1998 Women's Rugby World Cup Final
# 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup Final

The 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup Final was a rugby union match to determine the winner of the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup. The match took place on 16 May 1998 in Amsterdam and was between New Zealand and the United States. New Zealand beat the United States 44–12 to claim their first World Cup title.

## Route to the final

| New Zealand | New Zealand | Round | United States | United States |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Opponent | Result | Pool stage | Opponent | Result |
| Germany | 134–6 | Match 1 | Russia | 84–0 |
| Scotland | 76–0 | Match 2 | Spain | 38–16 |
| Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Ladder  New Zealand 2 0 0 210 6 1st  Scotland 1 0 1 37 84 7th  Italy 1 0 1 42 42 11th  Germany 0 0 2 11 168 15th | Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Ladder  New Zealand 2 0 0 210 6 1st  Scotland 1 0 1 37 84 7th  Italy 1 0 1 42 42 11th  Germany 0 0 2 11 168 15th | Final standing | Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Ladder  United States 2 0 0 117 16 3rd  Spain 1 0 1 44 56 6th  Wales 1 0 1 101 35 9th  Russia 0 0 2 7 167 16th | Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Ladder  United States 2 0 0 117 16 3rd  Spain 1 0 1 44 56 6th  Wales 1 0 1 101 35 9th  Russia 0 0 2 7 167 16th |
| Opponent | Result | Knockout stage | Opponent | Result |
| Spain | 46–3 | Quarter-finals | Scotland | 25–10 |
| England | 44–11 | Semi-finals | Canada | 46–6 |

New Zealand was pooled with Scotland, Italy and World Cup debutantes, Germany. The United States were pooled with Spain, who missed the 1994 World Cup, along with Wales and Russia. New Zealand thrashed Germany 134–6 to record their first 100 points in a World Cup. They kept Scotland scoreless with 76–0 in their last pool game. The Black Ferns met Spain in their quarterfinal, they won 46–3 and went on to beat 1994 Champions, England, 44–11 to book their place in the Final.

The United States beat Russia in their first pool match 84–0, and then beat Spain 38–16. In their quarterfinal, they defeated Scotland in a closely contested match 25–10. Canada only managed 6 points against the United States 46 points in their semifinal game.

## Match

* 16 May 1998

| New Zealand | 44–12 | United States |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Cootes (4) Palmer Sheck Wall Con: Rush | | |

* Referee: E. F. Morrison

### Summary

Vanessa Cootes scored four of the Black Ferns eight tries in the Final. Farah Palmer, Regina Sheck and Louisa Wall scored a try each with Annaleah Rush making two successful conversions to give New Zealand their first World Cup title.

