Ruby Tui was a force of nature, scoring four of New Zealand’s 12 tries against Wales in Dunedin
WXV1: New Zealand vs Wales
New Zealand (27) 70
Tries: Paul 3, Tui 4, du Plessis, Vahaakolo, Demant, Jenkins 2
Conversions: Holmes 5
Wales (0) 7
Try: Fleming
Conversion: Wilkins
Wales’ elusive dream of defeating the Black Ferns remains just that—a dream—as New Zealand’s stellar women rugby players showed their mastery on the field in Dunedin.
A 32-year-long losing streak against the Black Ferns continued for the Welsh, who could only watch as the reigning world champions racked up 12 tries. Among them, Ruby Tui stole the limelight with four tries, while her fellow winger Mererangi Paul wasn’t far behind with a hat-trick.
Wales managed a lone score, courtesy of Abbie Fleming, in the latter half of the match, but it was barely a dent in New Zealand’s armor. Now they’ll be aiming to recover their pride in the final WXV1 clash against Australia this Friday.
Meanwhile, New Zealand is gearing up for a mouthwatering rematch against England in Auckland, mirroring last year’s Rugby World Cup finale.
How it Unfolded
Wales had hoped their seventh face-off against New Zealand would finally break the hex. Unfortunately, they could barely contain the host nation’s blistering offensive game.
It took the Black Ferns a mere 12 minutes to breach Wales’ defense, and once they did, it was try galore. In the first half alone, all five tries were perfectly placed wide, offering acres of space for a returning Mererangi Paul to score unopposed.
Soon after, Ruby Tui seized on a pinpoint crossfield kick from Ruahei Demant and evaded two defenders to land yet another try in the corner. Wales then took a hit when their 18-year-old full-back Nel Metcalfe, in her international debut, received a yellow card for hair-pulling.
This sent Wales’ defensive setup into further chaos, as Tui seemed to relish the open field ahead of her, racking up three tries with her electrifying speed.
While Wales did show some offensive flair, notably through Lleucu George’s crossfield kicks targeting Jasmine Joyce, their lineouts broke down under the immense pressure from the Kiwi defense.
The second half was much of the same story, as New Zealand opted for a more direct approach. Amy du Plessis barreled through the defense to score a try, making life easy for Renee Holmes’ conversion.
Despite a few gallant try-saving tackles from Joyce, she was powerless against an inside pass that allowed Paul to register her second try.
Even though Wales had moments of forward pressure, leading to Fleming’s score, their hopes for a comeback fizzled out. Substitute Katelyn Vahaakolo seized her chance, scoring mere moments after stepping onto the field, and captain Demant along with another sub, Lucy Jenkins, put the icing on the cake with additional tries.
Paul rounded off her hat-trick with a last-minute stunner, leaving no room for debate about New Zealand’s dominance.
Players’ Remarks
New Zealand’s captain Ruahei Demant remarked, “We played the way we practiced, achieving great team synergy. Not to take anything away from Wales—they pressured us—but it’s fulfilling to see our plans come to fruition.”
Wales’ head coach Ioan Cunningham said, “It’s tough, we’re hurting, but it’s a part of the steep learning curve. We’ve got a week to regroup and aim for a strong finish against Australia.”
The Line-ups
New Zealand: Renee Holmes; Ruby Tui, Amy du Plessis, Sylvia Brunt, Mererangi Paul; Ruahei Demant (co-capt), Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu; Kate Henwood, Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Chelsea Bremner, Layla Sae, Kennedy Simon (co-capt), Liana Mikaele-Tu’u.
Replacements: Luka Connor, Krystal Murray, Tanya Kalounivale, Alana Bremner, Lucy Jenkins, Iritana Hohaia, Patricia Maliepo, Martha Mataele.
Wales: Nel Metcalfe; Jasmine Joyce, Hannah Jones (capt), Hannah Bluck, Carys Williams-Morris; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming, Kate Williams, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Sioned Harries.
Replacements: Kat Evans, Abbey Constable, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Bryonie King, Bethan Lewis, Megan Davies, Robyn Wilkins, Megan Webb.
Officiating Team
Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA)
Assistants: Hollie Davidson (SRU), Sara Cox (RFU)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about New Zealand vs Wales Rugby Match Recap
What was the final score of the New Zealand vs Wales rugby match in Dunedin?
The final score was New Zealand 70, Wales 7.
Who were the standout players for New Zealand?
Ruby Tui scored four tries and Mererangi Paul notched a hat-trick, making them the standout players for New Zealand.
Did Wales manage to score any tries?
Yes, Wales did manage to score a try through Abbie Fleming in the second half of the match.
What were the key moments for New Zealand?
New Zealand had several key moments including Ruby Tui latching onto a perfectly executed crossfield kick from Ruahei Demant to score a try, and Amy du Plessis powering through a hole in the Welsh defense for another score.
Was this match part of a tournament?
Yes, this match was part of the WXV1 series.
When is Wales’ next match?
Wales will be facing Australia in their final WXV1 match on the coming Friday.
Who will New Zealand be playing next?
New Zealand is set to play against England in Auckland, in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s Rugby World Cup final.
Were there any penalties or cards given during the match?
Yes, Nel Metcalfe of Wales was shown a yellow card for pulling hair, marking her first international start with a penalty.
What did the captains and coaches have to say post-match?
New Zealand’s captain Ruahei Demant expressed satisfaction over the team’s performance and execution of their plans. On the other hand, Wales’ head coach Ioan Cunningham acknowledged the loss as a part of a “steep learning curve.”
Who were the officials for this match?
The referee was Amber McLachlan, assisted by Hollie Davidson and Sara Cox. The TMO was Rachel Horton.
What was the line-up for both teams?
New Zealand’s line-up included players like Ruby Tui, Amy du Plessis, and co-captains Ruahei Demant and Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu among others. Wales’ line-up featured players like Nel Metcalfe, Jasmine Joyce, and captain Hannah Jones.
More about New Zealand vs Wales Rugby Match Recap
- Black Ferns Official Site
- Wales Women’s Rugby Official Site
- WXV1 Series Overview
- New Zealand vs Wales Historical Matchup Stats
- Ruby Tui’s Player Profile
- Mererangi Paul’s Player Profile
- World Rugby Women’s Rankings
- Rugby World Cup Women’s History
- Post-match Interviews and Highlights
- Upcoming Rugby Matches and Schedules
10 comments
Wow, New Zealand really showed their class here! 70-7 is no joke, people. Ruby Tui is on fire!
Not to brag or anything, but the Black Ferns are World Champions for a reason. Dunedin was practically a rugby clinic, y’know?
Tough loss but we’ll bounce back! Fleming’s try was a glimmer of hope at least. Australia, here we come.
12 tries is impressive. But, I was also impressed by Joyce’s try-saving tackles for Wales. not all doom and gloom for them.
Mererangi Paul with the hat trick! girl’s got skillz.
Ref Amber McLachlan was spot on. No controversial calls, which is how it should be.
Can’t wait for the NZ vs England match. If it’s anything like last year’s world cup final, we’re in for a treat.
Anyone else see that yellow card for hair pulling? Nel Metcalfe, welcome to international rugby, haha.
Wales really need to work on those attacking lineouts. Kiwi defense was just too good.
Seriously, what’s up with NZ’s wing space? Tui had acres. It was like Christmas in October for her.