2017 Black Ferns (including World Cup)

[Crucial]

Just France/Ireland to decide final standings now. Ireland need to win to get a place, they can't beat USA as a loser.
If France win they need a BP win by more than 9 pts to overtake England but it won't matter as they will need to trounce Ireland by 90 if they don't want to be in the 2v3 semi.

Pretty much locked in that it will be NZ v USA and Eng v FR (or FR v Eng) on Sunday

[mimic]

it's possible for Ireland and France to both qualify, if my tie-breaking assumptions are correct.

1. If Ireland win, and France gain a losing bonus point, Ireland will qualify, and France should qualify as the 4th team, as they're ahead of USA on points differential.
2. If Ireland win by 8+, then Ireland will qualify, and USA should qualify as the 4th team, with France dropping out.
3. If France win, then France will qualify, and USA should qualify as the 4th team, with Ireland dropping out.

I heard the Irish had a close win against the French earlier this year, so I wouldn't lock in the Americans yet. In saying that, I don't know if both teams were (are) at full strength for their matches.

[Kruse]

Japan is certainly conscious of head-injuries - I think every player bar one is wearing headgear?

[Stargazer]

Black Ferns highlights:

[Nepia]

Stumbled upon the Black Ferns game last night by accident - impressed by the skill level in the match. They were relentless. Will try and seek out their other games now.

[Stargazer]

Results of the last round of pool games:
Canada 5 - 48 Black Ferns
England 47 - 26 USA
Italy 8 - 22 Spain
Australia 29 - 15 Japan
Wales 39 - 15 Hong Kong
France 21 - 5 Ireland

Semi-finals (Tue 22 - Wed 23 August NZT):
11.00pm, Sky Sport 3: 9th place SF: Italy v Japan
01.00am, Sky Sport 2: 5th place SF: Ireland v Australia
01.30am, Sky Sport 1: 9th place SF: Spain v Hong Kong
04.00am, Sky Sport 2: 5th place SF: Canada v Wales
04.00am, Sky Sport 1: Semi-Final: New Zealand v USA
06.45am, Sky Sport 1: Semi-Final: England v France

It must be said, Sky are doing an outstanding job of covering the Women's RWC. Hope they'll continue doing that with the Women's Sevens Series.

[Stargazer]

Black Ferns team to play the USA in the semi-final (number of caps in brackets):

1 Toka Natua (14)
2 Fiao'o Faamausili - captain (50)
3 Aldora Itunu (13)
4 Eloise Blackwell (30)
5 Charmaine Smith (14)
6 Charmaine McMenamin (12)
7 Sarah Goss (8)
8 Aroha Savage (26)
9 Kendra Cocksedge (40)
10 Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (17)
11 Renee Wickliffe (28)
12 Kelly Brazier (35)
13 Stacey Waaka (9)
14 Portia Woodman (14)
15 Selica Winiata (29)

16 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (18)
17 Sosoli Talawadua (6)
18 Aleisha Nelson (24)
19 Rebecca Wood (5)
20 Lesley Ketu (7)
21 Linda Itunu (34)
22 Theresa Fitzpatrick (5)
23 Carla Hohepha (23)

Wednesday, 23 August - kickoff at 4.00am (NZT)

New Zealand: live on Sky Sport 1 (replays: 5.20am, Prim / 4.00pm, Rugby Ch / 4.30pm, Sky Sport 1 etc)
Australia: live on Fox Sports Channel 505 (all games are live either on Ch 503 or 505); replay 9.00am, FoxSp Ch 501 / 7.00pm, FoxSp Ch 503.
UK: live on ITV4 (both SFs only?)
Ireland: live on ITV4 and eir Sport 1
USA: live (12.00pm ET) on NBC Sports

http://www.allblacks.com/News/31259/black-ferns-team-named-for-semifinal

[Stargazer]

Quite interesting that they haven't named a reserve halfback and have gone for 6 forwards on the bench. Cocksedge will have to go the full eighty minutes, with Brazier probably providing cover for both 9 and 10.

[Bovidae]

Are the USA strong up front? I assume that this is a test for what will happen if NZ meets England in the final as the Black Ferns' forwards were dominated in Rotorua.

I would think that Winiata would be the backup halfback.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae I've seen Brazier taking over the halfback role several times, including when Cocksedge was in the bin in one of the pool games. Never seen Winiata in that role, so that's why I expect Brazier will cover halfback, but I could be wrong.

[Crucial]

Wow! No posts?

Comfortable 7 tries to 2 win over the Seppos. 4 tries to Woodman.

Wasn't easy for them and they had to battle for about a 50 minute period.

Not sure if it was a tactical thing but USA turned us over a lot at the breakdown. Need to send in a little more support on the tackle

[JK]

Very comfortable and easily over the 23.5 points start. Easy $

[Crucial]

Arm wrestle between the Frogs and Poms at the moment 3-0 to England after 25

[Siam]

That Woodman try off the scrum that broke things open was as good as you get in terms of balance fending and speed.
Brilliant stuff

[Bovidae]

Too early in the morning to watch live NZT.

I've just watched the game now. A really enjoyable match and some fantastic skills on display.

Looking ahead to the final, the Black Ferns better also be working on:
(1) Tackling technique, they can't afford to lose players to the sinbin for high tackles (again) in the final.
(2) Defending drives/mauls - England dominated NZ in this area earlier in the year.
(3) Getting to ball to Portia.

[booboo]

Saw about 10 mins just after half time of Eng v France (lunch time today) and last 10 mins or so of BFs v Usa.

Didn't see enough to make definitive comment on who will be favourite.

I did notice something the Poms were doing that raised the levels on my whingeometer: when going to ground in the tackle rather than placing the ball immediately they rolled over, preventing the defending player playing at the ball, before placing it. Happened more than once. Wondered if it wad a deliberate dirty stinking typically Pom cheating tactic.

[Kruse]

It seems like it's going to be awesome attack vs excellent defence.
Getting it out wide letting the back 3 loose vs keeping it in close and plenty of drives/mauls.
And high tackles+neck-rolls/etc vs sneaky ruck tactics.
All in all - all the old(?) stereotypes about NZ vs Eng rugby - writ large.

[Crucial]

@booboo said in 2017 Black Ferns (including World Cup):

Saw about 10 mins just after half time of Eng v France (lunch time today) and last 10 mins or so of BFs v Usa.

Didn't see enough to make definitive comment on who will be favourite.

I did notice something the Poms were doing that raised the levels on my whingeometer: when going to ground in the tackle rather than placing the ball immediately they rolled over, preventing the defending player playing at the ball, before placing it. Happened more than once. Wondered if it wad a deliberate dirty stinking typically Pom cheating tactic.

i watched both games and it was quite noticeable that the reffing is slightly different than what we see in the men's game at the breakdown. I saw quite a bit that wouldn't be let go in the men's game at this level. Probably more akin to club rugby.
The amount of turnovers is huge with quite a lot of leeway on releasing.
I think there is a desire for an attractive game married with different levels of physicality that means slight tweaks are needed to let things flow.

[Stargazer]

Just read that the Black Ferns have jumped back to the number one spot in the World Rankings after the pool stage of the World Cup. New Zealand and England are so close in the rankings, that the Final will probably determine who ends up on top after the event.

Black Ferns return to top of rankings

[Crash]

It's good to see Kelly Brazier so confident, but I don't think it will be a walk in the park.
Hopefully we will deliver some payback to England after that dreadful showing at Rotovegas, But our pack will need to tackle like demons, the England girls look big and strong and are a seasoned bunch.
Managed to livestream some of both semis at work, and noted we only overcame USA after about 50 mins, while England and France had a good old fashioned ding dong in the rain and it was England's determination that finally won over. England made a lot of tackles in that natch and it remains to be seen whether this will be a factor in the final.
It will be our pace and guile against England's brute force. A dry track will help our cause, but our tactics need to be spot on, and our execution much better,