2022 Black Ferns
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Squad as expected, thought they might go with Lafaele over Wickliffe to have some further cover at lock but Wickliffe give lots of utility value especially for easy pool games.
Gutted for Olsen-Baker, she would have started at 8. Semple the biggest omission but also not surprising at all, hopefully her SkySport contract doesn't stop her working with SparkSport at the tournament. -
@trooa Semple would have offered something different in the midfield, as she can be direct and get you over the advantage line. The players selected are more runners and steppers, which might not be as effective against England or France with slower ball. We'll see.
The interest now will be which of the sevens players force their way into the team to play Aust in the opener.
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@Bovidae Brunt is a similar physical ball runner in the midfield? Far less experienced but probably more explosive which might have got her over the line with the tactics Smith is implementing.
Fitzpatrick is the only definite starter for me, rest are fighting for bench spots without injuries.
Italy beat France 26-19 on the weekend so not just England & France we have to worry about. -
With the BFs not having played England and France since the new coaching set-up was brought in, it's hard to know how good this squad is. That's also due to all the changes that were made in the line-up in all the games they've played this year. I hardly know some of the players, because they're so new. Twelve players with 5 caps or less. If I had to guess, I think they can beat France on a good day. England? Who knows. They're definitely the team to beat.
Due to so many FPC games overlapping with NPC games, I haven't seen far enough FPC games, so can't really say who's lucky to be there or who's unlucky not to be named.
I rate Chelsea Semple, so it's disappointing she's not there. I'm not a Ruawei Demant fan (at 10) and would have loved to see Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali in the squad. It's also a pity Grace Brooker has been injured all year. Would have added so much more than a player like Renee Wickliffe, who's well past her best.
Wishing the team lots of luck; I can't wait for the World Cup to begin. It's a pity all games are played up north, which will make it impossible for me to attend any games, but I will be glued to my screen, even with Spark Sport screening it.
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@trooa I wouldn't be surprised to see Fluhler at centre. I did predict Hirini would be in the squad, and she could still play openside if Simon is at no.8. I'm not sure what Smith's preferred loose forward trio and midfield is, as some of the players in this squad weren't involved in the Aust tests.
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@Bovidae Yeah she's definitely a shot but Du Plessis has been in exceptional form this year. Her footwork pre-contact is amazing & I'd say she is quicker than Stacey. Keen to see what her defensive decision making is like against higher quality teams though.
Hiriini can definitely force her way in, she was so good over the ball for the Poua. I think the loose trio that played Aussie in the first test deserves first shot at it but that's dependent on Simon. She has a torn calf & they'll be pretty risk averse you'd assume with zero risk of missing the quarters. -
Wayne Smith: Avalanche uncovers gold mine
Rugby's professor Wayne Smith tells Jim Kayes where he's worried for the Black Ferns in their Rugby World Cup defence and why coaching them is one of the best things he's done.
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Hansen rules out tilt at top Black Ferns job after Smith departure
Assistant coach says she would like to remain involved with new world champions but selection may be out of her hands.
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It appears they are sticking with the Director of rugby role.
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@Bovidae said in 2022 Black Ferns:
It appears they are sticking with the Director of rugby role.
I found that funny as well. I wonder if that is the 'new' direction they are going to go with the Men's team as well. Director of Rugby but sets strategies, leads the coaches etc.
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@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:
Assistant coach says she would like to remain involved with new world champions but selection may be out of her hands.
You'd also have to look at Bunting. Did he get a heads up earlier and that's why he isn't doing Chiefs?
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@Crucial said in 2022 Black Ferns:
@Bovidae said in 2022 Black Ferns:
It appears they are sticking with the Director of rugby role.
I found that funny as well. I wonder if that is the 'new' direction they are going to go with the Men's team as well. Director of Rugby but sets strategies, leads the coaches etc.
Lining up Foster...
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Full interview in the Quality Rugby Podcast thread.
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@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:
Full interview in the Quality Rugby Podcast thread.
Interesting stuff on the women’s game. Confirms that they are making every effort to try and grab the chance to work off the back of the RWC.
Trying for another PAC4 followed by the new WR comp but there are challenges around grounds during Women’s Football World Cup. Also going to really pump up the Aupiki comp, giving it this year to get established with a proper training lead up before looking further -
@Crucial Grounds like McLean Park in Napier, Trafalgar Park in Nelson, Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth, to name a few, are all excellent grounds for Black Ferns games. NZR needs to think outside their preferred box (mostly the Blues regions) and look at other stadiums. We have plenty good grounds that aren't used by the Women's Football World Cup.
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@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:
@Crucial Grounds like McLean Park in Napier, Trafalgar Park in Nelson, Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth, to name a few, are all excellent grounds for Black Ferns games. NZR needs to think outside their preferred box (mostly the Blues regions) and look at other stadiums. We have plenty good grounds that aren't used by the Women's Football World Cup.
I don't know the full details but quite a few regional grounds are being used for training camps etc and FIFA has booked them out.
But as you say, the last PAC4 was in Tauranga and that worked. -
Also in that Lendrum interview, as the link says, he talks about Smith and the BFs. Lendrum was there on the first day and says Smith was massively inspirational and set the tone for everything that happened.
He told them on the first day that they would be playing a final at a sold out EP and they should be working to that picture. Made a promise and kept it.
