'Relentless and ruthless': Black Ferns zoned in ahead of World Cup
The Black Ferns took care of business on Saturday night with a mammoth 95-12 victory over Japan. But it was the way they went about their win that has pundits impressed and optimistic for the World Cup.
Since the Black Ferns disappointing northern tour last year, a lot has happened. There was a complete upheaval of coaching staff, culture, and a raft of new players entered the picture, as well as Super Rugby Aupiki being established.
Their final hit out before the World Cup closed a significant chapter in the team’s history. Now, the women in black face a new era of competition in a resurgent era of their own.
Ex-Blues hooker James Parsons and ex-Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall discussed the teams evolution on this weeks episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod:
“The improvements that I love to see,” Hall said. “(And) how they’re going to win against the northern hemisphere teams, is winning the breakdown area, it’ going to be crucial against the like of England and France.
“But their attacking ability, how they’ve been able to play, whether its been through tips through contact, the ability to play out the back, the attacking kicks that we saw a little bit on the weekend which I liked, that kind of involvement that Wayne Smith has brought into that group.
“So it’s all there for them, but do they go in as favourites? I don’t think so.
“England haven’t lost a test match in how long?
“The confidence they (the Black Ferns) should have in the improvements that they’ve made since that northern hemisphere tour has been great.
The kiwi team played four tests in Europe last year, two against both England and France respectively.
They suffered heavy defeats in all four meetings, returning home with 166 points scored against them and just 47 points in their favour.
James Parsons added to Hall’s praise, emphasising the teams mentality as a huge area of improvement under coach Wayne Smith.
“What I love most about it was it’s almost like the scoreboard wasn’t there,” Parsons added. “They were just as relentless and ruthless when it was 0-0, when it was 95(-12).
“I think that’s the biggest sign that they are so focused and zoned in for what’s coming and they’re so ready.
“It’s just classic Wayne Smith style, he is just a coach that instils belief but he also instils an edge that you don’t button off until that full time hooter.
“I think it’s his quote that he says ‘the fans don’t really care about the result, they just want to see you leave a little bit of yourself out there’
“It’s so true, you can accept a defeat if you’ve emptied the tank, that’s what it looked like to me, it looked like a team that didn’t care what the score was, they were going to be efficient in all their roles and everything until the end.”
The half time score was 45-7, almost exactly half of the final score, a perfect example of how the team maintained their intensity and dominance throughout the game.
Both panelists agreed the past 10 months must have see a huge amount of work within the Black Ferns camp, explaining how the execution of their offensive structures looked to be second nature to all the players.
“You look at the animation when it comes to their tip play with their forwards,” Hall noted. “They’re all running the same role, they’re all running the same tip lines, they’re running square, they’re out the back, there’s animation off that, that comes back to repetition and understanding and knowing your game plan to a T.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 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
3 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 Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 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!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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.
30 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 comments