TWICKENHAM, London — New Zealand beat France 42-26 within the Girls’s Rugby World Cup third-place playoff match on the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
The Black Ferns have been knocked out of the event within the semifinals by Canada final week in what was their first defeat in 18 World Cup video games.
Nonetheless, they ended their marketing campaign on a excessive with a cultured win over France, who pushed England shut of their semifinal.
Les Bleus opened the scoring at Twickenham with Pauline Bourdon going over after 10 minutes.
It solely served to jolt New Zealand into life with co-captain Ruahei Demant responding lower than 5 minutes late, scoring beneath the posts after some sustained strain.
The rating was locked at 7-7 for the following quarter-hour earlier than centre Sylvia Brunt scored to place the Black Ferns forward for the primary time.
Brunt was concerned in her aspect’s third with a splendidly labored transfer down proper wing.
Renee Holmes linked up with Brunt to bamboozle the French defence, earlier than Holmes completed the attempt to give New Zealand some respiratory room.
Moments later, the Black Ferns had one other down the identical aspect of the pitch. This time it was Jorja Miller who broke down the wing earlier than handing off to the supporting Laura Bayfield to attain.
Not desirous to miss out on the try-scoring motion, 18-year-old Braxton Sorensen-McGee grabbed her customary strive not lengthy after the restart with a piercing run down the suitable wing.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe left the sector simply shy of the hour mark in what was doubtlessly her final sport for New Zealand.
The 34-year-old got here out of retirement for the World Cup and was visibly emotional when she was proven on the massive display.
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The sight of the legendary winger introduced an enormous cheer from the group. Minutes later Sorensen-McGee, who has been dubbed Woodman-Wickliffe’s inheritor, scored a second and New Zealand have been out of sight.
France hit again twice in fast succession with tries from Léa Champon and Gaby Vernier to start a come again, with fullback Emilie Boulard including her aspect’s fourth strive quickly after to arrange a decent end.
Nonetheless, it was too little, too late as New Zealand held on to say third place on the event.
