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9 May 2025 19:04
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  •   Home > News > Sports

    NSW Waratahs lose Super Rugby Women's Champions final 36-5 against Auckland Blues in appalling conditions

    Super W champions the Waratahs have been beaten 36-5 in atrocious conditions by the Blues in the first ever Super Rugby Women's Champions clash in Auckland.


    Australian champions NSW Waratahs have fallen to a 36-5 defeat in the inaugural Super Rugby Women's Championship final against the Blues in Auckland.

    A first-half double from 18-year-old fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee either side of a Elizabith Moimoi score gave the Blues a 19-0 lead at the break.

    The Waratahs had some possession to start the second half, but the Blues soon re-established their dominance with a fine try from New Zealand legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.

    Cheyenne Tuli-Fale powered over to push the Blues' lead out to 31-0 before winger Desiree Miller got the Waratahs on the board after linking up superbly with a Arabella McKenzie kick.

    The Blues had the last say though, underlining their dominance when Krysten Cottrell stole the ball at a ruck as the Waratahs tried to mop up at the back and fell over the line.

    Played in appalling conditions at North Harbour Stadium thanks to the remnants of Cyclone Tam, which caused thousands in the Auckland and Northland regions to be left without power, both teams persisted with expansive running rugby in the opening exchanges.

    "As you might be able to tell from the way we played, we haven't had a lot of practice in that sort of conditions in Australia this season," Waratahs captain Emily Chancellor said.

    "It was a difficult game but it was also really fun.

    "Well done to the Blues, they played exceptionally."

    Sorensen-McGee's opening try was a testament to the New Zealanders expansiveness, latching onto the end of a backline move from right to left before stepping inside 30 metres out from the Waratahs' line, shrugging off two defenders and scooting over under the posts.

    Moimoi burrowed over to add to the Blues' advantage before Sorensen-McGee's second.

    The fullback capitalised again on some magical handling from the Blues, who countered from inside their own half.

    Taufa Bason attacked the line, offloading to Sylvia Brunt, who found Woodman-Wickliffe to take the ball up over half-way.

    Sorensen-McGee had plenty to do when receiving the ball 55 metres out from the Waratahs' line, but showed no hesitation, throwing an outrageous dummy to wrong-foot McKenzie and score.

    The Blues still weren't done, with Woodman-Wickliffe powering her way over the line out wide after some powerful runs up the middle from the forwards — taking plenty of the Waratahs defence with her.

    Taufa Bason had a try disallowed for obstruction, but the Blues were not to be denied when replacement Cheyenne Tuli-Fale punched her way over three Waratahs defenders.

    Miller got the Waratahs on the board after latching onto a deft kick through from McKenzie, a fitting reward for a team that never let the grim reality of the scoreboard cause their heads to drop. 

    "I just feel so proud right now," Blues captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos said.

    "We've worked hard all season and the opportunity to play against our Tasman sisters was real good, it's a really big step to growing the game.

    "I don't think the score reflects how physical it was."

    The Super Rugby Women Champions final pitted the winner of the Australian Super W competition against the victor of New Zealand's Super Rugby Aupiki.

    "What a huge honour," Chancelor said of the match.

    "What a huge opportunity for Australian rugby and New Zealand rugby."

    The Waratahs won their sixth Super W title with a 43-21 victory over the Reds in Sydney on Saturday as part of another unbeaten domestic season.

    Meanwhile, the Blues beat Christchurch-based Matatu 26-19 in the New Zealand final at Eden Park, avenging their 37-29 defeat in round five.

    The Blues had trailed 12-0 before mounting a furious comeback to snatch victory and become the first team to win multiple championships across the ditch.

    This is only the Waratah's fifth defeat in their history.


    ABC




    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

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