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'I'm really concerned': Why the Black Ferns may struggle to replace Wayne Smith
Super coach Wayne Smith was able to accomplish something truly incredible with the Black Ferns last year, as he led them to World Cup glory in front of a sold out Eden Park crowd.
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Rugby fans of all ages packed the stands at the famous venue, and watched on as the hosts recorded an epic 34-31 upset win over World No. 1 England.
The Black Ferns had defied the odds.
New Zealand had lost two test matches against both England and France during their end-of-season tour the November before – and they lost these four matches by empathic margins as well.
Change was needed. The Black Ferns needed the best.
And that’s exactly what they got.
Two-time men’s World Cup winner Wayne Smith was appointed as a technical coach in April, but later became the head coach after Glenn Moore resigned.
Smith was now in charge of a talented group of professional athletes who dared to dream of World Cup glory on home soil.
The Black Ferns were able to both unite and inspire a nation throughout their incredible World Cup run as they performed passionately on the field.
Records were broken throughout the ground-breaking tournament as sold out crowds attended tests at Eden Park, and spurred the Black Ferns onto the sports ultimate glory.
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But after etching their names into New Zealand sporting folklore, there are some unanswered questions facing the Black Ferns as we usher in a new year.
Wayne Smith has retired as a three-time world champion, but his replacement is yet to be announced.
Speaking on Weekend Sport with Jason Pine, New Zealand Herald columnist Alice Soper explained why she is “really concerned” about the Black Ferns’ next coach.
“I’m really concerned about who’s our next coach,” Soper said on Newstalk ZB on New Year’s Eve. “I think that lays bare a lot of structural issues that we have.
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“If you like Aupiki for example, we’ve had two women who have just been put in charge of teams. So now my Hurricanes Poua have (Victoria) Grant and the Chiefs Manawa have Crystal Kuau.
“That’s great but if you look at the total numbers across the coaching setup, we have no more women coaching this year than we did last year. We have a reconfiguration, but the same numbers involved.
“That’s an issue if we talk in terms of pathways up to the top. We don’t have a structure where we have been investing in specialists in women’s rugby for a long time.
“We’ve got a really small handful of people that they will be looking at and that’s a challenge because we’ve got people who have been around for quite a while; been through the good and the bad.
“It’s a case of are we ready really to have someone as good to replace Wayne? I don’t know if we do.”
While the Black Ferns were officially crowned champions for their success on the field, they were equally as deserving of that moniker for their actions off it.
Stars including Ruby Tui, Sarah Hirini and Stacey Fluhler were among a talented, and now legendary, group of players who changed women’s rugby in Aotearoa forever.
Whether it was smiling during the national anthems or spending seemingly endless periods of time with supporters, this team was different.
Comparing the Black Ferns to the All Blacks, Soper said the difference was the “reconnection back to who they” are.
“I think it’s a reconnection back to who they were. I’ve talked to a lot of people and it feels like it’s that nostalgia of the early 90s where players were still people as well,” Soper added.
“We’ve got this whole production line where we’re pulling kids out of school and putting them into ‘this is how you become an All Black’ at 16, and there’s no opportunity for them to figure out who they are.
“That’s what people loved. When they’re talking to Ruby Tui, it’s the whole of herself… I love her and every poster put her on there, put her on the mic.
“Allowing people to have personalities, allowing us to have connection back to community. That’s the other reason people turn up first and foremost is because they know them.”
Super Rugby Aupiki kicks off with two exciting matches on Saturday, February 25.
Hurricanes Poua are set to host Chiefs Manawa at Levin Domain, while Matatu will face Blues Women at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets 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?
11 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.
11 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.
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