2017 Black Ferns (including World Cup)
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This will be Honey Hireme's last game on home soil. She will retire from (international) rugby after the World Cup. Not sure whether she'll hang up the boots completely.
I wouldn't be surprised if more players will retire; Kendra Cocksedge wasn't sure whether she'll continue either. The captain is 35, so whether she'll continue? Some players might choose for their professional careers, or stop for family reasons (like Hireme). Plenty of upcoming, young talent, fortunately. -
Am watching as a pre-cursor to the Maori v Lions. England look bloody well coached and their basic drills and skill-set are very good. They maintain possession for long periods. Black Ferns down 14-19, we just need to hold onto the ball when we get it and be more clinical.
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England have improved a lot. That's what going pro has done for them. Unfortunately, that means there is no level playing field anymore. I wonder whether other countries will follow their example. I think NZR should seriously consider it, at least for the year leading up to a World Cup.
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Yep it doesn't look as if we've been tested thus far. I' d rather a loss now and take some learning from it, than going into the WC in August thinking we are invincible - and then lose. The gulf in class is quite stark. We are just living off scraps and a couple of x-factor players. Weather playing a part too
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@Stargazer Fuck yes, as just having watched yet another try scored by a rolling maul by England, Christ the defence coach should be taken out and given a bloody good flogging.
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Really enjoyed that.
England as complete a team as any out there - male and female.
Thoroughly deserved their win.
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Full time: Black Ferns 21 - 29 England
Deserved win for England, who looked bigger, better and stronger.
Good lesson for the Ferns, who've got a list of work-ons. England may take the top ranking. The Ferns will be better for it during the World Cup. If the NZ coaches do their job.
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From a purely NZ perspective it wasn't good - however, as I said - rather take the loss now than in the WC, Such a lot of work-ons. Our basic skills need to improve. A lot. Surely must be a huge lesson in terms of how to defend a rolling maul and how to keep possession for long periods - and use it well. We can't keep on relying on x-factor players to get us through. Simply not good enough. Need to do better at this level.
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Black Ferns squad for the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup (9-26 August, Ireland)
FORWARDS
Adora Itunu (Auckland) - 11
Toka Natua (Waikato) 15
Aleisha Nelson (Auckland) - 23
Sosoli Talawadua (Waikato) - 3
Fiao'o Faamausili – captain (Auckland) - 47
Becky Wood (North Harbour) - 2
Charmaine Smith (North Harbour) - 11
Eloise Blackwell (Auckland) - 27
Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland) - 9
Les Ketu (Bay of Plenty) - 5
Linda Itunu (Auckland) - 33
Rawinia Everitt (Counties Manukau) - 22
Sarah Goss (Manawatu) - 5
Te-Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (Counties Manukau) - 15
Aroha Savage (Counties Manukau) - 23
Aotearoa (Katie) Mata'u (Counties Manukau) - 5BACKS
Stacey Waaka (Waikato) - 11
Kelly Brazier (Otago) - 32
Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (Counties Manukau) - 14
Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury) - 37
Kristina Sue (Manawatu) - 7
Hazel Tubic (Auckland) - 10
Renee Wickliffe (Counties Manukau) - 27
Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau) - 11
Selica Winiata (Manawatu) - 27
Carla Hohepa (Waikato) 14
Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland) - 2
Chelsea Alley (Waikato) - 14http://www.allblacks.com/News/31052/black-ferns-squad-for-2017-womens-rugby-world-cup-named
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WRWC: Past winners - NZ tournament results
1991: USA - NZ finished 4th
1994: England - NZ did not participate because the tournament wasn't officially endorsed by the then IRB & NZR refused to pay team expenses for that reason
1998: NZ
2002: NZ
2006: NZ
2010: NZ
2014: England - NZ finished 5th (note that they only finished this low because of one lost pool game!) -
