Rugby World Cup: Black Ferns thrash Wales 56-12 to reach quarter-finals

Wales 12-56 New Zealand, Waitakere Stadium

New Zealand ran a 10-try riot as they went on to beat Wales 56-12 in their Pool A encounter in the Rugby World Cup at Waitakere Stadium on Sunday.

The result meant the Black Ferns have qualified to the quarter-finals with 10 points from two matches with Australia and Wales occupying the next two places with four points apiece. Scotland with two narrow defeats are at the bottom with two points.

Wales managed to hold off in the opening phases of the game as Gwen Crabb looked set with a good carry but was kept out by an interception from Ruby Tui as the teams remained scoreless.

New Zealand had their chance as Tanya Kalounivale was held up before the line but eventually lock Chelsea Bremner dived from close range for the opening try but Ruahei Demant missed out on the conversion. In the 23rd minute, Portia Woodman showed her class as she sped past a couple of defenders to score their second try but the conversion was wide once again.

There was no respite whatsoever for Wales as Woodman passed the ball wide and got into the Wales territory and passed to Alana Bremner, who in turn offloaded for Sylvia Brunt to touchdown and a third conversion miss from Demant meant the Black Ferns were 15-0 ahead.

A second try from Woodman after beating tackles from Jasmine Joyce and Kayleigh Powell inside the half-hour mark meant New Zealand moved to 0-22 before Wales finally got their first points at the stroke of half time with Ffion Lewis diving over and Elinor Snowsill's conversion.

New Zealand were the quickest to get off the block in the second half as Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Theresa Fitzpatrick and Brunt all scoring within 10 minutes of the restart to make it 7-39. New Zealand inched towards the 50 point mark as replacement prop Krystal Murray powered her way through and Demant kicked the conversion.

Wales were handed a reprieve as New Zealand were down to 14 players for most of the final 10 minutes as Hirini was sent to sin bin for collapsing a maul but despite that Demant went past a tackle from Powell to score their ninth try making it 7-51. New Zealand were down by 13 players as number eight Charmaine McMenamin was yellow carded in the 75th minute for a deliberate knock on.

However, the final stage of the game saw Sioned Harries and Tui exchange tries as New Zealand completed another dominating victory.

"I'm really proud of our mental strength," said New Zealand captain Ruahei Demant.

"I'm happy that we had the courage to play into space regardless of where we were on the field and didn't take the easy road by taking contact all the time."

Team line up:

New Zealand: Ruby Tui; Renee Wickliffe, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i Brunt, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Portia Woodman; Ruahei Demant (C) Ariana Bayler; Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Chelsea Bremner, Alana Bremner, Kendra Reynolds, Charmaine McMenamin.

Reserves: Luka Connor, Krystal Murray, Santo Taumata, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Sarah Hirini, Kendra Cocksedge, Amy du Plessis, Hazel Tubic.

Wales: Kayleigh Powell; Jasmine Joyce, Megan Webb, Hannah Jones, Lisa Neumann; Elinor Snowsill, Ffion Lewis; Cara Hope, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Siwan Lillicrap (C), Gwen Crabb, Bethan Lewis, Sioned Harries.

Reserves: Kat Evans, Caryl Thomas, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Alex Callender, Keira Bevan, Robyn Wilkins, Kerin Lake.