View source for 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup final

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby match
|title        = 2006 Rugby World Cup Final
| event              = [[2006 Women's Rugby World Cup|2006 Rugby World Cup]]
|date         =17 September 2006
| team1              = {{wnrut|New Zealand}}
| team1association   = {{flagicon|NZ}}
| team1score         =25
| team2              = {{wnrut|England}}
| team2association   = {{flagicon|ENG}}
| team2score         =17
| stadium            =[[Commonwealth Stadium]]
| city               =[[Edmonton]]
| man_of_the_match1a =
| referee            =Simon McDowell ([[Irish Rugby Football Union|Ireland]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/news/775899/hollie-davidson-appointed-referee-for-rugby-world-cup-2021-final|title=Hollie Davidson Appointed Referee for Rugby World Cup 2021 Final}}</ref>
| attendance         =5500
| weather            =Fine
| previous           =[[2002 Women's Rugby World Cup Final|2002]]
| next               =[[2010 Women's Rugby World Cup Final|2010]]
}}
The '''2006 Women's Rugby World Cup Final''' was a [[rugby union]] match that determined the [[2006 Women's Rugby World Cup]] winner. The match took place on 17 September 2006 at the [[Commonwealth Stadium]] in [[Edmonton]], [[Canada]]. It was contested between [[New Zealand women's national rugby union team|New Zealand]] and [[England women's national rugby union team|England]] for the second time in a row. It was England's fourth appearance in a Final and New Zealand's third. New Zealand won their third consecutive title after beating England 25–17.<ref name="ESPN.com-2006">{{Cite web |date=18 September 2006 |title=Black Ferns edge England in Women's RWC Final |url=https://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story/_/id/15392856/black-ferns-edge-england-women-rwc-final |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="www.rugbyworldcup.com-2021">{{Cite web |last= |title=History {{!}} Rugby World Cup 2021 |url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/about/history |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=www.rugbyworldcup.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=17 September 2006 |title=2006: New Zealand retain Women's RWC crown |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/24950?lang=en |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=www.world.rugby}}</ref>

== Route to the final ==
{{Main|2006 Women's Rugby World Cup}}

{| style="width:100%; text-align:center"
! colspan="2" style="width:1*" |New Zealand
!Round
! colspan="2" style="width:1*" |England
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#c1e0ff"
|Opponent
|Result
|Pool stage
|Opponent
|Result
|-
|{{ruw|CAN}}
|66–7
| style="background:#c1e0ff" |Match 1
|{{ruw|USA}}
|18–0
|-
|{{ruw|SAM}}
|50–0
| style="background:#c1e0ff" |Match 2
|{{ruw|RSA}}
|74–8
|-
|{{ruw|SCO}}
|21–0
| style="background:#c1e0ff" |Match 3
|{{ruw|FRA}}
|27–8
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center" |'''Pool A ⇔ Pool D'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Pool
!Team
!Won
!Drawn
!Lost
!For
!Against
!Points
|-
|A
| align="left" |{{Ruw|NZL}}
|3
|0
|0
|137
|7
|'''14'''
|- align="center"
|D
| align="left" |{{Ruw|CAN}}
|2
|0
|1
|131
|71
|'''10'''
|- align="center"
|D
| align="left" |{{Ruw|SCO}}
|2
|0
|1
|56
|38
|'''10'''
|- align="center"
|D
| align="left" |{{Ruw|SAM}}
|1
|0
|2
|32
|69
|'''5'''
|-
|A
| align="left" |{{Ruw|ESP}}
|1
|0
|2
|14
|115
|'''4'''
|-
|A
| align="left" |{{Ruw|KAZ}}
|0
|0
|3
|22
|97
|'''0'''
|}
<ref name="Note01" group="Note" />
| style="background:#c1e0ff" |Final standing
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center" |'''Pool B ⇔ Pool C'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Pool
!Team
!Won
!Drawn
!Lost
!For
!Against
!Points
|-
|B
| align="left" |{{Ruw|ENG}}
|3
|0
|0
|119
|16
|'''14'''
|- align="center"
|C
| align="left" |{{Ruw|FRA}}
|2
|0
|1
|75
|37
|'''10'''
|- align="center"
|C
| align="left" |{{Ruw|USA}}
|2
|0
|1
|34
|35
|'''9'''
|-
|B
| align="left" |{{Ruw|AUS}}
|1
|0
|2
|88
|42
|'''6'''
|-
|B
| align="left" |{{Ruw|IRE}}
|1
|0
|2
|48
|67
|'''5'''
|- align="center"
|C
| align="left" |{{Ruw|RSA}}
|0
|0
|3
|20
|179
|'''0'''
|}
<ref name="Note01" group="Note" />
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#c1e0ff"
|Opponent
|Result
|Knockout stage
|Opponent
|Result
|-
|{{Ruw|FRA}}
|40–10
| style="background:#c1e0ff" |Semi-finals
|{{Ruw|CAN}}
|10–6
|}
The pool stage of the 2006 World Cup was played in a cross-pool league system. Teams in Pool A competed against teams in Pool D, and Pool B teams competed against those in Pool C. New Zealand was in Pool A and played against Canada, Scotland and Samoa who were in Pool D. England was in Pool B and played France, the United States and South Africa from Pool C.

New Zealand played hosts, Canada, as they scored ten tries to begin their title defence. Canada only managed a converted try and couldn't stop the Black Ferns trouncing them 66–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Ferns vs Canada |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet_bf.asp?MT_ID=10053 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=stats.allblacks.com}}</ref> Samoa with their New Zealand based players were unsuccessful in scoring any points. [[Amiria Rule]] scored a hat-trick in the match as NewZealand scored 50 unanswered points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Ferns vs Samoa |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet_bf.asp?MT_ID=10054 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=stats.allblacks.com}}</ref><ref name="News24-2006">{{Cite web |date=5 September 2006 |title=SA humbled at Women's RWC |url=https://www.news24.com/News24/SA-humbled-at-Womens-RWC-20060905 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> Scotland proved to be more resilient than Canada and Samoa as the Black Ferns were only able to score three tries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Ferns vs Scotland |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet_bf.asp?MT_ID=10055 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=stats.allblacks.com}}</ref> France were New Zealand's semifinal opponents and were defeated 40–10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Ferns vs France |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet_bf.asp?MT_ID=10056 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=stats.allblacks.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 September 2006 |title=Black Ferns close in on their third Rugby World Cup |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2006/09/14/2003327645 |access-date=11 March 2022 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}}</ref>

England beat inaugural champions, the United States, in the opening round of the World Cup 18–0 and then overwhelmed the South Africans 74–8.<ref name="News24-2006" /> England's last pool game was against France, they won 27–8. England came too close for comfort in their semifinal against Canada, they barely scrapped by with a 10–6 win.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 September 2006 |title=Women's Rugby World Cup results |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/5279148.stm |access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref>

== Match ==
{{rugbybox|date=17 September 2006|team1={{ruw|NZ}}|score=25–17|team2={{ruw|ENG}}|stadium=[[Commonwealth Stadium]]|try1=[[Monalisa Codling|Codling]]<br>[[Stephanie Mortimer|Mortimer]]<br>[[Victoria Heighway|Heighway]]<br>[[Amiria Rule|Marsh]]|pen1=[[Emma Jensen|Jensen]]|pen2=[[Karen Andrew|Andrew]]|drop2=|attendance=5500|referee={{flagicon|IRE}} S. McDowell|con1=[[Emma Jensen|Jensen]]|try2=Penalty Try<br>[[Helen Clayton|Clayton]]|con2=[[Karen Andrew|Andrew]]<br>[[Shelley Rae|Rae]]}}

{| style="width:100%"
|-
|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|FB ||'''15'''||[[Amiria Marsh]]
|-
|RW ||'''14'''||[[Claire Corky|Claire Richardson]]
|-
|OC ||'''13'''||[[Huriana Manuel]]
|-
|IC ||'''12'''||[[Exia Shelford|Exia Edwards]]
|-
|LW ||'''11'''||[[Stephanie Mortimer]]
|-
|FH ||'''10'''||[[Anna Richards]]
|-
|SH ||'''9''' ||[[Emma Jensen]]
|-
|N8 ||'''8''' ||[[Linda Itunu]]
|-
|OF ||'''7''' ||[[Rochelle Martin]]
|-
|BF ||'''6''' ||[[Melissa Ruscoe]]
|-
|RL ||'''5''' ||[[Victoria Heighway]]
|-
|LL ||'''4''' ||[[Monalisa Codling]]
|-
|TP ||'''3''' ||[[Casey Robertson]]
|-
|HK ||'''2''' ||[[Farah Palmer]]
|-
|LP ||'''1''' ||[[Diane Maliukaetau]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Replacements:'''
|-
|HK ||'''16'''||[[Fiao’o Fa’amausili]]
|-
|PR ||'''17'''||[[Helen Va'aga]]
|-
|LK ||'''18'''||[[Kimberly Smith (rugby union)|Kimberley Smith]]
|-
|FL ||'''19'''||[[Shannon Willoughby]]
|-
|SH ||'''20'''||[[Waimania Teddy]]
|-
|FH ||'''21'''||[[Rebecca Hull]]
|-
|CE ||'''22'''||[[Hannah Porter|Hannah Myers]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Coach:'''
|-
| colspan="3" |{{flagicon|NZ}} [[Jed Rowlands]]
|}
|
|
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:auto"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|FB ||'''15'''||[[Charlotte Barras]]
|-
|RW ||'''14'''||[[Danielle Waterman]]
|-
|OC ||'''13'''||[[Susan Day]]
|-
|IC ||'''12'''||[[Kim Oliver (rugby union)|Kimberley Oliver]]
|-
|LW ||'''11'''||[[Kimberley Shaylor]]| 
|-
|FH ||'''10'''||[[Karen Andrew]]
|-
|SH ||'''9''' ||[[Catherine Spencer (rugby union)|Catherine Spencer]]
|-
|N8 ||'''8''' ||[[Catherine Spencer (rugby union)|Catherine Spencer]]
|-
|OF ||'''7''' ||[[Margaret Alphonsi]]
|-
|BF ||'''6''' ||[[Georgia Stevens]]
|-
|RL ||'''5''' ||[[Jennifer Lyne]]
|-
|LL ||'''4''' ||[[Jennifer Sutton]]
|-
|TP ||'''3''' ||[[Vanessa Gray]]
|-
|HK ||'''2''' ||[[Amy Garnett]]
|-
|LP ||'''1''' ||[[Rochelle Clark]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Replacements:'''
|-
|HK ||'''16'''||[[Selena Rudge]]
|-
|PR ||'''17'''||[[Vanessa Huxford]]
|-
|PR ||'''18'''||[[Tamara Taylor (rugby union)|Tamara Taylor]]
|-
|LK ||'''19'''||[[Helen Clayton]]
|-
|SH ||'''20'''||[[Amy Turner (English rugby union)|Amy Turner]]
|-
|FH ||'''21'''||[[Shelley Rae]]
|-
|CE ||'''22'''||[[Nicola Crawford]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Coach:'''
|-
| colspan="3" |{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Geoff Richards (rugby union)|Geoff Richards]]
|}
|}
=== Summary ===
England dominated the first half of a tough match. English fly-half [[Karen Andrew]] scored the first points of the game after she successfully kicked a penalty in the third minute. New Zealand later equalized just before the 30th minute after a missed penalty earlier in the ninth. Two minutes before halftime [[New Zealand women's national rugby union team|Black Ferns]] Lock [[Monalisa Codling]] scored a try that put them in the lead 10–3 with a successful conversion from Scrum-half [[Emma Jensen]]. [[Stephanie Mortimer]] increased the Black Ferns lead to 15–3 with a try at the start of the second half. In the 49th minute England was awarded a penalty try and Karen Andrew's conversion brought them within five points of New Zealand, the score now 15–10. [[Victoria Heighway]] scored another try for the Black Ferns to make it 20–10. [[Helen Clayton]] scored England's last try and [[Shelley Rae]] converted it to bring the points to 20–17. [[Amiria Rule|Amiria Marsh]]'s try sealed the deal for New Zealand as they celebrated their 25–17 victory and third World Cup  title.<ref name="ESPN.com-2006" /><ref name="www.rugbyworldcup.com-2021" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Ferns vs England|url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet_bf.asp?MT_ID=10057 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=stats.allblacks.com}}</ref>
== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=<ref name=Note01>'''See:''' [[2006 Women's Rugby World Cup#Format|2006 Women's Rugby World Cup Format]] for information about Pool stage</ref>}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Women's Rugby World Cup}}
{{England women's national rugby union team}}
{{New Zealand women's national rugby union team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Cup Final, 2002}}

[[Category:2006 Women's Rugby World Cup|Final]]
[[Category:New Zealand women's national rugby union team]]
[[Category:England women's national rugby union team matches]]
[[Category:2006 in New Zealand rugby union]]
[[Category:2006–07 in English rugby union]]
[[Category:2006 in New Zealand women's sport]]
[[Category:2006 in English women's sport]]
[[Category:Women's rugby union matches]]
[[Category:Rugby World Cup finals|2006]]
[[Category:September 2006 sports events in Canada]]