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Time for New Zealand to invest in the Black Ferns or accept the consequences
New Zealand and England are regarded as two of the most competitive women’s teams in the world.
Yesterday’s match at Franklin’s Gardens was sold as a head-to-head clash, yet the rugby on show could scarcely have been further from that.
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After the Black Ferns’ 56 -15 defeat to England, we are seeing the world order of women’s rugby changing and hearing some serious questions as to why this is happening.
Are we watching the world order of women’s #rugby change here? Are we watching history being written ?
I have to wonder how much the quality of the prem 15’s has to do with this..
— Stella Mills ? (@stella_mills_) November 7, 2021
To give perspective, the Black Ferns have an 87 per cent success rate in test match rugby; they are consistent winners of the World Cup and usually a highly feared team so what changed?
The first port of call is COVID-19 related since the visitors last played 26 months ago. Compared to the 14 matches the Red Roses have played and won, this goes some way to explain their monumental defeat.
But delving deeper it seems investment, or lack of, is also a big contributing factor. Speaking after their first test defeat, women’s rugby advocate Alice Soper said: “If New Zealand Rugby are serious about defending their World Cup at home, they need to be backing those girls to do another Northern tour before then because if they think this is going to do it, it won’t.”
Final thoughts? I’m gonna have a wee nap and start again, just like the Black Ferns will for game two! pic.twitter.com/jGGLOsjcs3
— Alice Soper (@alicesoapbox) October 31, 2021
Is it the case that the Black Ferns have simply played too little rugby together? Or are we seeing a need for systematic change in the way New Zealand rugby invests in the Black Ferns?
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Next March New Zealand welcomes a new national club competition, Super Rugby Aupiki, which sees teams face off during a four-week window. This competition has been described by some as the stepping-stone between the Farah Palmer Cup and the Black Ferns.
While short in nature, it will provide more playing opportunities, which can only be positive. In addition, the Red Roses were awarded 30 full-time contracts in 2019, meaning the bulk of the squad, including newly-appointed captain Poppy Cleall, are able to train together consistently.
By contrast, the Black Ferns do have contracts in place, but they are less than full-time. The contracts follow a hybrid model, similar to those recently offered to Wales’ women’s squad.
Not much sums up the disparities between how the NZ and Eng teams have been invested in over the years than the fact that NZ today play just their 100th test, a milestone which has taken them 30 years to reach, while England skipper Sarah Hunter took just ten to win 100 caps.
— Scrumqueens – Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) October 31, 2021
While the final result was shocking, it is important to direct attention to the end product. Across two test matches we have seen what real investment in the women’s game can deliver since this England squad has been building and galvanizing for years.
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Even a blow as big as losing the team’s key play-maker to injury seemingly made little difference to England’s preparations. The squad understands the game and each other in ways that other teams can only dream of.
It is also clear to see how the quality of play in the Allianz Premier 15’s has helped mould world-class international players. Prior to the match, head coach Simon Middleton said he “wasn’t worried” about putting uncapped players up against the Black Ferns, explaining that the standard of play in the Premier 15’s has “well prepared” them for anything New Zealand had to offer.
A week after setting one, England have put up another record score against NZ #ENGvNZL #RedRoses https://t.co/ArSQqPzGgS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 7, 2021
The effect of the Allianz Premier 15’s on the standard of play is undeniable. The league has this year attracted a significant number of overseas’ players, and can you really blame them? Competition at domestic level is fierce – players run on to the pitch expecting a challenge in each match they play. These women have been taught to expect high standards, it’s been drilled into them from a club perspective, so are we really that surprised that England are dominating the Autumn Internationals?
The Red Roses aren’t yet done, they still have a depth of world-class players in the wings waiting to show what they are made of. It must also be worrying for opponents to see uncapped players such as Holly Aitchison and Maud Muir seamlessly slip into the international set up, as if they have been there for years.
However, it must also be acknowledged that there is still plenty of rugby to be played before the next World Cup. In New Zealand, we are seeing a team that has only just, after two years, come together. Writing them off would be foolish, they still have 11 months in which to pull this out of the bag, and if anyone can do it, the Black Ferns can. That said, much will depend on how much investment is available prior to the World Cup. Hopefully this loss will serve as a wake-up call to those in power and finally generate some long-term investment in women’s rugby.
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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 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.
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