Hirovanaa inspires NZ women to cup triumph

Black Ferns halfback Monique Hirovanaa kept her best for last, as she made a match-winning exit from international rugby in the women's World Cup final in Barcelona yesterday.

Hirovanaa provided the New Zealanders with the inspiration to turn back a stern English challenge by scoring one try, and setting up a second, as they successfully defended their world title with a 19-9 win at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.

She scored New Zealand's first try in the 33rd minute by stepping past her marker and scooting down the narrowest of blindsides from behind quick ruck ball on the edge of England's 22.

Her second big contribution came in the 46th minute when she sold a classic dummy to the defence after running off the back of a New Zealand lineout. She then pinned her ears back and raced 35m before drawing fullback Paula George and passing to the ever-present Cheryl Waaka, who scored from 10m.

That try took New Zealand out to 16-9 and, with the Black Ferns' pack beginning to assert the territorial dominance that underscored their victories earlier in the tournament, it proved an insurmountable lead.

There was plenty of other commanding play from Hirovanaa, who freely admitted she had been well short of her best form leading up to the final.

"I knew I really had to pull out a big one today."

Despite the closeness of the match, and England's overall edge in the first half, Hirovanaa said she had felt fairly confident for most of the game that New Zealand would prevail.

"We did a lot of homework on England and they probably played into our hands a fair bit," she said.

"They've got a big forward pack and their scrum went pretty well, too, but we knew they would try to rumble through us up front and we were waiting for them.

"I think we really pounced on them defensively and hit back hard, and that was what won it for us in the end."

Coach Darryl Suasua couldn't contain his smile at Hirovanaa's performance because his dissatisfaction with her play had made him a worried man going into the final.

"We put a lot of pressure on Monique over the last couple of days," he said. "We weren't happy with her form going into the final, but she did a lot of soul-searching and came up with the goods."

Claiming her second winners' medal was the perfect birthday present for 36-year-old "Mini Mon" who, like a number of her team-mates, has decided to draw the curtain on her career after 24 tests dating back to 1994.

"There's a lot of youth in this side and I guess it's time to step aside and let them experience the same sorts of things I have. I've enjoyed it all.

"I think I'll be smiling for the next week or so. At the moment my thoughts are that it will be my last international so I've gone out with a win, and a try, and it's my birthday, so I couldn't ask for anything better."

Suasua added: "It is last test for a few of the girls, so we've gone out on a high, winning back-to-back titles, and that's pretty special."

The victory was sweet revenge for the Black Ferns, who were beaten in a test 22-17 by England last year - the New Zealanders' first defeat in more than 10 years.

- NZPA