Black Ferns vs France: late tries seal 31-12 win and series in Whangarei

The Black Ferns have wrapped up their three-Test series against France, but they had to work much harder for it than the week before. They beat the French 31-12 in Whangarei on Saturday 24 October, and the game was only made safe by three tries in the closing stages.

It was a milestone day as well. The match was the 150th Test the Black Ferns have played, and the win gives them an unbeatable lead in the series after they thrashed France 81-12 in Hamilton in the opener.

A much closer contest

Anyone expecting a repeat of Hamilton soon found out otherwise. France scored first when hooker Mathilde Lazarko went over from a driving maul, and wing Anaïs Grando added a second try. The tourists were behind by only 14-12 at half-time.

French forward Ambre Mwayembe looked to have scored, but Ruahei Demant held her up over the line and the try was ruled out after the TMO had a look. France played on without any replacements left, after using them all up during the game, according to New Zealand Rugby.

Sorensen-McGee's solo try

New Zealand went on to pull away in the final stages. Mererangi Paul scored twice, and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua'a, Amarante Sititi and Braxton Sorensen-McGee got one try each.

The try everyone will remember came from 19-year-old Sorensen-McGee, who ran in alone from about 60 metres out and then kicked the conversion herself.

Demant was quick to praise the visitors. "Full credit to the French, the score definitely doesn't reflect how hard it was," she said, adding: "We knew that today was going to be a challenge and a really different game to seven days ago in Kirikiriroa".

The two teams meet for the last time in Christchurch next weekend, when the series ends. The date is on our rugby fixtures page.