@Bovidae said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

Discipline will be the key to avoid giving away penalties (from scrums/breakdowns), which England can kick to the corners. I'm not that confident the BFs can defend the lineout drive, at least not legally.

Woodman needs a big game as she wasn't a factor in the SF.

In the England/ Canada SF England played the maul quite strangely. It seemed like they either wanted to show (or see) if they needed to rely on it as much. First maul was standard and worked. Only mintes later they got one going forward then passed out as soon as momentum halted instead of a second push.
I think the BF coaches have seen their technical maul setups enough to design a defence. Whether England have some new stuff kept back is the question.
We may be holding a lineout compete in reserve too.

England Red Roses squad:

Backs

15 Ellie Kildunne
14 Lydia Thompson
13 Emily Scarratt
12 Holly Aitchison
11 Abby Dow
10 Zoe Harrison
9 Leanne Infante

Forwards

1 Vickii Cornborough
2 Amy Cokayne
4 Zoe Aldcroft
5 Abbie Ward
6 Alex Matthews
7 Marlie Packer
8 Sarah Hunter (C)

Finishers

16 Lark Davies
17 Maud Muir
18 Shaunagh Brown
19 Cath O'Donnell
20 Poppy Cleall
21 Sadia Kabeya
22 Claudia MacDonald
23 Tatyana Heard

@Jailbreak7 said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

Thought BFs almost played too conservatively against France

aside from about 20 mins where they were helter skelter!

IMO with a bit smarter play, they coulda won that game comfortably and was some of the more experienced players that panicked keeping the French in it.

Yeah the French clearly saw the threat Portia posed, and dealt with it, but just use her as a decoy too, cos she isnt the only threat.

@taniwharugby said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@Jailbreak7 said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

Thought BFs almost played too conservatively against France

aside from about 20 mins where they were helter skelter!

IMO with a bit smarter play, they coulda won that game comfortably and was some of the more experienced players that panicked keeping the French in it.

Yeah the French clearly saw the threat Portia posed, and dealt with it, but just use her as a decoy too, cos she isnt the only threat.

Not so sure it was panic but it didn't seem like clear thinking. There was a desire to keep France back pedalling by quickly tapping without realising that a kick to touch and line out drive was probably the best option. That was the only one where I was really frustrated

Feel for Liana missing out. She’s played well since coming into the side earlier this year.

Don’t mind the halfback selection because there is at the very least a good combination.

I hope they really target the English midfield. There will be opportunities there.

@ACT-Crusader said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

Feel for Liana missing out. She’s played well since coming into the side earlier this year.

Don’t mind the halfback selection because there is at the very least a good combination.

I hope they really target the English midfield. There will be opportunities there.

Don't know much about the English MF. But Fitzpatrick and Fluhler are in deadly form right now, on defence and in attack. If we can get parity up front let's unleash our backs on them. Forecast here is for a storm tomorrow, hopefully there's not too much rain . So far it's dry

Rain due to start tonight, a decent dump tomorrow, then easing off Saturday

@canefan I thought Fitzpatrick was a bit subdued for most of the game on Saturday, but eventually came into the game.

Her and the french 12 are eerily similar players, so maybe only one of them can use the superhuman power at a time.

I really hope Scarrett gets smoked in this match, so we can stop hearing about how much of a legend she is.

looks like Auckland will avoid the absolute shitty weather we have had pass through last 12 hours (now over coromandel) causing flooding around the place.

@Bones said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

I really hope Scarrett gets smoked in this match, so we can stop hearing about how much of a legend she is.

It is slightly strange that they have changed the midfield for this game. I don't know the individual player attributes and even searching the UK press isn't giving me much clue. It seems to be a tactical swap rather than injury based. Could be around defence.

England are missing their first choice fullback and a first choice prop, not that it makes much difference except the usual 15 has a huge boot.

@Crucial said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@Bones said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

I really hope Scarrett gets smoked in this match, so we can stop hearing about how much of a legend she is.

It is slightly strange that they have changed the midfield for this game. I don't know the individual player attributes and even searching the UK press isn't giving me much clue. It seems to be a tactical swap rather than injury based. Could be around defence.

England are missing their first choice fullback and a first choice prop, not that it makes much difference except the usual 15 has a huge boot.

Stop searching and analysing and just enjoy the game I reckon. You wouldn't do that for kids rugby.

@Bones said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@Crucial said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@Bones said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

I really hope Scarrett gets smoked in this match, so we can stop hearing about how much of a legend she is.

It is slightly strange that they have changed the midfield for this game. I don't know the individual player attributes and even searching the UK press isn't giving me much clue. It seems to be a tactical swap rather than injury based. Could be around defence.

England are missing their first choice fullback and a first choice prop, not that it makes much difference except the usual 15 has a huge boot.

Stop searching and analysing and just enjoy the game I reckon. You wouldn't do that for kids rugby.

It's a step above that though

I am worried about the official Hollie Davidson from Scotland , she officiated the Ferns last year and absolutely caned them in the penalty count , I can’t put my finger on it but there’s certain arrogance about her
Maybe someone who has seen much more of Davidson in the North can comment
Just concerned that being from the Northern Hemisphere interpretation might be everything although I thought the Irish Ref Joy Neville was very good last weekend, no confusing calls and communicated well with the players .

@taniwharugby said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

looks like Auckland will avoid the absolute shitty weather we have had pass through last 12 hours (now over coromandel) causing flooding around the place.

Rained heavy last night and this morning. Today has been generally less rain. At present it is misty here

@Steven-Harris said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

I am worried about the official Hollie Davidson from Scotland , she officiated the Ferns last year and absolutely caned them in the penalty count , I can’t put my finger on it but there’s certain arrogance about her
Maybe someone who has seen much more of Davidson in the North can comment
Just concerned that being from the Northern Hemisphere interpretation might be everything although I thought the Irish Ref Joy Neville was very good last weekend, no confusing calls and communicated well with the players .

I thought she went well this tournament and deserved her Finals call up

I don't know whether there are Ferners going to the RWC Finals, today, but this was posted on the Black Ferns socials:

It's fine and warm in AKL this morning, and forecast to stay fine all the way to the final, so conditions should be favourable for running rugby

What is the world coming to? Fans with questions and over analysis. Shocking.

@Bones said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

What is the world coming to? Fans with questions and over analysis. Shocking.

View embedded content

These are the ones that have already been through their education though.

Claimed. The rest of you, puss off.

So the England midfield change is apparently bringing a second playmaker in at 12. Maybe a ploy to try and throw Smith’s expectations and analysis out or because they are now missing a second playmaker/tactical kicker with the regular 15 injured.
Some UK scribes hinting that they may play wider a bit more but I am not sure. Taking the ball away from the pack into potential turnover space would be risky.

@Crucial said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

So the England midfield change is apparently bringing a second playmaker in at 12. Maybe a ploy to try and throw Smith’s expectations and analysis out or because they are now missing a second playmaker/tactical kicker with the regular 15 injured.
Some UK scribes hinting that they may play wider a bit more but I am not sure. Taking the ball away from the pack into potential turnover space would be risky.

Changing their game plan would potentially play into our hands

@canefan said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@Crucial said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

So the England midfield change is apparently bringing a second playmaker in at 12. Maybe a ploy to try and throw Smith’s expectations and analysis out or because they are now missing a second playmaker/tactical kicker with the regular 15 injured.
Some UK scribes hinting that they may play wider a bit more but I am not sure. Taking the ball away from the pack into potential turnover space would be risky.

Changing their game plan would potentially play into our hands

Maybe there was a strategy for the tournament of not showing much until the final? They did try a few things in the semi.
I would love it if they took the ball wide. Our Sevens players are all trained well at claiming turnovers.

@Davesofthunder pineapple guava!

@Crucial said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@canefan said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@Crucial said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

So the England midfield change is apparently bringing a second playmaker in at 12. Maybe a ploy to try and throw Smith’s expectations and analysis out or because they are now missing a second playmaker/tactical kicker with the regular 15 injured.
Some UK scribes hinting that they may play wider a bit more but I am not sure. Taking the ball away from the pack into potential turnover space would be risky.

Changing their game plan would potentially play into our hands

Maybe there was a strategy for the tournament of not showing much until the final? They did try a few things in the semi.
I would love it if they took the ball wide. Our Sevens players are all trained well at claiming turnovers.

Keeping the powder dry?

@MajorRage

You coming the Cabbage Patch...

I can bring you one

@canefan said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@Crucial said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@canefan said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@Crucial said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

So the England midfield change is apparently bringing a second playmaker in at 12. Maybe a ploy to try and throw Smith’s expectations and analysis out or because they are now missing a second playmaker/tactical kicker with the regular 15 injured.
Some UK scribes hinting that they may play wider a bit more but I am not sure. Taking the ball away from the pack into potential turnover space would be risky.

Changing their game plan would potentially play into our hands

Maybe there was a strategy for the tournament of not showing much until the final? They did try a few things in the semi.
I would love it if they took the ball wide. Our Sevens players are all trained well at claiming turnovers.

Keeping the powder dry?

Excellent! We know how that tactic works.

Not long now

@canefan said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

View image

Not long now

Lots of empty seats considering I couldn't get tickets!

The only prediction I am making is that there will be tears tonight. Let's just hope they are the right kind.

@Bovidae said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

The only prediction I am making is that there will be tears tonight. Let's just hope they are the right kind.

Phrasing.

@Machpants said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

@canefan said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

View image

Not long now

Lots of empty seats considering I couldn't get tickets!

That was taken as the 3/4 game was winding down. Kickoff 30 minutes away

England halfback Leanne Infante a late scratching , thats 50 x caps of experience

I like Melodie Robinson's Halloween costume.

Remember guys.....don't take it too seriously, enjoy the crowd spirit and the entertainment (Crucial)

They comms just said our girls possess a unique strength and spirit. That's cool. The England girls must be gutted that they don't have that too.

With the NZ anthem quicker pace is better