Ayesha Leti-I’iga is on fire. Another try. The USA is definitely the weakest opponent the BFs play in this tournament, even with this weaker line-up.

The yanks may be weak but I’m enjoying watching a Wayne Smith team coming together.
21-3 after 24minutes

The time spent together in this camp and the freedom they are playing with is reaping rewards. The level of play is a notch above what we saw in Aupiki

@Stargazer some nice interplay, props running onto the ball and getting over-the-advantage line, some nice offloads

How do you northerners put up with that rubbish weather!

Smash and grab for that last try.

Renee Holmes is having a great game.

Leilani Perese definitely shouldn't play against the stronger teams.

Perese again. Ughh.

Sylvia Brunt's first test try. Well done!

Weather is pretty shit. It's amazing how little kicking there is in both games, considering the conditions

@Crucial said in Black Ferns v USA:

The yanks may be weak but I’m enjoying watching a Wayne Smith team coming together.
21-3 after 24minutes

Literally bumped into him in the concourse, life goal highlight lol

BF's scrum in the first half was up and down (more down than up) but the BF's are getting monstered at scrum in the 2nd half. It's like they've subbed on Lomax and Numia

Perese needs to be pulled before she loses all confidence.

Number 8 has feet for hands though she's been good at the back of a back-peddling scrum.

Who needs a scrum?

@Toddy said in Black Ferns v USA:

Number 8 has feet for hands though she's been good at the back of a back-peddling scrum.

That’s LMT. MMT’s little sis.

Another ex Hastings kid for @Nepia to claim.

Hat-trick!

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

Hat-trick!

Hungus!

At least this time it worked

Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu and Hazel Tupic should be the starting halves in the big games.

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu and Hazel Tupic should be the starting halves in the big games.

Not going to happen with the captaincy selection and the wraps they have been giving her. Best might be for Tubic to play 12 but swap into first receiver often

Good thing is that we probably have our 8,9,10,12

@Crucial Demant can play at 12.

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

@Crucial Demant can play at 12.

Bit small against the big teams for 12 I think.

@Crucial They've moved her there in the previous games as soon as Tubic came on. There's no reason why they can't do that from the start.

Murray will get a card. The question is the colour.

Edit: yellow. First contact chest, slipping up to head.

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

Murray will get a card. The question is the colour.

I couldn’t even see head contact.. not until after the tackle impact

@Crucial Who are you saying is your no.8? Olsen-Baker?

@Bovidae said in Black Ferns v USA:

@Crucial Who are you saying is your no.8? Olsen-Baker?

Yep.

Awesome win from the BFs, who not only win the game 50 - 6, but also the Series!

Good one Sparksport. Captain interview cuts off halfway through even though they have nothing lse showing

Edit: Maybe @taniwharugby tripped over a cord as it’s back on with the US cap

After all the bullshit that went down it’s great to see a bunch of smiles from a team that has obviously reconnected with a strong culture

Some lovely support play to finish off the moves. US tackling was way too high and our girls were able to get easy line breaks as a result.

Good tournament and we got better as it went on.

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