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Taylor Curtis on the most exciting weekend in women's domestic rugby history
On the eve of the semi-finals (and an equally exciting relegation game) Canterbury player Taylor Curtis looks forward to perhaps the most exciting weekend in women’s domestic rugby history.
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This season has almost certainly been the most jaw-dropping Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) competition so far. And it’s a reflection on New Zealand’s rapid interest in women’s rugby. It’s no kept secret that women’s rugby had grown dramatically in the last 18 months on the back of the Black Ferns’ fourth World Cup success and their now semi-professional contracted environment. It’s stirred a hunger and set a burning flame within the FPC competition. Since then the flame has been fueled by player’s oxygen, taking it from their lungs to fuel this burning desire and as the end of the season approaches it’s really starting to flare – no matter what end of the table, you’re now playing for survival.
Bay of Plenty’s tremendous round robin victory over the Auckland Storm, on Auckland’s hallowed turf can’t go unmentioned in the build up to the relegation game. Auckland have an aura about them and their home soil is where the eye of their storm is held, they usually crush teams with that. This time the Bay brought something of their own, a different kind of radiance, one that saw light appear through the darkest cloud. Although this was during week five of the competition this was the moment that signalled Auckland’s fate.
On paper the odds were stacked against the Bay: they were facing a strong tight five and some nippy outside backs, not to mention their own place at the bottom of the table. They were the pinnacle of underdogs.
But the Bay of Plenty took every little chance they could. Securing points outside and producing the best rugby possible, it was as if every moment won was a small victory in itself. Every try, every break and every turnover was a win, regardless of the score, as they really had nothing to lose. With that sort of mentality, you can see why they came away with the win.
The Bay are facing Auckland again this weekend in a bottom of the table clash as exciting as the finals, and a signal of the height the mighty Auckland empire has fallen. The excitement comes from the pride on the line, with a new rule relegating the loser to the Championship tier, while the winner stays in the Premiership.
At the other end of the table, Canterbury have shown nothing but pure class on the park all season, executing passes, plays and phases to help secure their spot on top of the Premiership (I may be bias but the 5-1 record speaks for itself). They made history once again last week defeating Auckland for just the second time since 2009. This team is about playing classy rugby very much like the Canterbury boys and are writing their own history to live alongside the men’s legendary record.
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The victory over Auckland locked the JJ Stewart Trophy (the equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield) away for another year. It also secured the red and blacks a home semi against Manawatu, which will make for an exciting game between two fit and capable teams. A sudden death match brings a lot of weight and intensity. It’s not just another game, it’s a chance to claim 2018 as your year and is a step closer to putting your name on the cup.
The other semi will be equally as good – Waikato taking on Counties Manukau Heat. These are two teams that play different styles of rugby, you’ve got a strong Counties forward pack and Waikato full of pace. Counties have experience playing under pressure from the finals last year, but they’ve been exposed this year as beatable. Waikato will bring their own style of game and the burning flame along with them. It’ll be interesting to see which of these styles prevails on the day and walks away with the win and into the final.
For some players Black Fern selection hovers over them and this could be their last chance to show coaches what they’ve got – some added tension for this weekend for all teams. Once again what’s rugby without a bit of semi-final pressure.
The six week round robin has shown there will be no shortage of big hits, skill and passion this weekend. National selection won’t be what drives players it will be that flame that’s roared through the competition already, this time burning for a place in the final and a chance to make 2018 their year.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Billy's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to comments