Joanah Ngan-Woo’s heroics in the dying stages of this year’s World Cup final at Eden Park will go down in history as one of the greatest moments in New Zealand rugby history.
The Black Ferns dared to dream of a seemingly unlikely World Cup triumph on home soil, less than a year after a disastrous end-of-season tour to England and France.
But New Zealand’s team completed their incredible redemption arc in front of more than 42,000 passionate fans at the famous Auckland venue.
Coming up against World No. 1 England, who were on a 30 Test unbeaten streak going into the decider, the Black Ferns were viewed by many as the underdogs.
The Red Roses raced out to a commanding 14-nil lead early-on, and appeared to be in control before winger Lydia Thompson was red carded.
While the epic Test was still a seesawing contest, with England’s rampaging rolling maul proved unstoppable, the World Cup dreams of a nation ultimately came down to one moment.
England set up for an attacking lineout close to New Zealand’s line in the dying stages of the final, and would’ve been odds on favourites to break kiwi hearts as they setup.
But Ngan-Woo wasn’t going to let that happen.
The star second rower made a championship winning steal at the lineout, as the Black Ferns kicked the ball out and held on for a three-point win.
Speaking about her “really important” moment earlier this week, Ngan-Woo humbly reflected on the moment she’s practiced “every single day at training.”
“I guess it was really important, but that’s my bread and butter,” Ngan-Woo told Newshub earlier this week.
“It’s what we do every single day at training. I guess that was my moment to do what I’ve always done.
“I’m so happy it was something that I’m used to.”
The Black Ferns’ incredible rise from the ashes of a disastrous end-of-season tour was an inspirational tale which captured the hearts of a nation.
When the Black Ferns kicked-off their tournament against rivals Australia at Eden Park, it was a momentous occasion for women’s rugby – but the magnitude of the event was still yet to be realised.
The support behind this team grew and grew with every Test, as New Zealand dared to dream alongside their team.
Fans packed the stands at a sold-out Eden Park for the semi-final against France – a Test which was reminiscent of the All Blacks’ triumph 11 years earlier – and did so again for the epic final.
Records were broken and dreams were realised as the group fought valiantly for New Zealand’s sixth women’s World Cup crown.
“It’s been absolutely crazy,” she added.
“There’s been article and interviews about the hand, the ‘claw.’
“I just laugh at it, I’m like, ‘it’s just a lineout guys.’
“But it’s been amazing, especially the support of New Zealand.
“It’s just amazing, the experience we had over the whole World Cup. It definitely hasn’t sunk in – and I don’t think it will for the next couple of months.”
Former All Black flyhalf Stephen Donald has etched his name into rugby folklore with his heroics at the same stadium 11 years earlier, but New Zealand had a new hero in Ngan-Woo.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod last month, six-time Super Rugby champion Bryn Hall said the lock will “go down in history” for her heroics.
“The preparation that they would’ve done to give the girls the confidence to be able to do that, just seeing the right pictures and they feel like they can execute that under pressure and do that, I think that led into this decision of them trying tog et the ball.
“If you get that wrong England probably score a try there.
“It was a massive call for them to be able to do it… she’ll go down in history, Ngan-Woo, with the likes of Stephen Donald that played to win a World Cup.
“Great to see they got the execution right in the most pressure situation in the final.”
