The majestic Hakka of New Zealand against Australia

Thomas Seneke, Media 365: Posted on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 7:54 pm.

New Zealand, after frightening at the start of the match, included Australia (41-17) to open the World Cup on home soil. All after the Hakka would go down in history, in this necessarily specific context.

Each encounter between New Zealand and Australia has its own flavour, with regional supremacy always at stake. Especially when these two countries face each other in their first World Cup match, not to mention New Zealand, as was the case on Saturday at Eden Park in Auckland. So the Hakka Black Ferns – the New Zealand women’s team title – was eagerly awaited and did not disappoint, from the very strong lead. The Australians also had to show some flexibility and, like the guys a few weeks ago, they applied to form a V to win (imitation of the famous initiative of the French in the 2011 World Cup Final) and finish in midfield. In turn, the New Zealanders also advanced.

Australia led 17-0

Enough to sow sacred propriety around this match. But like the men on the last day of the rugby tournament, September 24 (40-14), there was no match at the end and New Zealand still reigned at home (41-17). But the Australians were in perfect shape, taking a 17-0 lead from the half-hour mark thanks to three attempts.

They still led 17-12 in the first half but were knocked out by six attempts, twice before the break and four after, including a hat-trick from Portia Woodman who scored three times in 25 minutes (36, 47, 61) – Robbie Toei closed the mark Twice in six minutes (68, 74), which achieved 27-0 in the second half alone. Finally a respected logic for the second world (Australia is seventh) and Title holders, holders with five crowns, including four in a row from 1998 to 2010.