New Zealand has its second win at the Rugby World Cup and has secured a place in the quarter finals, with the Black Ferns easily overcoming Wales 56-12 this afternoon.
Portia Woodman in action against Wales at the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
The win sees New Zealand lock up the top spot in Pool A and a place in the quarter-finals along with England and Canada.
The Black Ferns led 22-7 at half-time, with three tries early in the second half sealing the result.
Prolific winger Portia Woodman and 18-year-old centre Sylvia Brunt both crossed twice as the five-times world champions ran in 10 tries in a bonus point win to delight the crowd at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.
Black Ferns captain Ruahei Demant stands behind the scrum in the match against Wales. Photo: Photosport
Woodman's combination of power and pace was all but irresistible at times as she improved her tally to 18 tries in seven World Cup matches and her overall mark to 36 in 22 tests.
Brunt scored the pick of the tries with her second effort, however, crossing in the 49th minute at the end of a sweeping 80-metre attack in which the ball passed through a series of New Zealand hands.
"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."
Ruby Tui of hugs try scorer Sylvia Brunt of the Black Ferns. Photo: Photosport
With some dominant scrums and powerful rolling mauls, Wales gave New Zealand a reminder of potential challenges ahead if, as looks likely, they meet European powers England and France later in the tournament.
It was from the lineout drive, a major weapon for tournament favourites England, that the Welsh scored both of their tries through scrumhalf Ffion Lewis and number eight Sioned Harries.
Any hopes of a comeback after Lewis's try just before halftime were quickly extinguished, though, when Black Ferns lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos and centre Theresa Fitzpatrick crossed for tries in the four minutes after the restart.
Black Fern Alana Bremner makes a run at the Welsh defence. Photo: Photosport
New Zealand number eight Charmaine McMenamin was in the sin bin for the last 10 minutes but the New Zealanders still added further tries from Demant and fullback Ruby Tui, the latter set up almost inevitably by another Woodman break.
See how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog
"It was a brutal 80 minutes," said Wales skipper Siwan Lillicrap.
"I've got to credit the Black Ferns. When they throw the ball around, their pick-and goes, their offloads, their strength, they are brutal."
While New Zealand can afford to rest some of their players for their final pool match against winless Scotland, Wales now almost certainly need to beat Australia next week to reach the knockout rounds.
The Black Ferns' next game is against Scotland in Whangārei on Saturday.
Earlier today, Canada beat Italy 22-12.
- Reuters