Black Ferns tune up for Cup with 15 tries in test

• Published date: 29 September 2022

Two weeks out from their maiden home World Cup, the Black Ferns made light work of world No 13 Japan in a match that resembled a training run exercise

In their first test at Eden Park for three years the Black Ferns entertained a healthy crowd by running rampant, scoring 15 tries and recording their fifth highest score in history, at the venue where they will play Australia as part of the triple-header World Cup opening day on October 8.

Under Wayne Smith’s guidance the Black Ferns have now notched six test wins in succession this season — a remarkable transformation after record losses to England and France last year led to their damning cultural review and Glenn Moore resigning as head coach in April.

The trio of returning sevens stars all featured prominently for the Black Ferns.

Woodman and Sarah Hirini, the latter playing her first test in the XV-a-side code since the 2017 World Cup final win over England in Belfast, and Stacey Fluhler off the bench showed no rust to state their cases as Smith continues to ponder his first-choice squad.

Starring from the right wing Woodman claimed seven tries — three by the 24th minute — to send a timely reminder to everyone, including Smith, of her enduring class.

While Woodman impressed with her pace and power to beat defenders with every touch, she finished one short of her eight-try feat against Hong Kong at the last World Cup. She now sits second and third for most tries in a test for the Black Ferns, bettered only by Vanessa Cootes’ nine in 1996.

Woodman’s fifth try was the best — a 50 metre surge that finished with a step and fend that left the Japanese fullback for dead.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” Woodman said. “To get back into the Black Ferns team in front of a home crowd at Eden Park, I know my whanau is up in the corner there, so it’s pretty incredible to be back out there again.

“What you saw there was not what was going on on...