The Silver Fern

Bunting answers questions:

Summary: (My comments in italics)

Only 13 new contracts on offer. Does this mean the rest are on multi year contracts? Must be until the next World Cup.

22% of the squad are props. It reflects the key strategic focus for this World Cup cycle. Good. The BFs have been dominated in the forwards by both France & England for many years now; going back to at least 2018.

He has been talking to many of the BF7s who have signalled their intention to return to Aupiki next year to be in the running for the World Cup.

However, he acknowledges that many of those who miss out on BF contracts next year will very likely be snapped up by the new NRLW Warriors women’s team. The two seasons don’t actually overlap so there remains opportunities for players to play both every year (for now). Aupiki is at the start of the year & NRLW is in the second half of the year

Aupiki needs to be expanded to provide more first class rugby experience for the next generation of front rowers as it’s a key strategic development area for the NZR 15s programme. At the moment, Aupiki coaches are favouring the old incumbents with years of experience as there’s not enough game time to develop the youngsters in the short season. Aupiki definitely needs to expand. The English pro season goes on for 20 weeks! It’s a big reason why they are way ahead of every other team and it pisses me off that the poms are so far ahead as I don’t like their style of play

Arihana Marino-Tauhinu’s dropping gives an opportunity for new leaders to be developed (question asked if dropping her exposes a big leadership gap in the BFs)

Joanah Ngan-Woo (who has barely played since the World Cup final) is finally confirmed by Bunting that she is returning from injury. Finally someone asked him the bloody question after all this time! I’ve been wanting to know this for the past year!

Finished 70-7. A blood bath.

worldrugby.org Independent Disciplinary Committee decision: Chryss Viliko (New Zealand) | World Rugby Independent Disciplinary Committee decision: Chryss Viliko (New Zealand) | World Rugby

New Zealand’s Chryss Viliko attended an independent Disciplinary Committee hearing for an offence contrary to Law 9.20(a) (dangerous charging in a ruck or maul) in New Zealand’s WXV 1 match against France on 20 October. The player was suspended for two matches subject to the successful completion...

As someone who was at the game I could understand the first penalty attempt but not the second shot at goal. The wind was strong so the Wallaroos should have kicked to the corner and put some pressure back on NZ.

The full time score was Black Ferns XV 38 - 12 Manu Sina XV

@Bovidae The written decision says that Kalounivale's high tackle was on the USA TH prop Charli Jacoby.

https://resources.worldrugby-rims.pulselive.com/worldrugby/document/2023/07/27/7eff505c-3639-4028-8967-38f7613616a9/230725-PAC4-JC-Decision-Tanya-Kalounivale-NZ-.pdf

Btw, Kalounivale is entitled to do that WR Coaching intervention and then get her suspension reduced to 2 games. The same applies to Hohaia.

@booboo said in Canada v Black Ferns (Pacific Four):

@Steven-Harris said in Canada v Black Ferns (Pacific Four):

@booboo played back in the 90s from what I recall , the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree , I was really impressed with De Goede ,her work rate and the ability to deal with the ball from a retreating scrum , there’s a few male players I have seen over the years that can’t control the ball at the back of a dominant scrum .lol
Chuck in goal kicking as well .

Hans was skipper at RWC87

@Steven-Harris hate autocorrect ... Hans became Hansen ...

@Dan54 the Roar, while having some good stuff, is largely a waste of time.

Wallaroos squad for the Pacific Four Series:

alt text

Nathan Williamson  /  Jun 14, 2023 Wallaroos welcome back overseas stars for Pacific Four Wallaroos welcome back overseas stars for Pacific Four

Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning has confirmed a 31-player squad for the Pacific Four series, opening with an O'Reilly Cup match against the Black Ferns on June 29 at Dolphin Stadium in Moreton Bay.

@booboo said in Black Ferns 2023:

@Bovidae said in Black Ferns 2023:

Those players not selected include Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kendra Reynolds and Phillipa Love.

What does this mean? Was this part of the press realese?

No, those were my comments about incumbents not selected (for both squads).

England winger Lydia Thompson appeared before an independent judicial committee on Monday, 21 November having received a red card in the Rugby World Cup 2021 final on 12 November, 2022. The red card was awarded for an offence pursuant to Law 9.13 (Dangerous tackle).

The player accepted that she had committed the act of foul play and that the offence was worthy of a red card. Having considered the player’s evidence and reviewed the clips, the Committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head. This resulted in a starting point of a six match suspension.

The Committee took into consideration the mitigating factors and decided that the player was entitled to the full mitigation available (three matches). The Committee decided there were no aggravating factors and therefore the final sanction was a three-match suspension.

The player is therefore suspended for the following matches:

Worcester Women v Wasps Women – 17 December, 2022 Worcester Women v DMP Sharks – 31 December, 2022 Worcester Women v Gloucester-Hartpury – 7 January, 2023*

*The player may apply to take part in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of the sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.

worldrugby.org Independent disciplinary process update: Lydia Thompson (England) | World Rugby Independent disciplinary process update: Lydia Thompson (England) | World Rugby

England winger Lydia Thompson has been suspended for three matches having received a red card in the Rugby World Cup 2021 final for an offence pursuant to Law 9.13 (Dangerous tackle).

@Billy-Tell said in Who are you watching as priority?:

To be frank (ba dum tish) with the misogynists, BF are great. Super well coached and in Fitzpatrick and Fluhler they have their Nonu and Smith. The men’s XV could emulate their use of when to pick n go and when to spin it. Cocksedge took the right options but still too slow. I have no idea why Demant was relieved of the goal kicking.

So not watching or being interested in the BFs is misogynistic? Or did I misunderstand you?

I haven't seen any comments on here that reflect that attitude. Just people expressing a preference and giving reasons why. I prefer women's Netball to men's Netball. Does that make me prejudice against men?

@mariner4life said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:

@ACT-Crusader said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:

@Jailbreak7 said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:

Main diff between mens and womens game is that the BFs really enjoy themselves out there, all smiles and really want to play for each other.. Shot of the bench showed teamates relaxed and having fun. Think the mens game has lost that spark and energy somewhere. Weight of Expectation? Too serious, need to lighten up and play with more freedom and the passes will stick.

You still see the ABs getting excited and celebrating. Sometimes it looks out of relief (eg Melbourne Bledisloe and final try) and others just genuine joy and excitement in the moment no matter at what point in the game it happens.

Just some of my thoughts, but you can’t overlook factors like the amount of money involved in the game, the fine line between being in and being cut for many players, the whole ‘AB legacy’ vs ‘play my own game’ tension. This does build pressure and expectation within and from the outside.

Fuck, take this place as a microcosm, times it by a millions for Stuff and Facebook

Have a look at the comments directed at any fucking player that dares to show a bit of emotion on the field. To celebrate. To puff the chest when they do something cool. You think that doesn't filter back to the fucking players?

NZ is still a very serious introverted little backwater in many ways. The ABs are still supposed to be stoic farmer types. Jog back to half way like it's nothing or you are a flash fluffybunny with a shit selfish attitude.

Good on the girls for ignoring that shit. But let's not pretend the pressure or expectation is the same

They can show the way though.

I tell you what. Clubs around the country better be gearing up for a boom in their womens teams next year. There will be a few that a happy if they hopped on the bus a little earlier as well.

I’d love to watch some of the training sessions to see what Smith does to build awareness of space and shifting the ball to it. These women had handling skills but he has developed instincts which is a very difficult thing to do.

@Crucial said in Black Ferns v Wales RWC:

@Joans-Town-Jones said in Black Ferns v Wales RWC:

@MiketheSnow said in Black Ferns v Wales RWC:

Class Act

I wanna convert her...

To what? Mormonism?

For the night

@antipodean you still have a problem with this?

@Crucial said in Black Ferns v Japan:

Smith will be getting a lot from this though. Being able to showcase skills means the real skill differences show out.

I think maybe you're misinterpreting or jumping at shadows

Stuff ratings from the game. Look to be quite generous and unbalanced IMO.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/129679173/black-ferns-player-ratings-lock-joanah-nganwoo-stars-in-scrappy-win-over-australia

They have identified the better players but also talked up some e.g. Tubic, Steinmetz that didn't really front. Leti-I’iga also deserved a below average score. She is certainly a weapon when given ball in space but comes across as sloppy in general play. Needs to focus on a complete game. Also thought Bayler was pretty average and needed more urgency to set the tone around her. IMO Brunt carried the backs and because of that made a few errors but on effort and thinking about the situation she probably deserved another point.

@booboo said in Black Ferns v Australia I:

As per usual wm watching behind ...

... but ...

4 from half time good guys all over Aus.

Couple of silly penalties.

Like our No.11

Leti-I'inga I think