Sorensen-McGee, 18, scores twice on Black Ferns debut
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
30 minutes ago
- Times
Nick Kyrgios's role as Wimbledon pundit to end after only one year
Nick Kyrgios will not be part of the BBC's Wimbledon coverage this year and the Australian is set to miss the tournament as a player too. The BBC was criticised for hiring the 30-year-old for Wimbledon last year after he admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend. Sources close to the broadcaster have confirmed that Kyrgios will not be part of the line-up for the 2025 event, which starts on June 30. Kyrgios confirmed last week that his hopes of playing in SW19 for the first time since 2022, when he reached the final, had been dashed by a setback in his recovery from injury. In 2023 Kyrgios admitted to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari when he pushed her over during an argument, but avoided a criminal conviction after a magistrate ruled that the offence was 'low-level'. He was also criticised for sharing social media posts by the misogynist influencer Andrew Tate — he later deleted them. Last year the BBC was forced to defend its decision to hire Kyrgios, saying: 'We are in no way condoning his cited previous actions or behaviours, on and off the court, and he is employed to share his views on tennis only.' Kyrgios has also been outspoken in recent months about the leniency of a three-month ban given to the French Open finalist and world No1 Jannik Sinner after two positive drugs tests in 2024. Kyrgios, who has been open about his mental health struggles, said the sanction showed that 'fairness in tennis does not exist'. Last year he told the interviewer Louis Theroux it was 'impossible' that the pyramids had been built by humans and also indicated he believed there was evidence to back up other conspiracy theories, including whether the moon landings had actually taken place.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Fagerson will 'come back stronger' from Lions blow
Zander Fagerson will "come back stronger" from his British and Irish Lions heartache, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has 29-year-old Glasgow Warriors prop was one of eight Scots selected for the Lions tour to Australia this summer but has been ruled out because of injury."He picked up his injury on Thursday and it was a new injury," Townsend told the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast."He was in the final stages of his recovery from his previous injury and I was still hoping maybe they'll still take him, he's going to be out for a period of time, but that didn't transpire, which is really unfortunate for Zander. "He was in brilliant form for us in the Six Nations. He was in a real strong position to play Test rugby for the Lions, so to have that taken away, we know what happens in a sporting career and a rugby career, that you get injured at the wrong time, but he'll bounce back, he'll come back stronger."He has with previous injuries and he's still young, young for a tighthead too, so if it doesn't happen this time, I'm sure he'll be an even better place to be a test Lion in four years time."Townsend suggested that, while he was pleased with the Scottish representation in the Lions squad, even more Scots could have been likes of Darcy Graham, Tom Jordan, Ben White, Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge were all considered to be in contention and Townsend says those players have responded well to the disappointment of missing Scotland based in New Zealand and Fiji for their summer tour matches against the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa, the head coach says they have a great opportunity to keep themselves in the minds of the Lions coaches when injuries inevitably take a further toll on the squad."I think the most pleasing aspect of the players is how well they've played and how they've responded to the news they weren't going to be in the Lions tour," Townsend said."Darcy scored a hat-trick the week after he wasn't selected. Rory was man of the match against Stormers, he's been playing excellently. Jamie's carried on his really good form, as has Tom Jordan."They're still playing very good rugby, if not even better rugby than they played in the Six Nations, so that's going to put them in the best position possible if there were changes to that Lions squad, which, if you go on history, it's going to happen."Already we've had one change to the tour party, unfortunately for Zander, but there's likely to be more when you play games and you've got the travel throughout Australia, which is tougher to recover from from game to game."
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Daniel Levy urged to make shock Ange Postecoglou U-turn and RE-HIRE Spurs boss in passionate plea from Melbourne mayor
MELBOURNE'S Lord Mayor has urged Tottenham to U-turn on sacking Ange Postecoglou - or risk an ALLERGIC reaction. Greek-born Postecoglou grew up in the Australian city, later managing South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory as well as the Socceroos. 3 3 But despite winning the Europa League - to earn a Champions League spot - Postecoglou was axed by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy last Friday. And as well as being a hefty blow to his reputation, it's also been a painful hit Down Under. Postecoglou paid for finishing just one place above the Premier League drop zone. However, an injury crisis persuaded him to focus more on Tottenham 's European campaign than he might normally have done. And in the eyes of some fans, that policy was vindicated when Spurs sunk Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final last month. Victory in Bilbao ended Tottenham's long wait for silverware since winning the League Cup in 2007-08. But club supremo Levy has been unhappy with the larger picture. And after axing Postecoglou less than a week ago, Spurs are already close to naming Brentford chief Thomas Frank as his successor. 3 However, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nick Reece, has made an unusual intervention - by pleading on Instagram for Levy to have a rethink. And Reece reckons he speaks for not just his city but also for lovers of the English top flight all around the globe. The civic bigwig even backed up his message with an amusing medicinal warning... over a possible "allergic reaction". He said: 'On behalf of the people of Melbourne, and Premier League fans around the world, I call on Tottenham Hotspur FC to reconsider its decision to sack coach Ange Postecoglou. "In @cityofmelbourne we have followed Ange's career closely for decades. "He began his junior and senior career in Melbourne as a player and later coach at @southmelbournefc in the 1980s. "Never underestimate Ange's determination to win, and his ability to carry teams to greatness. We have seen this time again over his career. "This year Tottenham made history by winning the Europa League trophy - its first such win in 17 years. We will see further trophies follow if Ange is given the chance. "Don't let Tottenham be known as the team that is allergic to silverware. "Let Ange lead the players onto greatness in next year's Premier League campaign." But even having Melbourne's mighty mayoral chains thrown in behind him is unlikely to save Ange. Instead he is understood to have already been eyed up by rival clubs, although he is in no rush for a new job.
