Black Ferns raise ton against Germany

8.00am

New Zealand swept aside Germany 117-0 in a ruthless start to their 2002 women's rugby World Cup campaign in Barcelona today.

Quick hands saw fullback Tammi Wilson score New Zealand's first try within a minute of the kickoff and from that point the match was largely a procession.

Eleven tries were scored in the first half as the Black Ferns went to the break 69-0 up, and another eight were added into a strong wind in the second spell, with the Germans only ever able to get the ball out of their own half through the occasional kick.

Wingers Dianne Kahura and Vanessa Cootes landed nine tries between them, with Cootes bagging five to become the first New Zealand women's international to break the 200-point barrier.

She has now scored 215 points from 43 tries in 14 matches.

A new star to emerge was Auckland prop Helen Vaaga, 24, who bumped German defenders off left, right and centre with a series of bruising runs reminiscent of Jonah Lomu.

Vaaga and fellow front-row debutante, Casey Robertson of Canterbury, also spearheaded a fearsome scrummaging performance from the New Zealanders, who at times completely overpowered the sizeable Germans.

Lock Victoria Heighway ensured the lineouts were equally one-way traffic with only one throw in the entire game secured by the Europeans.

With the Black Ferns equally as effective with their mauling, one-out running, and pick-and-goes, there was precious little ball that went the Germans' way.

The only negative points of the match for the Black Ferns were the sinbinning of flanker Izzy Gray and replacement halfback Emma Jensen after the referee deemed that the New Zealanders were infringing too frequently by leaving their feet at the breakdown.


At times in the second half the New Zealanders' passing got a little over-adventurous but they executed the basics well and coach Darryl Suasua was happy with the way his side went about their work.

"I was pleased with the little things we've been working on at training like getting the ball off the ground, retaining possession in the tackle and things like that," Suasua said.

"While the opposition wasn't that fantastic we did the basics well for most of the game.

"There was nothing flash in what we did to score the tries, just straight running and good handling."

Suasua was delighted with the performances of Vaaga and Robertson.

"It was terrific to see props running and passing like that. They broke the line well and had the skills to put a winger away. It means we have the skills from one to 15 and Germany found that pretty hard to counter today.

"That was probably the highlight for me today."

New Zealand now play Australia in the second round on Saturday, after the Australians beat Wales 28-0 in the other Pool A match.

The winner of that trans-Tasman showdown advances to the semifinals.

Result:

New Zealand 117 (Vanessa Cootes 5, Dianne Kahura 4, Tammi Wilson 2, Suzy Shortland, Helen Vaaga, Monique Hirovanaa, Cheryl Waaka, Melodie Robinson, Adrianne Lili'i, Emma Jensen, Rochelle Martin tries; Hannah Myers 7 con, Wilson 4 con). Halftime: 69-0.

- NZPA