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.

2006 Rugby World Cup Final

Event	2006 Rugby World Cup
New Zealand England 25 17
Date	17 September 2006
Venue	Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Referee	Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Attendance	5500
Weather	Fine

Route to the final

Main article: 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup

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		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
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. 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. Scotland proved to be more resilient than Canada and Samoa as the Black Ferns were only able to score three tries. France were New Zealand's semifinal opponents and were defeated 40–10.

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. 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.

Match

17 September 2006

New Zealand	25–17	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

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.