try. In the 53rd minute, Kaipo Olsen-Baker was carted off the field in significant distress. She missed the last Rugby World Cup due to injury.
The Black Ferns will be pleased with the authority shown by their scrum, and Leti-I'iga’s second try was a stroll. Another bullying run from Sae created the impetus for Renee Holmes to send Portia Woodman-Wickliffe clear for her 21st Rugby World Cup try.
The Black Ferns struggled with discipline close to full-time, and after several determined pick-and-goes, replacement prop Ines Antolinez Fernandez managed to wriggle over for a historic try in her 23rd Test.
The Black Ferns next game is against Japan Monday 1 September.
Black Ferns 54 (Jorja Miller 2, Ayesha Leti-I’iga 2, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Georgia Ponsonby, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano tries; Renee Holmes 7 cons) Spain 8 (Ines Antolinez Fernandez try; Amalia Argudo pen)
HT: 21-3