Selica Winiata of New Zealand Women makes a break. (Photo
by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
The New Zealand women's rugby team might be world
champions but they are not the world's best after they were
beaten by England for a second time yesterday.
England backed up their 16-13 first-test win with a 17-8
defeat of the Black Ferns at Aldershot. They will now be
eyeing a clean sweep in the third test at Twickenham on
Sunday morning - the match is being played after the All
Blacks' test against England at the same ground.
The Black Ferns were on top of the world when they beat
England 13-10 in the 2010 women's World Cup final at
Twickenham but have not beaten them since. They have now lost
four of their past five tests - England won two of last
year's three tests with the third a draw - when previously
they had been beaten only three times.
They were outmuscled by a bigger and more physical England
side in yesterday's two-tries-to-one defeat.
New Zealand led 5-3 midway through the first half following a
try to wing Shakira Baker but England led 10-5 at the break
after England flanker Hannah Gallagher scored.
The Black Ferns drew to within two points with 25 minutes
left, thanks to a Kelly Brazier penalty, but couldn't build
pressure playing into the wind.
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