@Bones said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
Advantage tackler not rolling!! Holy schmokes it happened!
She's called a couple this half
Black Ferns
Match thread
Wales QF v RWC
@Machpants said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
Man what's this weird thing the ferns are doing with depth and deception? Surely won't catch on
Smith v Foster
@Machpants said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
Man what's this weird thing the ferns are doing with depth and deception? Surely won't catch on
Great to watch. Maybe send Fozzie a copy?
@NTA said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
@Machpants said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
Man what's this weird thing the ferns are doing with depth and deception? Surely won't catch on
Smith v Foster
Oh please.
@NTA said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
This wasn't even a contest to start, but now it's well beyond even a thrashing
Our scrum has been excellent, generally strong in the forwards. They will need to be in the SF
Haaaa hilarious hearing the Welsh pack carrying on whilst setting the scrum, then going silent as they get their heads shoved up their arses. Love it!
@Jailbreak7 said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
Really like Santo Taumata's energy.
The subs have really added something
@Bones said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
This scrum! Rope a dope in the first game?
Massive improvement over the last couple of weeks
I'll give it to this Welsh team, they sure take it to the opposition with their mouths. I think they must be coached as a spoiling team, rather than to try play rugby.
If they put as much effort into getting off the ground and playing rugby as they do to mouthing off, they'd be unbeatable.
After a loose start we have played well. I haven't seen France to know the size of the challenge in front of us. But if our pack fronts up and we can get our backs enough ball on attack we can trouble anyone on our day
Tough experience for the Welsh girls. I hope they can have a big night out before they hop on a plane and then a safe journey home.
@broughie said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
@canefan thanks. Not even close.
Yeah. But the manner of the performance was very promising
Too many loose passes and crazy off loads in this half. BFs need to tidy up that area. Standing too wide and flinging hopeful passes, more practice on the catch and pass and attention to detail.
@Jailbreak7 said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
Too many loose passes and crazy off loads in this half. BFs need to tidy up that area. Standing too wide and flinging hopeful passes, more practice on the catch and pass and attention to detail.
We are up by so many that it’s not surprising we are pushing it a bit more. There is space.
@ACT-Crusader Yes, true. Space will be much more restricted v France though and dare I say it England. Both teams will try to suffocate the game and take control that way. If the BFs can play their natural free-flowing game, and front up on D they will win.
@Jailbreak7 France play a similar style to us, so that could get into a bit of scoring fest. England want to use set piece and forward dominance along with their linking game to win
@canefan said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
@Bones said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
This scrum! Rope a dope in the first game?
Massive improvement over the last couple of weeks
Isn't Mike Cron with the team now?
Portia Woodman seems to be playing a different game to all the other players out there. She runs like her Dad.
The BFs scored some sweet tries in this game, e.g., Woodman's in the 2nd half. You can see skills of the sevens women when the ball goes wide.
The SF against France will be dependent on how the forwards perform. On the EOYT the BFs were suffocated and the backs never had any front-foot ball.
Expected result with some beautiful rugby played.
One bright spot for Wales, Jasmine Joyce (15) could well be pound for pound player in Women's rugby. Hard as old boots.
@MiketheSnow yep. She stopped Woodman in pretty much full flow a couple of times
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.
@Stockcar86 i was told he was with Graeme Henry for the early game sitting behind us (before I arrived) but I didn't see him for the BF game
As @Crucial mentioned earlier there seems a bit of a throwback to earlier days of men's rugby about the way these games are.
Was an enjoyable game to watch, although very one sided,the Welsh battled on, had some good patches with the ball but largely unable to break down the defence.
Speaking of defence, it was good to see the girls all on the same page with thier defence, a flat line working as one putting pressure on the Welsh, not too dissimilar to when the Irish suffocated us.
You can see the influence of Smith on the team though.
I reckon we are a big shot to take down France based on yesterdays games.
Maybe France (being French) weren’t as good as they may be next week but they were held out quite easily by a very average Italy for a long period.
It wasn’t until the scrum mix ascendency happened (seemed a timing thing with the bench) that France gained dominance. Something for the NZ coaches to be aware of tactically was that France held out from changes until Italy made them first, spent 10 minutes smashing them to get penalties and the ref on their side then it was gone burger for Italy when the front row was refreshed and they were a player down.
Anyway, from a BFs perspective last night was the forward showing they have been building toward. Scrum was solid and/or dominant, didn’t get to see the maul defence really. Breakdown was well managed and physical.
That platform obviously gave the backs a chance to play and boy did they. Fitzpatrick was awesomely good and while it took a wee while for the combination with Fluhler to really hit its straps it was something the ABs would kill for.
Hirini was probably my POTD but Fitzpatrick also fully deserved it. The props all get a medal too.
There were some backline passing runs that were way way sharper than anything the other teams can come close too.
Given our recent record against France nothing is a given but I can sniff a win.
@Stockcar86 said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
@canefan said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
@Bones said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:
This scrum! Rope a dope in the first game?
Massive improvement over the last couple of weeks
Isn't Mike Cron with the team now?
He's been with team from begiining when Smith came in. As an interesting aside, Whitney Hansen who is also coaching in team, and doing forwards , who is of course Steve Hansen's daughter, means that Cron has coached with 3 generations of same family, he satrted coaching with Steve's dad Des, then with Steve and now Whitney. Could make him feel old if he's not careful.:grinning_squinting_face:
@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.
Agree mate, bloody good to see the girls all smiling and even having a little dance etc, reminds us all that the game is really supposed to be fun , and why most of us actually played the game. I keep thinking, there must be a lot of kids watching these girls will be thinking hell that looks fun!