Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final
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Have avoided the thread as I'm pretty sure what is being said. But I'll throw my tuppence out there four days later (this coming Friday). So late it's probably no longer relevant or of any interest, but anyways...
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I’m not expecting much change from last week.
I think that the front rows are sorted and also the locks although bench may depend on who works best in combo with front rows.
Hirini may move to bench for Kennedy-Simon to start
The biggest question is whether the tactic of Ayesha, Portia and Ruby is deemed a starting or finishing proposition.
Can’t see Smith being conservative though. -
@Crucial said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
I’m not expecting much change from last week.
I think that the front rows are sorted and also the locks although bench may depend on who works best in combo with front rows.
Hirini may move to bench for Kennedy-Simon to start
The biggest question is whether the tactic of Ayesha, Portia and Ruby is deemed a starting or finishing proposition.
Can’t see Smith being conservative though.Our biggest chance is to attack them through the backs. Our back three need to attack at every opportunity
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@Billy-Tell said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
Have avoided the thread as I'm pretty sure what is being said. But I'll throw my tuppence out there four days later (this coming Friday). So late it's probably no longer relevant or of any interest, but anyways...
Interesting attempt at a sledge ... I think
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@canefan said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@Crucial said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
I’m not expecting much change from last week.
I think that the front rows are sorted and also the locks although bench may depend on who works best in combo with front rows.
Hirini may move to bench for Kennedy-Simon to start
The biggest question is whether the tactic of Ayesha, Portia and Ruby is deemed a starting or finishing proposition.
Can’t see Smith being conservative though.Our biggest chance is to attack them through the backs. Our back three need to attack at every opportunity
For sure but I am not convinced that the combination of those three worked that well. When you also have Fitzpatrick and Fluhler in the midfield there may be an option to secure the backfield kicking with Holmes (France kick more than any other side) and then decide where to put a reserve attacker on the field.
I am fairly certain they will go all out to start though. -
@Crucial said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@canefan said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@Crucial said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
I’m not expecting much change from last week.
I think that the front rows are sorted and also the locks although bench may depend on who works best in combo with front rows.
Hirini may move to bench for Kennedy-Simon to start
The biggest question is whether the tactic of Ayesha, Portia and Ruby is deemed a starting or finishing proposition.
Can’t see Smith being conservative though.Our biggest chance is to attack them through the backs. Our back three need to attack at every opportunity
For sure but I am not convinced that the combination of those three worked that well. When you also have Fitzpatrick and Fluhler in the midfield there may be an option to secure the backfield kicking with Holmes (France kick more than any other side) and then decide where to put a reserve attacker on the field.
I am fairly certain they will go all out to start though.I worry about Holmes because of the way she got handled in the Aussie test
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@canefan said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@Crucial said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@canefan said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@Crucial said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
I’m not expecting much change from last week.
I think that the front rows are sorted and also the locks although bench may depend on who works best in combo with front rows.
Hirini may move to bench for Kennedy-Simon to start
The biggest question is whether the tactic of Ayesha, Portia and Ruby is deemed a starting or finishing proposition.
Can’t see Smith being conservative though.Our biggest chance is to attack them through the backs. Our back three need to attack at every opportunity
For sure but I am not convinced that the combination of those three worked that well. When you also have Fitzpatrick and Fluhler in the midfield there may be an option to secure the backfield kicking with Holmes (France kick more than any other side) and then decide where to put a reserve attacker on the field.
I am fairly certain they will go all out to start though.I worry about Holmes because of the way she got handled in the Aussie test
She was better when she came on last game.
I wouldn’t start her either but it is an option depending on whether they want to throw everything at the frogs from the start or later. -
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@Bovidae said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
My worry would be if the French kick deep and Tui is forced to kick. Her option from fullback is always run first.
They don’t really want to kick in their own half and I can understand the tactic. Many women’s teams play this way as to play traditionally requires a strong boot which isn’t a common part of the women’s teams.
If you can run forward and find enough support to recycle around the 22 you will eventually gain more ground than a kick handing a lineout to the opponents around the same spot.
The tactic relies on the ability to find support and the support players being aware and ready. -
@Crucial I haven't seen the French play at the RWC but I did read that their fullback is a very good kicker. I expect they'll try to play the territorial game and rely on their defence to keep the BFs in their own half, and force errors. It will be a clash of styles although the French do have some good backs, based on the games they played against NZ on the tour last year.
In the end the BF forwards will be more important to have parity in the scrums and avoid defending lineout drives.
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@Bovidae said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@Crucial I haven't seen the French play at the RWC but I did read that their fullback is a very good kicker. I expect they'll try to play the territorial game and rely on their defence to keep the BFs in their own half, and force errors. It will be a clash of styles although the French do have some good backs, based on the games they played against NZ on the tour last year.
In the end the BF forwards will be more important to have parity in the scrums and avoid defending lineout drives.
French strategy so far has been a kick and defend one counting on executing opportunities offered (eg attacking scrums, mauls, turnovers). Not a lot dissimilar to how the ABs have played at times but without the same level of flair on counter attack.
They have only recently moved one of their better players to 15. I think this is partly the common thinking in the womens game around it being more beneficial to run forward from deep, reset and then kick.
Generally though, they back a well organised defence to choke the opportunities of the other team. This will be the most fascinating aspect of seeing whether Smith's plans will work. Neither England or France are used to teams forcing them into decision making on defence. They both play very traditionally with their running lines and passing laterally. Offloads are rare. Oz sliced the French open easily when they got some front foot attacking ball. They just didn't have the rest of the game to support things. -
@Crucial said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@Bovidae said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@Crucial I haven't seen the French play at the RWC but I did read that their fullback is a very good kicker. I expect they'll try to play the territorial game and rely on their defence to keep the BFs in their own half, and force errors. It will be a clash of styles although the French do have some good backs, based on the games they played against NZ on the tour last year.
In the end the BF forwards will be more important to have parity in the scrums and avoid defending lineout drives.
French strategy so far has been a kick and defend one counting on executing opportunities offered (eg attacking scrums, mauls, turnovers). Not a lot dissimilar to how the ABs have played at times but without the same level of flair on counter attack.
They have only recently moved one of their better players to 15. I think this is partly the common thinking in the womens game around it being more beneficial to run forward from deep, reset and then kick.
Generally though, they back a well organised defence to choke the opportunities of the other team. This will be the most fascinating aspect of seeing whether Smith's plans will work. Neither England or France are used to teams forcing them into decision making on defence. They both play very traditionally with their running lines and passing laterally. Offloads are rare. Oz sliced the French open easily when they got some front foot attacking ball. They just didn't have the rest of the game to support things.If Oz could do it we can do it. Can we do it enough to win? It will be a battle of styles that is for sure. I want to see us play our style as opposed to trying to combat their game
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For me this is any easy choice , I just think Kennedy Simon is much more of physical presence
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@Steven-Harris said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
For me this is any easy choice , I just think Kennedy Simon is much more of physical presence
Not so sure it is an easy choice. Agree about the physicality but Hirini was my POTM last game. The workrate and decision making was top notch.
I think they will share the time, just depends on tactics who starts. -
@Steven-Harris Hirini also doubles as a LO receiver, our kick reception too was a lot more secure when she was there. Lose our kickoffs as Aus did, and you leave yourself exposed. Want good front foot ball. Bit reluctant to throw Kennedy in as a starter, as France will surely target our set piece. The prof has a good headache!
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@Steven-Harris said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
For me this is any easy choice , I just think Kennedy Simon is much more of physical presence
Yes, she is a very abrasive and physical player. I would start Simon and bring Hirini on, but Simon can also play no.8, so we might see them both at the end.
I would start Connor and Ngan-Woo, as I think they strengthen the scrum and ball-carrying, but I don't see that happening.
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@Bovidae I wondered whether Ngan-Woo was carrying an injury? She seemed less abrasive than usual v Wales.
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@Bovidae said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
@Steven-Harris said in Black Ferns v France, RWC Semi Final:
For me this is any easy choice , I just think Kennedy Simon is much more of physical presence
Yes, she is a very abrasive and physical player. I would start Simon and bring Hirini on, but Simon can also play no.8, so we might see them both at the end.
I would start Connor and Ngan-Woo, as I think they strengthen the scrum and ball-carrying, but I don't see that happening.
I think I mentioned in another thread that the French target the scrum at the reserve changeover for a period. They will try and out last the starting tight five and smash a couple of scrums when new players come on.
I wouldn't necessarily put all of our eggs into the starter basket. The coaches will have worked out combos in training and although the Cantab FR may not be the absolute strongest combo they would be the next best and then Connor can strengthen the reserves. There's also that Connor and Taumata have played together a lot and Taumata is very young so the known experience next to her may help.
