Black Ferns must cash in on Kendra Cocksedge's profile
While there is much hand-wringing over who might succeed Steve Hansen in the hot seat 12 months from now, or whether inked up World Cuppers will need to cover up, women’s rugby should be front and centre of mind at New Zealand Rugby HQ.
The women’s game is, generally, on the up in New Zealand. Playing numbers certainly are heading in the right direction. The major concern is the dropoff in the crucial boys’ school leavers bracket.
Last Thursday night saw history made. Kendra Cocksedge was adjudged the winner of the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Trophy as the best player, male or female, in the New Zealand game. It was met with widespread, if not universal, approval among rugby people.
Cocksedge is a heady, skilled, resourceful halfback with a wealth of experience. She kicks goals too, though she is not long off the tee. Her 2018 play for the Black Ferns was of her usual high standard, though she was unable to prevent France from outgunning the team in Grenoble. Where her quality really stood out was in the Farah Palmer Cup. Her four tries against Auckland was a virtuoso display. She slotted her goals. She appeared to be thinking several plays ahead of her opponents and teammates.
But in the FPC, vital tournament that it is, there is a large gap between the very good players and the newbies, the rookies. We saw more televised games in 2018, but there were a worrying number of blowouts, especially in the crossover fixtures. Twelve of the 14 top provinces fielded sides. The aim is to have all 14 involved. We will need patience, but the speed at which the women’s sevens landscape is travelling means the 15s programme needs some swift TLC. Less than 12 months ago the first contracting model was announced for the Black Ferns.
That was right, proper and long overdue.
But what we need in 2019 is to get the Black Ferns – the 2010 and 2017 NZ Rugby team of the year, no less – in front of their home people.
We need to give them more test matches. At this stage, just one home international – an August doubleheader with the All Blacks – is pencilled in. They will also play the Wallaroos in Perth. But would it not enliven the Black Ferns programme to have France and England out for a home series in July?
There are commercial imperatives at play, but the Black Ferns need to be suiting up for at least 7-8 tests a year. The top European nations rack up 10-12 a year, including their Six Nations.
The shop window is all important in promoting the game. Young girls love seeing their heroes in action, both in 15s and sevens. But it is sevens which captures more of the imagination, with the Olympic Games a powerful carrot.
The Black Ferns Sevens won their first NZ Rugby team of the year gong last Thursday, and richly deserved it was too. They are technically adept and athletically as good as many male rugby players. And they are carving up, on the World Series, at the RWC Sevens and Commonwealth Games. In the last two tournaments, without the incomparable Portia Woodman, they have not missed a beat. Sarah Goss, Niall Williams, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Kelly Brazier, Michaela Blyde… they are all fulltime athletes and tremendous to watch. Pity we rarely see them live at home in official tournaments.
Events such as the Red Bull Ignite Sevens and the Condor Sevens help develop and expose the younger talent. The likes of Isla Norman-Bell, Mererangi Paul, Lauren Balsillie, Kalyn Takitimu-Cook, Jazmin Hotham are the next generation of Black Ferns Sevens stars. But we cannot be sure who the next great Black Ferns stars will be. Who will succeed the brilliant Kendra Cocksedge? Who will make the No 2 jersey, hogged by the tough as teak Fiao’o Faamausili, their own? The FPC needs more consistent quality across the board and the Black Ferns need more exposure. Only then can New Zealanders can start thinking about a sixth and seventh RWC title in short order.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments