The Silver Fern

@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

Fortunately, at least one Laurie O'Reilly Cup test still to be played v Australia before the World Cup (on 20 August in Christchurch).

@Bovidae said in Black Ferns v Canada:

Some brief highlights (terrible editing though, and Stevenson has a touch of Nisbo).

Leti-I’iga really butchered a try in the 1st half.

She's a bit of an enigma in that sense. Makes great breaks and runs that look for all money like scoring chances but for some reason or another don't finish off.
That one was a shocker though. I wonder if she isnt confident with passing off the left hand although that would be very strange for a left wing.
Smith said that Tui had been practising that chip for 3 weeks. Probably been watching Dougie Howlett videos

Full match on the World Rugby YouTube channel. Geo-blocked in NZ, so you need to use a VPN to watch it.

Finally got around to watching the Breakdown interview with Chelsea Semple. Was interesting to hear some of what she thought is so different with the new coaching and in doing so highlighted some of what was previously wrong.
There’s no feeling of places being anything but contested with the coaches actively turning over rocks and giving new players chances to show what they have. The older players are actually being pushed to be better to hold their places.

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.

@stargazer said in France v Black Ferns 1:

@bovidae Yep, I'm definitely going to watch one of the replays of that England v Canada test.

There are replays on Monday:
1.25pm (Sky Sport 9) and 10.30pm (Sky Sport 2)

The scoreline doesn't really reflect the game & worth remembering that Canada were 2 years without a test as well until they met the USA a few weeks back. Canada were well in the mix during the first half - 7-5 up on 23 minutes and brought it back from 15-7 to 15-12 on 35 mins. A good number of the Canadian squad have been playing in England & France recently, so maybe not as rusty as the Black Ferns. Full game is on YouTube (British BBC coverage)

@junior I think NZ have been able to get this from their coaches who have been overseas and had to fashion game plans based on the players at their disposal. It has forced them to innovate.

Maybe an idea for NZ would be to (shock, horror) invite some non-NZers to coach in NZ and introduce NZ players to different approaches and techniques. Worked ok for the Crusaders with Ronan O'Gara.

@bovidae Yeah, although at her age and players only being part-time (less than semi-)professionals at test level, other life choices may have taken over that don't allow for international rugby, camps etc. Hirini isn't there either.

@booboo said in Black Ferns NH Tour 2021:

@crucial said in Black Ferns NH Tour 2021:

@bovidae said in Black Ferns NH Tour 2021:

I agree with Lendrum's comments about Ngata-Aerengamate feeling the need to use social media to raise these issues, rather than speaking to management/players directly.

As I said in the match threads, I wouldn't be selecting her on form alone.

If this is truly the feedback from the coach and he is supported right to the top (as seen) you can see why she wanted to air it publically to get it off her chest and move on though.

Throughout the years these were some comments made by head coach

That I had been selected but didn’t deserve to be in the team That he was embarrassed for me
-I was told that he couldn’t tell my worth in the Blackferns
-I was told what would my students think of me? I was sworn at for wearing my jacket around my hips, I was yelled at running to rucks, how I ran the ball, anything I did I felt I was doing wrong. a recent comment that I was picked only to play the guitar

Some of those comments are unacceptable and go way beyond pushing someone to perform. If that is how Moore speaks to those he coaches it's no wonder they didn't perform well.

Trying to justify that by saying 'her form was rubbish' is missing the target entirely

Perception vs. reality. Comments made may have been misconstrued. We all have a habit of convincing ourselves that the way we perceive and thus present a narrative is correct. They may be verbatim. They may be perception.

The highlighted bit makes me think this is being overblown and thus the other comments which may or may not have been made get exaggerated to suit your own narrative. You dwell on them.

The bit about the jacket is also a probable non-event to me. Smarten up and show some respect to your team and your uniform if the occasion warranted it.

The other comments would need to be looked into. But I wonder how much of this is an over sensitive player lacking in confidence looking to confirm her insecurities and taking anything remotely resembling criticism as such.

Yeah, I had another look at them too and can see how some could blow out of proportion based on perception. Once you feel picked on or bullied you jump at shadows. Even the guitar thing could be a joke that hurt.
Saying that you don't agree with selection and that you can't see value or deservedness is probably the root (if true) of the perception of the other comments though.

The handling errors were very disappointing after last year watching them play at the speed of light with accuracy that was beautiful to watch.

Matchday!

Really pumped for this game as these two teams are always quality

Utrecht Shield on the line too (womens version of the Raeburn Shield tracing winners from 1982

North Harbour, Waitakere and Nelson will play hosts to the top female players in New Zealand as they vie for a place in the Black Ferns squad in three matches next month.

The three-match schedule which includes a Possibles versus Probables presented by Steinlager match on Saturday 7 November, and Black Ferns versus New Zealand Barbarians presented by Downer on Saturday 14 November and Saturday 21 November, replaces the scheduled 2021 Test Series following COVID-19 restrictions.

All three matches will be broadcast on SKY Sport.

The coaching staff for the three matches have been appointed.

Possibles
Head Coach: Chad Shepherd (Counties Manukau Heat)
Assistant Coaches: Anna Richards (Auckland Storm) and Scott Manson (Otago Spirit)

Probables
Head Coach: Rodney Gibbs (Bay of Plenty Volcanix)
Assistant Coaches: Melissa Ruscoe (Canterbury) and Willie Walker (North Harbour Hibiscus)

New Zealand Barbarians
Head Coach: Rodney Gibbs (Bay of Plenty Volcanix)
Assistant Coaches: Chad Shepherd (Counties Manukau Heat) and Whitney Hansen (Canterbury)

Black Ferns November schedule

Saturday, 7 November
Possibles v Probables presented by Steinlager
North Harbour Stadium, North Shore
Kick-off: 2.05pm

Saturday, 14 November
Black Ferns v New Zealand Barbarians presented by Downer
The Trusts Arena, Waitakere, Auckland
Kick-off: 4.35pm
NB: this match is part of a women’s rugby triple header match day which includes NZ Defence Force v NZ Police (11.35am), and a RWC 2021 qualification match between Samoa v Tonga (2.05pm).

Saturday, 21 November
Black Ferns v New Zealand Barbarians presented by Downer
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Kick-off: 4.35pm

https://www.allblacks.com/news/match-venues-for-black-ferns-november-series-confirmed/

Don't think there was any doubt ...

This weekend's test match was the last for Linda Itunu and captain Fiao'o Faamausili, who are retiring.
This haka is a tribute by the BFs to these awesome players. Great how the French team joined the tribute by standing in line behind them.

.

Quite a few players made their debut for the BFs this year, such as wing Ayesha Leti-I'iga, first five-eighth Krysten Cottrell, 10/12 Ruahei Demant, reserve LH prop Leilani Perese, Monica Tagaoi, outside back Natahlia Moors, flanker Marcelle Parkes.

The Ferns were also missing several players during this tour. Some retired after the World Cup (a.o. Rawinia Everitt, not sure what happened to Hazel Tubic), some were injured (a.o. Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali; Chelsey Alley got injured v the USA), again others were with the Black Ferns 7s team (Goss, Brazier, Woodman, Fitzpatrick and Saili).

All in all, it's understandable that they were not as strong as last year and didn't dominate the French like they used to (also full credit to the French, who have improved a lot and won the Six Nations for a reason!). The BFs are re-building for the next World Cup, and no doubt that will continue next year with probably more new players being introduced.

Glen Moore has done an excellent job with this team the last few years; I hope he stays (not sure for how long he has been signed by NZR).

Can't find a thread to post this so will do so here.

Tuned into Sky Sport One about 1o minutes ago and the Womens NPC game between Auckland and North Harbour was on. I'm pleased to be able to report that rugby has once again become the game that caters for all body shapes, long may that continue. I did not last long viewing as I had other things to do but the little I saw would not result in a feeling that a major increase in viewers in future was imminent.
Come to think of it some of Ken Laban's background statistics and information might be interesting to hear should he be the commontator! I suppose things that we are supplied with for guys rugby like weight of scrum, weight of front five and weight of front row would be taboo.

In the second video in this article, there is some footage of the game. Haven't seen any highlights video yet.
Good to hear in that interview that there will be a series of games in NZ, before the BFs go to Ireland for the World Cup. Hopefully with some good opposition and not just Australia.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/86927707/threetry-woodman-helps-black-ferns-to-big-rugby-win-over-ireland