1
'Immersed himself': How Sir Graham Henry is helping the Black Ferns
Black Ferns head coach and former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith revealed how far the Black Ferns are going to prepare for their opponents, leaving no stone unturned as they prepare for their next match against Wales.
ADVERTISEMENT
The new Black Ferns coaching staff has a ton of World Cup-winning experience with Smith aided by former All Blacks and 2011 World Cup-winning head coach Graham Henry.
Smith revealed that Henry has been studying every single team the Black Ferns will face, regardless of perceived strength, as they attempt to win a sixth World Cup title.
“We have watched every game of every team that is here over the last two years, so we are well versed on the likes of Wales and Scotland,” Smith told media at the team announcement.
“We have done the homework on those previous games and the ones last weekend.
“Ted [Graham Henry] has immersed himself in the hours of video work. As to northern teams and the way that they play… rugby is rugby and you can play it many ways and I don’t think there is a northern way and a southern way, England are the best in the world at present, but they play to their strengths upfront and to a very good backline.”
After a rocky start at Eden Park the Black Ferns responded with 41 unanswered points to down the Wallaroos in their opening World Cup fixture in front of a record crowd.
After the match Smith said his side may have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the atmosphere which many were experiencing for the first time.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Black Ferns have adjusted by playing crowd noise at their trainings over loud speakers to get used to the noise.
They will play Wales at Waitakere Stadium on Sunday, which is also sold out, and have made a host of changes to the starting side, including moving the Player of the Match Ruby Tui from the wing into the No 15 jersey.
“We are giving everyone opportunities, we’ve got a really strong squad including our outside backs,” Smith said.
“Its all about combinations and we don’t know what is down the track and Ruby shows all the tendencies to be able to play fullback.
ADVERTISEMENT
“She works hard, covers a lot of ground, gives us cover in the position if needed, and gives us another option as we move forward.
“As I said we have a strong squad and it’s all about which 15 will take the field for a particular match, it might not be the 15 best players, but those who operate together well as a team and in combinations.”
The Black Ferns wingers were rewarded on the end of the slick backline with five tries against Australia, with Tui grabbing a double and Portia Woodman scoring a hat-trick.
Tui was excited about the chance to move into fullback and link with her wings which is still one of the more potent back three units at the World Cup.
“It’s exciting, Smithy is always thinking about how we play. We have grown so much as a team in the last 12 months, my eyes are lighting up at the opportunity to be honest.
“The cool thing is I have the experienced Renee [Wickliffe] on the right and another good friend of mine [Portia Woodman] on the other wing so we have solid connections on the field.
“Fullback is all about reading the game and I feel we have six eyes looking after that. It’s always an honour to wear the jersey and I would play prop if I had to.”
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments