Rugby: Black Ferns too good for Canada

Black Ferns' Aroha Savage in action. Photo / Photosport

New Zealand 28 Canada 16

By Campbell Burnes

The rust and cobwebs are gone and the Black Ferns will turn to their work-ons after defeating world No 3 Canada at Westpac Stadium in tonight's Super Rugby curtainraiser.

Uppermost of those work-ons will be discipline after they conceded a plethora of penalties and lost prop Pip Love and first five Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali to the sinbin in what was a torrid encounter.

But they were never in serious doubt of losing a home test match for the first time since 2001, despite Canada presenting a powerful scrum and having shoulders to the wheel defensively. Instead, the Black Ferns leaned on two tries and four goals by their dynamo halfback Kendra Cocksedge, who is lethal close to the line with any room to dart. She was a clear choice for player of the day.

In the pack, openside flanker Sarah Goss, the Black Ferns Sevens skipper, was involved and accurate in most of what she did, while lock Charmaine Smith put in a quality 80-minute shift.

Cocksedge and fullback Selica Winiata, who scored an outstanding solo try from a grubber, were the standouts in the backs. Portia Woodman saw very little ball on the wing, but hit like a hammer in the tackle, with her diminutive opposite Magali Harvey often in the firing line.

"Canada really gave it to us. They are a physical team," said captain and hooker Fiao'o Fa'amausili, who scored the opening try from a perfectly executed lineout drive.

In the earlier international in Porirua, England cleaned out Australia 53-10, with Sarah McKenna running in a hat-trick.

The Blacks Ferns now face the Australian Wallaroos on Tuesday in Christchurch, their first international in that city for 20 years. Canada will look to take down world No 2 England.

Black Ferns 28 (Kendra Cocksedge 2, Fiao'o Fa'amausili, Selica Winiata tries; Cocksedge 4 con)
Canada 16 (Jacey Grusnick, Elissa Alarie tries; Magali Harvey 2 pen)
HT: 14-8