Sports News for 9 May 2025
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RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors wahine embrace unknown in NRLW return
Most of the Warriors women have never played NRLW before. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ As they emerge from a four-year NRLW hiatus, NZ Warriors women are determined to make the unknown their friend. A foundation member of the competition in 2018, the Auckland club was forced to close down its women's programme in 2020, when the Covid pandemic precluded trans-Tasman travel. The Warriors wahine will return to the fold on Sunday, when they face Sydney Roosters, fielding a largely untried line-up against the defending champions . Only one player - captain and fullback Apii Nicholls - has worn a Warriors jersey before and only six others have previous NRLW experience. The rest have either been plucked from NZ domestic competition or lured across from the other rugby code. "The best thing about our girls is, because they either rookies or new to the code, so they're oblivious to the Sydney Roosters and who's in there," veteran prop Harata Butler observed. "Let's not even talk about them. "Everyone in the rugby league community knows what we're going up against, but nobody knows what they're going up against. I think it's good to run with that and let's just see what we pull out on the weekend." The Warriors begin their campaign without the benefit of a pre-season trial to test their very new combinations. On the flip side, rivals have had very little footage to scout entering the new season. That mystery factor leaves a blank slate for the wahine to create their own reputations and, if training performances are anything to go by, they promise to leave a dent in their opponents. "If you meet our forward pack, I'm pretty sure there's a few loose screws in some of them, me too maybe," chuckled lock Laishon Albert-Jones, who helped Newcastle Knights, under now-Warriors coach Ron Griffiths, to the 2023 NRLW crown. "They're tough as, I don't even like running at them - I'm probably the most pussy of all of them. "I get scared at training sometimes, just saying. I'm glad they're on my team and I don't have to verse them anymore. "If there's anything we bring to this NRLW season, it's that we are a tough team and it will be a hard day with us, and you won't want to play us again." As the team strive to create their playing style, this much seems a given - they'll be physical. "To be honest, if you play rugby league, it's such a high-contact sport, everyone's got a couple of screws loose," chuckled halfback Emily Curtain, whose Muay Thai fighting nickname is 'Pitbull'. "My second personality, once I step over the line or the ropes, it's 'go' time," she explained. "Time to switch on and let everything out." Griffiths guided the Knights to two titles and a semifinal during his three-year tenure there, but he has put the league on notice that his new outfit will bring something completely different. "If you look at every Warriors team, they're tough," he said. "This team will pull trees up for each other. "They're connected, they work hard, they're humble, but one thing they've done is they've shown a certain level of toughness that we haven't seen in NRLW before. "That's not taking anything away from teams I've coached or the current champs or anyone else, but they're extremely tough, that's who they are." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
6 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks v France player ratings - How the All Blacks rated in first test win
3. Fletcher Newell - 6 Made the most of the starting role and the few scrums. High work rate in first half and made nine tackles to round out a decent outing. 4. Scott Barrett - 7 Big work-rate and even got a charge down in for good measure. Left the field after 57 minutes with an Achilles injury. 5. Fabian Holland - 8 A fine debut in a strong 80-minute effort. How often do you see that from a new lock? Earns another test to see if we have the new Brodie Retallick. Led the All Blacks with 17 tackles and also had 13 carries. 6. Tupou Vaa'i - 7 The move to the side of the scrum is worth trying again after a commendable effort. Won a turnover and secured a try. 7. Ardie Savea - 8 A quiet start but then made his mark. Not a big test on the defensive end but, as he did all Super Rugby season, an endless supply of hit-ups, leading the match with 19 carries. 8. Christian Lio-Willie - 7 A busy 50-minute debut. Good play in lead-up to the first Will Jordan try, sucking in French defenders. Even had a strip. Was one of leading tacklers when he left the field, replaced by Kirifi. 9. Cam Roigard - 8 The All Blacks had five different halfbacks last year, but the nine jersey is locked in until the 2027 World Cup final. Great dummy and assist to set up opening no-try for Jordie. Quick pass for Vaa'i try. Also had a try-saving tackle. A shame we're not seeing him up against Antoine Dupont. 10. Beauden Barrett - 7 Probably didn't meet his high standards at No 10. Missed a high ball. An impressive chase down tackle in France's first try. Classy assist for first Jordan try. Failed to find touch from a penalty in a mixed kicking night with just nine kick attempts compared to 15 carries, breaking four tackles, but perfect off the tee. 11. Rieko Ioane - 5 The shift to the wing will remain a talking point, much like his replacement in the 13 jersey. He saw more ball in the first half and at least tried to get involved when ball was coming his way in the second. 12. Jordie Barrett - 7 Ahh, the benefits of a sabbatical. Great to see him back on New Zealand soil. Was denied a try before eventually going over. A threat on attack and reliable in defence, so not much has changed during Leinster sojourn. 13. Billy Proctor - 5 Answer at centre? The question remains. Missed tackle in lead-up to France's opening try. Poor pass ended an All Blacks attacking opportunity. Good hands before Jordie Barrett's try. 14. Sevu Reece - 4 Didn't last a minute after early head injury from tackle attempt. 15. Will Jordan 7 Moved to wing early after Reece left the field. Scored a try, as he does. Then scored another, as he does. Nice play in the lead-up to Jordie Barrett try. Wing or fullback, he will still make an impact. Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho - 5 17. Ollie Norris - 5 18. Pasilio Tosi - 6 19. Samipeni Finau - 5 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi - 5 21. Cortez Ratima - 5 22. Quinn Tupaea - 6 23. Damian McKenzie - 7 On in first minute for Reece. Threw intercept on attack. Attacking moves set up Vaa'i try. Led the match in running metres with 90 and six defenders beaten.
Otago Daily Times
7 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Rusty All Blacks subdue plucky French
The All Blacks have escaped with a 31-27 win against France in Dunedin tonight. Beauden Barrett banged over a penalty with five minutes on the clock to secure the victory in front of a sold out crowd of 28,532 at Forsyth Barr Stadium. They became the first side to record 500 test victories. It was a rusty encounter for the first test and all the chat about a French bringing a second-string team will be put to bed. But the All Blacks were denied three tries – two for knock ons and one to a questionable obstruction call – and who knows what could have been. Fabian Holland showed he belongs in an All Blacks jersey. The Highlanders lock played 80 minutes on debut and led with 17 tackles in a big shift. Will Jordan was at his very best, scoring twice to bring his tally to 40 tries in 42 tests and Jordie Barrett was strong in his return from Ireland. The All Blacks were brilliant in patches and showed what they are capable of, but they have plenty of work to do for the rest of the season. They were poor under the high ball, ball handling was sketchy at times, and at times, lacked direction on attack. They lost Sevu Reece in the opening minute to a head knock, forcing Damian McKenzie on early. Looking to stamp their mark, French first five Joris Segonds banged over a 40m penalty for a 3-0 lead. The All Blacks were denied a try early – and France hit back immediately. Inside their half, France took off from the back of their scrum. They recycled quickly and before the All Blacks could catch up, No 8 Mickael Guillard scored for the French to lead 10-0. Then the All Blacks finally clicked into gear. Searching 5m out, Otago No 8 Christian Lio-Willie dished off a nice ball to playmaker Beauden Barrett. He slipped through the acres of space and swung it wide for Jordan to score. Holland was a big line out target and secured the ball on the 5m line. Roigard shifted it quickly to land with McKenzie, who used his silky footwork to dart around the defence and Tupou Vaa'i finished it. Jordie Barrett scored in the corner and his brother added the extras for the All Blacks to lead 21-13 at halftime. France punished the All Blacks for their mistakes early. After the All Blacks knocked the ball on from the kick off, France held on to it and used their ball speed to move it and find the opening for winger Gabian Villiere. And in almost a carbon copy, the All Blacks hit back when Jordan dotted down his second. France came out with plenty of intent in the second half and kept the crowd relatively quiet. Replacement Jacobus Van Tonder made a break up the middle and was taken down just shy of the line. Cameron Woki burrowed over for the French to trail 28-27. The All Blacks put together some nice phases when Villiere knocked it down and was sent to the bin. Billy Proctor and Will Jordan both scored within the next 10 minutes, but they were both scratched. It was a tense time for both teams waiting for the game to open. Beauden Barrett kicked a penalty to nudge the All Blacks ahead 31-27 to secure the win. The scores All Blacks 31 Will Jordan 2, Tupou Vaa'i, Jordie Barrett tries; Beauden Barrett 4 con, Barrett pen. France 27 Mickael Guillard, Gabian Villiere, Cameron Woki tries; Nolann Le Garrec 3 con, Joris Segonds pen, Nolann Le Garrec pen. Halftime: All Blacks 21-13.
