logo
Sorensen-McGee, 18, scores twice on Black Ferns debut

Sorensen-McGee, 18, scores twice on Black Ferns debut

BBC News10-05-2025

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored two tries on her Test debut as New Zealand opened their Pacific Four Series campaign with a 38-12 win over Australia.The Black Ferns took charge with Ayesha Leti-I'iga scoring two tries in Newcastle before 18-year-old full-back Sorensen-McGee claimed her opening score.That gave the visitors a 19-0 lead at half-time, which they soon extended with a try from Chryss Viliko right after the break.The Wallaroos gave themselves hope of a fightback with Eva Karpani and Ashley Marsters both getting over to cut the score to 26-12.But late tries from Sylvia Brunt and Sorensen-McGee ensured that the six-time world champions claimed a 28th straight Test win over their trans-Tasman rivals.Reigning champions Canada kicked off this year's Pacific Four Series with a 26-14 win over the United States last week and will visit Christchurch to face New Zealand next Saturday. Sorensen-McGee graduated to Auckland's Super Rugby Aupiki squad this year and helped the Blues retain their title.She will hope to be selected for this year's World Cup in England from 22 August-27 September, when New Zealand will aim to claim a third straight title.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rugby Union Weekly  Inside the Lions camp
Rugby Union Weekly  Inside the Lions camp

BBC News

time2 hours ago

  • BBC News

Rugby Union Weekly Inside the Lions camp

We go behind the scenes at the Lions training camp in Portugal to see how preparations have begun for the clash with Argentina in Dublin and the tour down under. Chris chats to Ellis Genge who's already striking up an unexpected 'bromance' with one of the Irish players he's usually slating on the pitch. Genge talks openly about trying to get out of his comfort zone in camp and how he's approaching his first Lions tour aged 30. Forwards coach John Dalziel stops by to talk Argentina and what has impressed him most since the players came into camp. Plus, Jac Morgan tells us how it feels to be flying the flag for Welsh rugby on tour, his memories of the Australia tour in 2013 and he discusses the fierce competition in the back row.

Experimental Australia batting line-up exposed – but their bowling attack remains supreme
Experimental Australia batting line-up exposed – but their bowling attack remains supreme

Telegraph

time3 hours ago

  • Telegraph

Experimental Australia batting line-up exposed – but their bowling attack remains supreme

An evening of stellar fast bowling leaves Australia as strong favourites to retain their World Test Championship at Lord's. But Australia needed Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins at their strangling, relentless best, after their batting line-up had displayed more hints of frailty. Last home summer, admittedly against a cocktail of spicy wickets and Jasprit Bumrah, only one Australian Test batsman averaged 35. Such struggles contributed to them reshuffling their top three dramatically for the World Test Championship final. Marnus Labuschagne, the long-term No 3, moved up to open for the first time in a Test match. But for all his doughty defence, here Labuschagne resembled a cricketer who has long mislaid his best form. Over 56 balls, he displayed little of the proactivity that characterised the brilliant start to his Test career – or Steve Smith showed in his supreme 66 at Lord's. Instead, Labuschagne stumbled against terrific new-ball bowling by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. When he pushed Jansen behind to fall for 17, it extended his slump. In Labuschagne's first 30 Tests, up to December 2022, he averaged 60.8 and scored 10 hundreds. In his past 28 Tests, he now averages just 30.5, with a solitary century. Although Labuschagne turns only 31 later this month, there is a sense that elevating him to open represents a last chance for him to save his Test career. Yet Labuschagne was only one Australian player batting in a novel position. After returning from injury and his brilliant stint as a specialist batsman at Gloucestershire, paid for by an anonymous benefactor, Cameron Green made his first Test appearance for 17 months. Green walked out at No 3, the highest he has batted in Test cricket. Three balls later, he prodded Rabada to the slips and trudged off for four. There is even some uncertainty about the position of the one man in the top three batting in their usual position. Usman Khawaja has enjoyed a brilliant flourishing after his re-emergence as an opener four years ago. But he is now exhibiting growing vulnerability against high-class pace bowling. He averaged just 20.4 against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, tormented by Bumrah, though a double-century in Sri Lanka in February showed Khawaja's continued aptitude against spin. His first ball at Lord's, which jagged off a length and beat his groping bat, set the template. Scoreless throughout his first 19 balls, showing no more relish for facing Rabada than he had for Bumrah, Khawaja edged his 20th behind. South Africa get the breakthrough ‼️ — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 11, 2025 The vulnerabilities of Australia's top order should not obscure Rabada's magnificence. Arriving at Lord's after a brief ban for the use of recreational drugs, he saw the Test Championship final as his stage. Rabada has often lamented South Africa 's sparse Test schedule. Nearing 10 full years in the format, during which he has been an automatic pick, this was only his 71st Test. But Rabada's five wickets at Lord's, which took his overall haul to 332, surpassing Allan Donald, emphasised his greatness in the format. Against Australia, his 54 Test wickets have come at a rate of one every 38 balls: the best of anyone who has taken at least 50 wickets against Australia. His method at Lord's was Rabada in excelsis: using wobble seam to move the ball off the pitch both ways at speeds approaching 90mph, with the occasional venomous bouncer thrown in. After snaring Khawaja and Green with the new ball, Rabada then returned to bowl Australia out with the old ball, clean bowling both Cummins and Starc. Yet, not for the first time in his career, Rabada was left lamenting inadequate support from his team-mates. Bowling Australia out for 212 fully vindicated South Africa's decision to field first. Yet captain Temba Bavuma would still feel a pang of regret at Australia's total. When Beau Webster had made eight – Rabada, naturally was the bowler – Bavuma neglected to review an lbw appeal. Had South Africa used the Decision Review System, Webster would have been out; instead, his 72 continued the fine start to his Test career. But, in front of a full house that included thousands wearing the country's cricket or rugby shirts, South Africa's greatest regret from the opening day was predictable. The sight of all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who has a Test average of 22, walking out at No 3 encapsulated the state of South Africa's batting. Australia's pace trio exhibited their full range of skills – Starc swinging the new ball prodigiously, while Cummins and Hazlewood settled into bowling back of a length with the wobble seam. Facing such excellence, South Africa's struggles were understandable. Yet batsmen could have been more proactive – for instance, taking guard a few inches further forward to force Australia to adjust their lengths. Instead, Mulder took 44 balls over his six runs; Bavuma took until his 31st delivery to get off the mark. Ironic cheers ensued from the Australian contingent in the crowd. South Africa will need to find a new approach if they are to stop more Australian celebrations over the coming days.

Sale head coach Deacon departs club
Sale head coach Deacon departs club

BBC News

time3 hours ago

  • BBC News

Sale head coach Deacon departs club

Sale have parted company with head coach Paul Deacon after five years in Sharks were beaten in the Premiership semi-finals by Leicester last weekend after finishing the season in third 46-year-old joined Sale in 2015, initially as part of Steve Diamond's coaching staff, before taking over in 2020."To reach four semi-finals out of five seasons has been incredible – my only regret is that we didn't manage to win the Premiership but I've got no doubt that will come," Deacon told the Sale website., external Deacon switched codes from rugby league to take up a role as attack coach at Sale having won four Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and the World Club Challenge during a glittering career as a player with both Bradford Bulls and Wigan expect to announce details of their coaching line-up for next season "in the coming days" and the club's director of rugby Alex Sanderson paid tribute to the departing Deacon."For the last five years he's been the first person I call on a Sunday, " he said."He's been the most diligent, the most hard-working and the most dependable head coach and for me on a personal level, he's been a rock."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store