Wait What? USA Women Put Massive Scare Into NZ

07.14.2023National Teams

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In a game that perhaps ended predictably but was a shocking turnabout for about 60 minutes, the USA Women's 15s team lost 39-17 to the New Zealand Black Ferns.

On the face of it, the scoreline was a massive improvement for the USA, which had not looked particularly strong against Canada in April or Australia last week. But that doesn't even consider the fact that the USA led for most of the game, and even with 17 minutes to go were behind just 22-17.

This was a much, much improved performance by the USA. Yes New Zealand rested some players. Yes New Zealand got a red card less than three minutes into the game for a very ill advised head-to-head shot from scrumhalf Iritana Hohaia. But New Zealand was also favored by something like 60 points. Instead, the Americans played very hard defense, were quick over the ball, forcing turnovers, and rattled the Black Ferns into some mistakes.

The USA took the lead soon after that red card to Hohaia thanks to flanker Freda Tafuna, and it could certainly be argued that the lack of a scrumhalf for New Zealand helped. Off a lineout Tafuna, who has been superb in her first two caps, popped off the back of a maul, had no one really marking her, and burst through from 20 meters for the try. McKenzie Hawkins converted and the USA led 7-0.

New Zealand started to shrug off the red card and were helped by a yellow card to USA flanker Georgia Perris-Redding. At even strength they were able to go over for a try out wide to make it 7-5.

But again the USA had the run of play. Still they struggled to make clan breaks, but they had good continuity, and when the Black Ferns had the ball the Eagle defense was very strong.

Continued pressure from the USA got them close to the line and finally No. 8 Rachel Johnson, another in good form, stretched over. Hawkins converted and it was 14-5. Late in the first half Hawkins would slot a penalty to make it 17-5 at the break. It would take a really negative view to point out that a successful offload from Summer Harris-Jones or a little better support for Jennine Detiveaux and it could have been 22-5 or better.

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world rugby pacific four series round four 4 chris tanouye world rugby via getty images

On the front foot the Eagles had scoring chances in the second half. An attacking lineout set up one excellent chance but they were held up—replays seemed to indicate the USA's Catie Benson hadn't reached the tryline when she was held up, so really it should have been a penalty to the Eagles rather than a goalline dropout. Ah well, it was a missed opportunity nonetheless. Other chances were felled by a missed pass here, or a little poor luck on the bounce.

That dropout actually led to a back-and-forth of kicks in which the Black Ferns were able to get it down to the line before Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu was set up for the score. Conversion good and it was 17-12.

Still the USA held on, and their tenacity showed when New Zealand opted for points on a kickable penalty instead of looking for the try. It remained 17-15 past the 50-minute mark and perhaps there was an upset in the making?

Certainly New Zealand had their work cut out for them, but they didn't panic and after a time it became clear that the Eagles were flagging a little bit. The Black Ferns finally broke through with Phillipa Love going over. And they then began to work their offloads and stretch the USA defense. Little holes showed up and New Zealand ran in three tries in the last 17 minutes.

39-17 New Zealand, but the score flattered the Pacific Four champs, and showed perhaps a glimpse of what this USA team could be if they continue to work hard and play with confidence. Certainly the young players stepped up to the challenge. In addition, the work rate in the forwards was much, much better than the game against Australia. The offensive shape is a bit one-note, but that's a tactical-coaching issue. As far as the players go, they may have taken a big step here.

“We know where we are in the future of WXV," said USA captain Kate Zackary, referring to the fact that the Eagles will be in Tier 2 of the WXV as the 4th team out of the Pacific Four. But, she added, "I’m absolutely stoked for this team. They were buzzing going into this match and the first half they were absolutely electric and everyone in the stands felt it, everyone at home hopefully felt it. Things are clicking that we haven’t quite had and that’s a real testament to what’s come in the future.”

“I don’t think the end score reflects the effort and game that the USA came out with," added New Zealand captain Black Ferns captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos said. "They came out hissing and it was a real tough game but we found a way. We obviously have a lot of new, young talent that we’re looking to grow and develop so this was a great game for that and we really lifted in the second half.”

Depsite this being a loss, this is probably the USA's best performance in several years.

Canada vs Australia

Led by captain Sophie de Goede and 60-cap Gillian Florence, Canada slammed Australia 45-7 to secure 2nd in the Pacific Four.

Pacific Four	W	L	T	PF	PA	PD	BT	BL	Pts
New Zealand	3	0	0	141	38	103	3	0	15
Canada	2	1	0	116	76	40	2	0	10
Australia	1	2	0	65	112	-47	1	0	5
USA	0	3	0	51	147	-96	0	0	0

USA 17
Tries: Tafuna, Johnson
Convs: Hawkins 2
Pens: Hawkins

New Zealand 39

Eagles: 1. Catie Benson 2. Kathryn Treder 3. Charli Jacoby 4. Rachel Ehrecke 5. Hallie Taufoou 6. Paluvava’u Freda Tafuna 7. Georgie Perris-Redding (VC) 8. Rachel Johnson 9. Taina Tukuafu 10. McKenzie Hawkins 11. Summer Harris-Jones 12. Eti Haungatau 13. Kate Zackary (C) 14. Jennine Detiveaux 15. Tess Feury Reserves: 16. Jett Hayward 17. Mona Tupou 18. Tiara A’au 19. Evelyn Ashenbrucker 20. Erica Jarrell 21. Olivia Ortiz 22. Joanne Fa’avesi 23. Meya Bizer

Black Ferns: 15 Tenika Willison, 14 Kelsey Teneti, 13 Amy du Plessis, 12 Grace Brooker, 11 Grace Steinmetz, 10 Rosie Kelly, 9 Iritana Hohaia, 1 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 2 Kendra Reynolds, 3 Lucy Jenkins, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos (C), 5 Joanah Ngan-Woo, 6 Amy Rule, 7 Grace Gago, 8 Esther Faiaoga-Tilo. Reserves: Georgia Ponsonby, Phillipa Love, Tanya Kalounivale, Chelsea Bremner, Kennedy Simon, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Ruahei Demant, Renee Holmes.

Eagle Women

Canada vs Australia

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