2016 Black Ferns

[Stargazer]

NZ captain sent to the bin for going off her feet (not for the 1st time). Chance for the Wallaroos to maybe score some points, but NZ defence is really strong, with all players doing their bit. Woodman is a beast in the midfield.

[ACT Crusader]

Finished up 29-3, so a good comeback by OZ from Saturday.

[Stargazer]

http://files.allblacks.com/NZRU_Media_Releases/2016/121116_MR_Black_Ferns_squad_for_end_of_year_tour.html

[Stargazer]

No Sarah Goss. Some of the other contracted 7s players are in the squad, so 7s commitments can't be the reason.
Also the big no. 10, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, is missing and instead a less experienced first-five has been named.
Media release doesn't say anything about injuries.

[Stargazer]

According to NZH, Sarah Goss is back to 7s and Subritzky-Nafatali is injured.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11746903&ref=NZH_Tw

[Stargazer]

England match-day 23 against the Black Ferns (Sun 20 Nov, 1.00am NZT)

15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol, 62 caps), 14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries, 25 caps), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 59 caps), 12 Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls, 58 caps), 11 Fiona Pocock (Aylesford Bulls, 31 caps), 10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 79 caps), 9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 31 caps), 1 Vickii Cornborough (Aylesford Bulls, 19 caps), 2 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 18 caps), 3 Laura Keates (Worcester Valkyries, 54 caps), 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 96 caps), 5 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 36 caps), 6 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 22 caps), 7 Marlie Packer (Bristol, 38 caps), 8 Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 83 caps) (c).

Replacements:

16 Emma Croker (Richmond, 63 caps), 17 Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries, 115 caps), 18 Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 13 caps), 19 Poppy Cleall (Bristol, 5 caps), 20 Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 53 caps), 21 La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 58 caps), 22 Emily Scott (Saracens, 14 caps), 23 Claire Allan (Saracens, 34 caps).

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/red-roses-name-side-face-new-zealand/

[Stargazer]

Black Ferns:

1 Toka Natua (5) 2. Fiao'o Faamausili (c)(41) 3. Aleisha Nelson (17) 4. Eloise Blackwell (21) 5. Charmaine Smith (5) 6. Rawinia Everitt (18) 7. Charmaine McMenamin (4) 8. Aroha Savage (20)
9 Kendra Cocksedge (31) 10. Kelly Brazier (26) 11. Renee Wickliffe (21) 12. Chelsea Alley (9) 13. Portia Woodman (5) 14. Honey Hireme (13) 15. Selica Winiata (21)

Reserves:
16 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (10) 17. Aldora Itunu (5) 18. Aotearoa Mata'u (2) 19. Charlene Gubb (5) 20. Angie Sisifa (4) 21. Kristina Sue (2) 22. Carla Hohepa (12) 23. Hazel Tubic (7)

http://www.allblacks.com/News/30131/black-ferns-team-to-play-england-named

Looking at the number of caps in both teams, it's not hard to see that England are favourites, despite New Zealand being ranked no. 1 in the Women's World rankings. The six nations countries get to play each other every year. England also plays other internationals like the Super Series. The Black Ferns are lucky if they get a few games each year and then often they play weaker Australia. I hope captain Fiao'o Faamausili lasts beyond the WRWC next year, so she can reach 50 caps. It will be a tough game for the Ferns, but a good one to watch.

LIVESTREAMED at

The livestream on FB does seem to work, the one on YT not (yet):

193K views · 3.7K reactions | O2 Inside Line LIVE: England Women v...

The Red Roses take on New Zealand Women in the second Test of the Old Mutual Wealth Series, in association with #O2InsideLine. [swipe right to remove...

[Stargazer]

Impression after 5 minutes of play: England is MUCH stronger than the Black Ferns. After just over a minute, England scored the first try. Now, after 6 and half minutes the ref (Amy Perrett) has sent Black Fern Charmaine Smith to the bin.

England leads 5-0.

[Bones]

@Stargazer Well if that was the case after just over a minute, it's not looking so bad now! Cheers for the link.

[Bones]

And boom, NZ score to bring it evens. Some great defence by England as NZ just kept plugging away on the goal line, but geez there was some brainless play by NZ in the leadup too.

Converted from the sideline by Cocksedge! NZ lead at the break, 7-5.

[Stargazer]

Great try scored by Renee Wickcliffe after a long period of pick-and-go and strong England defence. Kendra Cocksedge converts the try. Half time: 7-5 to NZ.

[Stargazer]

@Bones Yes, it took the Ferns some time to get into the game, but they became stronger and stronger. Great finish to the first half.

[Stargazer]

Stupid yellow card. Winiata would have been much faster than anyone else so there was no need for that tackle. NZ down to 14 again.

[Stargazer]

Result: try England.

[Tordah]

Isn't this a full-time professional team versus a bunch of amateurs? Or are the Black Ferns also full-time pros?

[Stargazer]

@Tordah No, only the Englisch women are full time pros. The Black Ferns get a bit of money for lunch.

[Stargazer]

And another try to England, taking full advantage of NZ being one player down.

[Stargazer]

17-7 to England after 48 minutes.

[Stargazer]

I'm not sure whether playing Woodman at centre is a good idea. I think she would be much more dangerous if she played on the wing.

[Stargazer]

Rochelle Clark become the most capped player (116 caps). That's a huge achievement in women's rugby. Wonder how old she is and when she made her debut.