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'They are the team to beat': Black Ferns claim 'underdogs' tag before final
Black Ferns flanker Sarah Hirini has claimed the “underdogs” tag for her side ahead of the World Cup final against World No. 1 England at Eden Park this weekend.
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New Zealand has never lost a women’s Rugby World Cup final, and have beaten the Red Roses on the biggest stage in women’s rugby in four of their five tournament triumphs.
The two traditional rugby rivals battled it out for the sports ultimate prize in the 2017 World Cup, with the Black Ferns winning 41-32 at Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast.
But the Red Roses are red hot favourites ahead of the final this Saturday in enemy territory, as they look to extend their record-breaking winning streak to 31 Test matches.
Hirini, who won an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo last year and a World Cup in 2017, piled the pressure on England ahead of the decider as she claimed “they are the team to beat.”
“I think we’re definitely underdogs,” Hirini told reporters.
“We came into this tournament ranked number three, now probably ranked number two.
“They are the team to beat and we’ve definitely talked about it like that so we know that we have to do everything right.
“We can’t make basic errors like we probably did in that semi-final if we want to beat England this weekend.”
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The Black Ferns began their World Cup campaign on New Zealand soil with a disastrous opening half an hour against rivals Australia at Eden Park.
The Black Ferns will look to defend their World Cup crown against World No. 1 England, who are currently on a 30-Test win streak. #RWC2021 #WomensRugby https://t.co/aIAcW7hA8R
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 8, 2022
Australia raced out to an early 17-nil lead, before the home side piled on 41 unanswered points – and ultimately won the Test by a comfortable margin.
Including their opening match of the Cup, the Black Ferns have scored an incredible 234-points in their five matches so far – but their biggest Test awaits them.
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England have been clinical throughout the World Cup, including a 41-5 win over Australia in the quarterfinals, before beating Canada in last weekend’s semi-final.
The Red Roses have been dominant for years, and it would’ve shocked just about everyone in the rugby world if they hadn’t qualified for the World Cup decider.
New Zealand played the Red Roses twice during their 2021 end-of-year tour, and lost both matches by emphatic margins.
England rugby has clearly benefited from professionalism within the women’s game, and as Hirini discussed, “they deserve” to be in the final.
“We’re not going to shy away from that either. When you have time together there’s a lot of resources, there’s a lot of habits that you pick up from other players,” she said.
“They are probably able to get systems a lot better or faster than what we are.
“Potentially they’ve probably had a little bit more of a chill week whereas we’ve had to come back together quite quickly.
“They’re professional, they’ve deserved to be there. It’s great for our sport, that’s probably number one, and I think the more teams that can get professional, I don’t know what the next World Cup would look like if there’s another three or four teams professional.
“It’s great for them and probably why they’re 30 games straight on the trot.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
9 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.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
22 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
4 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.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments