Great lineout set piece BFs

@Stargazer the Black Ferns player dipped but yeah the reasoning is strange

Try to Grace Gago.

5 - 7 USA

That should have been a scrum penalty to NZ. Not given.

Very frustrating watch, Black Ferns just need to breathe and not make their tackles standing upright. They're down a player but they can still win, lots of handling errors as well

No release in the tackle before the turnover

She didn't even tap the ball????

Terrible refereeing. And that red card totally ruined the game. Two reasons the USA are in front.

5 - 14 USA

The commentators talking up the USA. They know the USA have a player more, don't they?

Having said that, the Ferns must adapt better and calm the heck down.

Mikaele-Tu'u sent to the bin for repeated (team) infringing. Ferns down to 13.

Haha, and the USA don't back themselves and go for a kick at goal.

5 - 17 USA

Well, I think it's going to be tough from here. Red card was hard to argue with, But agee with @Stargazer no way did the girl take the tap before second try. I not even sure why Bunting isn't putting on a 9, this 10 is struggling to adapt.

Arihiana is on at 21 so should hopefully bring some level headedness at halfback

Demant shouldn't have kicked that, but she probably did because she's not fast enough.

Replacement players having a great impact

Try to Marino-Tauhinu, converted by Holmes.

12 - 17 USA

Penalty goal Renee Holmes.

15 - 17 USA

Been a good test to see how the team performs under duress just need to be a little more composed ,just looking a bit frantic at times

Classic example right there,could have kept it in the scrum and pulled a penalty

The experience of the NZ bench has made a huge difference. Many of the starters were rookies.

Typical frontrow try to Pip Love. Fantastic kick from Holmes to convert it.

22 - 17 NZ

Why do you have to use the ball at scrumtime when you are clearly moving forward..?

Shit that was good from Mikaele-Tu'u

Shit, didn't realise this was on at this time and it is a Utrecht Shield match which could change hands!

LMT's try is converted by Holmes.

29 - 17 NZ

Try to Demant. Not converted.

34 - 17 NZ

The natural order is restored.

Ruahei named POTM after coming on at the 30th minute.

34 unanswered points with in the 2nd half is very impressive from the BFs especially after being down to 14 after a couple of minutes

Try to Amy du Plessis. Not converted.

Full time: New Zealand 39 - 17 USA

I have to say, obviously when the experience came on was great help. But just saying to my wife these girls aren't bloody good women's players, they are just good rugby players fullstop!
I can't get over the improvement over the last few years, I really enjoy watching them!

@Davesofthunder said in Black Ferns v USA (Pacific Four):

Shit, didn't realise this was on at this time and it is a Utrecht Shield match which could change hands!

Me too, I thought it was tomorrow morning bugger

Oh, only a minor detail for the record, the Black Ferns have won the 2023 Pacific Four Series!

I felt a bit sorry for the rookies as circumstances meant it was a difficult 1st half. Too many dropped passes and handling errors though.

It was obvious that Bunting needed to bring on Marino-Tauhinu so it was a surprise to see Demant replace Brooker first.

The ref was very inconsistent and Rees was terrible as a commentator by mixing up Roos and Ngan-Woo for most of the game. Of course, the fuck ups started with the PA introduction!

Still no highlights of this game on YouTube. Not of the U20s & FPC games, either.

I'm not sure when this happened.

New Zealand’s Tanya Kalounivale will appear before an independent judicial committee on a date to be confirmed, after she was cited for an offence contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle) in New Zealand’s match against USA on the final day of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series on 14 July.

The independent Disciplinary Committee that will hear the matter will be confirmed in the coming days.

@Bovidae Yeah, I read that too. Can't remember seeing it either.

So Tanya Kalounivale got 3 weeks, as did Iritana Hohaia. WR's disciplinary process update is a complete waste when they don't even state when and against who the high tackle was against.