Black Ferns v Australia
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That's some super dumb play in your own half in these conditions. Just punt it down field towards the sideline.
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That lineout is the sole factor putting Oz under pressure.
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She's missed that by miles. I can see that from here ffs.
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Black Ferns will be happy with that.
Still you would think those are conditions the Aussie don't get much of. It's hard to underestimate how hard some of the rain was. At points during both games it was raining so hard it looked like it was a mist across the field.
Ground was cut up by the end. Ball barely bouncing.
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@Crucial said in Black Ferns v Australia:
I’m on the delayed showing so haven’t read anything but geez that ref is an annoying bint. Talk about bossy. Loves to talk way too much
I thought she did a good job tbh. Clear communication, consistent interpretation and reasonably accurate in her adjudications.
That a woman is verbose given a platform is hardly astonishing.
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@antipodean said in Black Ferns v Australia:
@Crucial said in Black Ferns v Australia:
I’m on the delayed showing so haven’t read anything but geez that ref is an annoying bint. Talk about bossy. Loves to talk way too much
I thought she did a good job tbh. Clear communication, consistent interpretation and reasonably accurate in her adjudications.
That a woman is verbose given a platform is hardly astonishing.
Duck and Cover will protect you as much as it would against a nuke
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A few comments on the first Black Ferns game of 2022 against the Wallaroos, who were playing their third test of the year.
The BFs looked lacklustre in the first half, like they were a bit intimidated by the occasion. I can understand that from all the debutants, but it shouldn't affect the whole team. The terrible weather definitely had an impact on the game, but I think both teams dealt reasonably well with it, the BFs particularly in the 2nd half. The coaches' comments and instructions during the break definitely had the desired effect. There was way more spark in the team.
I really don't see what Demant adds to the team. She's not a good 10. Tubic is so much better. Unfortunately, she's the captain, so she's likely to start in all the big games. Hopefully, not at 10.
Also thought the reserve frontrowers were much better than the starters. Their impact was critical for the outcome of the game.
I liked what I saw from Roos and Alana Bremner in the forwards, and Cocksedge in th backs was good. Promising debuts from, particularly, Teneti, Mulu and Kalounivale. I thought Semple and Holmes were a bit disappointing. Leti-I’iga, despite all her try-scoring abilities, didn't have her best game with her decision-making not always on point.
All in all a good start of the Series, but the BFs will need to improve a lot if they want to win the World Cup. England and France would have destroyed the Ferns in that first half.
About the officials: they annoyed the hell out of me. Super pedantic about the flying wedge, for which they disallowed the try, but not carding an Australian player for what was clearly a high tackle? I thought NH refs were so strict on that? I've seen Sara Cox handing out cards in the Women's Six Nations. I'm not saying it should have been a red (I'd like to see a replay of the tackle first), because there may have been mitigation (not convinced though), but I think there was more than enough reason for a yellow.
Anyway, the next game is against Canada, which smashed the USA. I'd like to see a lot of improvement from the Ferns, and they should beat Canada.
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Fancy picking the two best props in Aupiki and them dominating in the scrum and being prominent with ball in hand. In fact, all of the reserve forwards made an impact. We might have found the long-term BF no.8. Olsen-Baker was the best player on the field.
@Stargazer I didn't think that Cocksedge was that great. She still stuffs around at the breakdown. No idea why she wasn't subbed either. If Tubic is playing she should be the goal kicker.
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Just back from a wet day out, including this match. Really a match of two halves, in appalling conditions. The masterstroke came with the substitutions - big bruising front-rowers - and a lot of go forward, and the influence of Hazel Tubic. She had an ability to gain lots of ground in the rain and mud, while nobody else seemed capable.
There were a lot of rapt NZRU staff close to me in the stand. Plenty to cheer about, with a great crowd and an even better result to start the buildup to the World Cup.
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Watched the game on tv, and honest truth, I know it was raining etc, but if I watched the U15s college rugby, I would expect at least that skill level, and rugby nous! Improved a bit in second half , but I don't think it was very impressive at all. I hope it just a real bad first up game, as I saw nothing that will get many ecited about a WC later in year.
