Ferns win again in Kitakyushu

Photo: Mike Lee/KLC fotos.

While not quite as predictable as Day One, the team lifting the trophy at the end of the second day in Japan was New Zealand as – with two rounds still to go – they now seem to have a vice-like grip on the title.  10 points clear at the top it would require something extraordinary to stop the Fems winning the title now.

Earlier in the day the top three in the series had few problems in their quarter-finals, though Australian hearts skipped a beat when France took an early lead with the day’s first try from Pauline Biscarrat, but normal programming was soon restored as – with the aid of Emilee Cherry’s 100thseries try – the holders came through 19-12.

Canada blew Russia away 41-0, and – Abbie Brown try notwithstanding – New Zealand cruised past England 21-5.

Fiji against the United States could have gone either way, however. The islanders may be in the series top four but they had yet to get to a semi-final this season, whereas the Eagles had tasted life at every level, from Challenge round to Cup final.

And it was the USA, thanks to their wingers, Kristen Thomas and Naya Tapper, who went into the break ahead 12-5. But the second half was a different matter as Fiji as Tima Ravisa and Rusila Nagasau tore holes in the Eagle’s line to turn the game around and win 26-12.

The top four seeds were in the semi-finals, but the games were far from close. New Zealand saw off Fiji 21-0, but before that Canada destroyed the young Australia team with an immense display, Julia Greenshields opening the scoring, leaving Charlotte Caslick in her wake, repeating the feat just before half-time, and then doing it again at the start of the second half. Landry and Benn added  their scores to the shell-(or Greenshield-)shocked Australians as Canada raced to the final 33-0.

The shock seemed to continue into the Bronze Medal game as Fiji raced into a 12-0 lead up half-time as first the power of Raijieli Daveua held off Caslick, and then Merewai Cumu danced through the defence for a second score before the break. The crowd was left wondering when was the last time the Olympic Champions had conceded 45 points in 21 minutes without getting on the board themselves.

It took one of their youngsters to turn things around as Dominique du Toit came on and scored almost immediately for Australia in the second half. Lavenia Tinai quickly restored the two-try lead for Fiji, but the missed conversion allowed Australia to close within three points when Emma Sykes scored a minute later.

Then with time almost up on the clock Australia shifted the ball from right to left. Out it went to Chloe Dalton who showed her speed snatch the win Australia.

Canada, with 74 unanswered points in their two knock-out games, were clearly on form for the final – if anyone could stop the Ferns taking a third title it would be them. And they soon showed they meant business as Hannah Darling opened the scoring for them near the end of the first half – but the Ferns responded straightaway to tie things up a 7-7 at half-time.

The second period was a titanic battle before, with two minutes left, Ghislaine Landry, hauled down just before the line by Michaela Blyde, found Jennifer Kish in support to put Canada ahead.

But the Ferns never give up. First Portia Woodman scored to bring New Zealand back to within two points and then from the final play they kept the ball alive before Michaela Blyde, the top try scorer this season, finally found the space to win the game.  The most predictable of weekends had given us one of the best finals.

Elsewhere Russia took fifth with a big 31-0 win over England, who will be pleased with a weekend that pulled them to within two series points of the final automatic World Cup qualifying place as France – despite their heroics against New Zealand and Australia – slipped to eighth behind the USA.

Relegation is also still far from decided, though Spain marginally increased their lead over Brazil to three points as their finished tenth, losing to Ireland in the Challenge final while Brazil beat Japan for 11thplace. But three points is nothing in this series – if Brazil grab were to a quarter-final spot in the next round that could evaporate overnight. There is still much to play for at the bottom of the table.

Cup Quarter Finals:Australia  19 - 12 France; Canada  41 - 0 Russia; Fiji  26 - 19 United States; New Zealand  21 - 5 England

Challenge Trophy Semi Finals:Brazil  5 - 24 Ireland; Spain  14 - 5 Japan

5th Place Semi Finals:France  5 - 26 Russia; United States  24 - 26 England

Cup Semi Finals:Australia  0 - 33 Canada; Fiji  0 - 21 New Zealand

11th Place Play-Off:Brazil  12 - 10 Japan

Challenge Trophy Final:Ireland  26 - 7 Spain

7th Place Play-Off:France  14 - 31 United States

5th Place Play-Off:Russia  31 - 0 England

Bronze Final:Australia  19 - 17 Fiji

Cup Final:Canada  14 - 17 New Zealand

Probable draw for Langford:

Pool A:New Zealand, England, United States, Netherlands

Pool B:Canada, Russia, France, Brazil

Pool C:Australia, Fiji, Ireland, Spain

Series(WCQ - qualified for 2018 World Cup. WC1 etc. - currently in a qualification place for the World Cup)

Team

Dubai

Sydney

Las Vegas

Kitakyushu

Langford

Clermont

Pts

New Zealand (WCQ)

20

16

20

20

-

-

76

Australia (WC1)

18

14

18

16

-

-

66

Canada (WCQ)

10

20

16

18

-

-

64

Fiji (WC2)

12

12

12

14

-

-

50

Russia (WC3)

16

8

10

12

-

-

46

United States (WCQ)

2

18

14

8

-

-

42

France (WC4)

8

10

8

6

-

-

32

England

14

3

3

10

-

-

30

Ireland

4

6

6

4

-

-

20

Spain (WCQ)

3

2

4

3

-

-

12

Brazil

1

4

2

2

-

-

9

South Africa

6

-

-

-

-

-

6

Japan

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

Papua New Guinea

-

1

-

-

-

-

1

Argentina

-

-

1

-

-

-

1