New Zealand sweep aside Samoa to reach Women's World Cup final — SkimNews
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- New Zealand defeated Samoa 32-0 in the semifinal to reach a seventh successive World Cup final, having conceded only 24 points across their three group games.
- Australia beat New Zealand in each of the Kiwi Ferns’ three finals after 2008, including a 54-4 loss four years ago at Old Trafford, while debutants Fiji contest the other semifinal.
- Stacey Waaka was named player of the match after running 131 metres, scoring a hat-trick, recording two line breaks and line-break assists, adding a try assist and making three tackle breaks.
- Raecene McGregor supplied the pinpoint kick for Stacey Waaka’s second try and scored New Zealand’s final try herself.
- Mele Hufanga held off three Samoa defenders to cross for a try, with Kaiyah Atai scoring just over two minutes later as New Zealand went through the gears.
- Samoa made several handling errors, with Pauline Piliae-Rasabale twice pulled up for forward passes on the right, leaving 18-year-old Anastasia Leatupue without the ball in good attacking positions.
- Fanua Rimoni was a powerful, dominant presence at lock forward, while teenage winger Anastasia Leatupue delivered a nerveless international debut.
Why it matters: New Zealand’s seventh successive final puts them one victory from a fourth championship after three titles between 2000-2008 and three straight defeats to Australia, including the 54-4 loss four years ago. Samoa’s campaign ends, but Fanua Rimoni and Anastasia Leatupue give the defeated side substance beyond the 32-0 scoreline.
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