Rugby: Black Ferns find their mojo with strong win over France

Katelyn Vahaakolo of New Zealand scores a try during their WXV1 women’s rugby union match against France Women at BC Place, Vancouver, Canada on Saturday 12 October 2024. Photo credit: Jeff Vinnick / www.photosport.nz Photo: WWW.PHOTOSPORT.NZ

Katelyn Vaha'akolo scored a hat-trick of tries as the Black Ferns broke their run of losses at the WXV 1 tournament with a 39-14 over France in Vancouver.

It was the final test match of the year for the New Zealanders, who responded brilliantly after staring in the face of a drop to fourth in the world rankings had they lost to France.

The Black Ferns had already lost to Ireland and England at this tournament and needed a big boost in their last test match of the year, ahead of next year's World Cup.

They started strongly, chalking up two tries before the French hit back, impressing with their physical approach and getting to within a point of the Kiwi side on the verge of halftime.

But an audacious decision to turn down a penalty shot in front of the posts saw Vaha'akolo score the second of her two tries to enable New Zealand to take a 20-14 lead at the break.

There were areas of fragility in the Black Ferns game up until this stage, with them lacking cohesion and their kicking game askew.

But they were a different side in the second half, charging into the forward exchanges with venom and looking slick and inventive in the backs.

France, the world number four ranked team, could not find an answer to the Ferns' extra zest and failed to add to their score in the second half.

Vaha'akolo was brilliant on the left wing, getting involved in general play with surging runs and being a clinical finisher on the end of some dazzling team moves.

In the forwards, hooker Georgia Ponsonby and No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker took on the French defence with bruising runs all games, while backline general Ruahei Demant sparked the backs' resurgence in this match.

Demant was pleased with the form turnaround, saying their running and kicking was well balanced.

"We played to the obvious spaces, and were really decisive in our kicking game,'' she told Sky Sport.

"On top of that I thought we showed a lot of heart in our tackles and our defence, especially our outsides this week.

"You never know what France team is going to turn up on the day and it was a lot harder than what the scoreboard shows, but I'm really proud of our team today.

Score: Black Ferns 39 (Katelyn Vaha'akolo 3, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Alana Bremner, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Tanya Kalounivale tries, Hannah King 2 con) France 14 (Emeline Gros, Manae Feleutries, Lina Queyroi 2 con). Halftime: 20-14.