2006 Women's Rugby World Cup final

The 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup Final was a rugby union match that determined the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup winner. The match took place on 17 September 2006 at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada. It was contested between New Zealand and England for the second time in a row. It was England's fourth appearance in a Final and New Zealand's third. New Zealand won their third consecutive title after beating England 25–17.[2][3][4]

2006 Rugby World Cup Final
Event2006 Rugby World Cup
Date17 September 2006
VenueCommonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
RefereeSimon McDowell (Ireland)[1]
Attendance5500
WeatherFine
2002
2010

Route to the final

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New Zealand Round England
Opponent Result Pool stage Opponent Result
  Canada 66–7 Match 1   United States 18–0
  Samoa 50–0 Match 2   South Africa 74–8
  Scotland 21–0 Match 3   France 27–8
Pool A ⇔ Pool D
Pool Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Points
A   New Zealand 3 0 0 137 7 14
D   Canada 2 0 1 131 71 10
D   Scotland 2 0 1 56 38 10
D   Samoa 1 0 2 32 69 5
A   Spain 1 0 2 14 115 4
A   Kazakhstan 0 0 3 22 97 0

[Note 1]

Final standing Pool B ⇔ Pool C
Pool Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Points
B   England 3 0 0 119 16 14
C   France 2 0 1 75 37 10
C   United States 2 0 1 34 35 9
B   Australia 1 0 2 88 42 6
B   Ireland 1 0 2 48 67 5
C   South Africa 0 0 3 20 179 0

[Note 1]

Opponent Result Knockout stage Opponent Result
  France 40–10 Semi-finals   Canada 10–6

The pool stage of the 2006 World Cup was played in a cross-pool league system. Teams in Pool A competed against teams in Pool D, and Pool B teams competed against those in Pool C. New Zealand was in Pool A and played against Canada, Scotland and Samoa who were in Pool D. England was in Pool B and played France, the United States and South Africa from Pool C.

New Zealand played hosts, Canada, as they scored ten tries to begin their title defence. Canada only managed a converted try and couldn't stop the Black Ferns trouncing them 66–7.[5] Samoa with their New Zealand based players were unsuccessful in scoring any points. Amiria Rule scored a hat-trick in the match as NewZealand scored 50 unanswered points.[6][7] Scotland proved to be more resilient than Canada and Samoa as the Black Ferns were only able to score three tries.[8] France were New Zealand's semifinal opponents and were defeated 40–10.[9][10]

England beat inaugural champions, the United States, in the opening round of the World Cup 18–0 and then overwhelmed the South Africans 74–8.[7] England's last pool game was against France, they won 27–8. England came too close for comfort in their semifinal against Canada, they barely scrapped by with a 10–6 win.[11]

Match

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17 September 2006
  New Zealand25–17  England
Try: Codling
Mortimer
Heighway
Marsh
Con: Jensen
Pen: Jensen
Try: Penalty Try
Clayton
Con: Andrew
Rae
Pen: Andrew
Commonwealth Stadium
Attendance: 5500
Referee:   S. McDowell
FB 15 Amiria Marsh
RW 14 Claire Richardson
OC 13 Huriana Manuel
IC 12 Exia Edwards
LW 11 Stephanie Mortimer
FH 10 Anna Richards
SH 9 Emma Jensen
N8 8 Linda Itunu
OF 7 Rochelle Martin
BF 6 Melissa Ruscoe
RL 5 Victoria Heighway
LL 4 Monalisa Codling
TP 3 Casey Robertson
HK 2 Farah Palmer
LP 1 Diane Maliukaetau
Replacements:
HK 16 Fiao’o Fa’amausili
PR 17 Helen Va'aga
LK 18 Kimberley Smith
FL 19 Shannon Willoughby
SH 20 Waimania Teddy
FH 21 Rebecca Hull
CE 22 Hannah Myers
Coach:
  Jed Rowlands
FB 15 Charlotte Barras
RW 14 Danielle Waterman
OC 13 Susan Day
IC 12 Kimberley Oliver
LW 11 Kimberley Shaylor|
FH 10 Karen Andrew
SH 9 Catherine Spencer
N8 8 Catherine Spencer
OF 7 Margaret Alphonsi
BF 6 Georgia Stevens
RL 5 Jennifer Lyne
LL 4 Jennifer Sutton
TP 3 Vanessa Gray
HK 2 Amy Garnett
LP 1 Rochelle Clark
Replacements:
HK 16 Selena Rudge
PR 17 Vanessa Huxford
PR 18 Tamara Taylor
LK 19 Helen Clayton
SH 20 Amy Turner
FH 21 Shelley Rae
CE 22 Nicola Crawford
Coach:
  Geoff Richards

Summary

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England dominated the first half of a tough match. English fly-half Karen Andrew scored the first points of the game after she successfully kicked a penalty in the third minute. New Zealand later equalized just before the 30th minute after a missed penalty earlier in the ninth. Two minutes before halftime Black Ferns Lock Monalisa Codling scored a try that put them in the lead 10–3 with a successful conversion from Scrum-half Emma Jensen. Stephanie Mortimer increased the Black Ferns lead to 15–3 with a try at the start of the second half. In the 49th minute England was awarded a penalty try and Karen Andrew's conversion brought them within five points of New Zealand, the score now 15–10. Victoria Heighway scored another try for the Black Ferns to make it 20–10. Helen Clayton scored England's last try and Shelley Rae converted it to bring the points to 20–17. Amiria Marsh's try sealed the deal for New Zealand as they celebrated their 25–17 victory and third World Cup title.[2][3][12]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b See: 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup Format for information about Pool stage

References

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  1. ^ "Hollie Davidson Appointed Referee for Rugby World Cup 2021 Final".
  2. ^ a b "Black Ferns edge England in Women's RWC Final". ESPN.com. 18 September 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "History | Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  4. ^ "2006: New Zealand retain Women's RWC crown". www.world.rugby. 17 September 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Black Ferns vs Canada". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Black Ferns vs Samoa". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b "SA humbled at Women's RWC". News24. 5 September 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Black Ferns vs Scotland". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Black Ferns vs France". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Black Ferns close in on their third Rugby World Cup". www.taipeitimes.com. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Women's Rugby World Cup results". BBC Sport. 9 September 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Black Ferns vs England". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.