@Stargazer Smith also had the title of Director of Rugby, so I think it will be a continuation of the coaching structure used last year.
@Higgins said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Bovidae Goodness, Manager of Culture and Leadership. Call me ignorant but how could that possibly be a full time position? Maybe we were more capable of thinking and working things out for oursleves way back when.
It worked. They won.
It appears that Wes Clarke also applied for the job. That would have meant his wife (Farah Palmer) would have had to abstain from voting.
No assistants have been confirmed yet.
@Higgins said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Bovidae Goodness, Manager of Culture and Leadership. Call me ignorant but how could that possibly be a full time position? Maybe we were more capable of thinking and working things out for oursleves way back when.
Or maybe we weren't ?
Shit are we due for another shit fest on here? Rachei Demant the Black Ferns captain has said it a great call, and we know how a few posters hate the players coming out and saying they thing their coach is right person for job!
@Stargazer said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Dan54 Your post sounds like you're trying to start a shitfest. Just don't!
Of course I not, you lost your sense of humour? FFS .
18 days later
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World Rugby today confirmed details for the Pacific Four Series 2023, the annual cross-regional tournament contested by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA.
In 2023, the Series will take place over three windows and kicks-off with a mouth-watering opening round fixture between Canada and USA in Madrid on 1 April.
The second round will see Australia host Rugby World Cup 2021 champions and Pacific Four Series 2022 winners New Zealand in late June. The Series will then culminate in Canada when all four teams will compete over two weekends in early July for the right to be crowned 2023 champions. Dates and venues for the final three rounds will be announced in due course.
The World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2023 schedule optimises and complements the existing women’s domestic and international competition calendars for 2023. The cross-regional, international competition also acts as one of the principle annual qualification routes for the top two tiers of WXV with the top three placed teams qualifying for WXV 1 and the fourth-placed team securing a place in WXV 2. The host locations for WXV will be announced next month.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “After a hugely successful and ground-breaking RWC 2021 in New Zealand, 2023 will be another exciting year for women’s rugby with WXV set to make its debut in October.
I didn't know that it was already certain that the WXV would start, this year.
“We have worked closely and collaboratively with competing nations and host unions to optimise the existing women’s international and domestic calendar for this year’s Pacific Four Series. With a significant number of USA and Canada players based in Europe, playing round one of the Pacific Four Series 2023 in April takes advantage of the extended break these players would have faced while the domestic competitions in England and France pause for the Women’s Six Nations. We are delighted to be bringing the Pacific Four Series to new territories, including Spain in Madrid and hosting the final two rounds in Canada.”
In addition to the first round in Madrid, Spain and South Africa will face off against USA and Canada respectively on 25 March as additional test matches at Estadio Nacional de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Spain and South Africa will also meet on 1 April.
Pacific Four Series 2023 match schedule:
Round 1
1 April, 2023
Madrid, Spain
Canada v USA – 17:00 local time
Estadio Nacional de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Round 2
June 2023
Australia
Australia v New Zealand – KO TBC
Round 3
July, 2023
Canada
Canada v New Zealand – KO TBC
USA v Australia – KO TBC
Round 4
July, 2023
Canada
Canada v Australia – KO TBC
USA v New Zealand – KO TBC
More info about the WXV:
It looks like Fijiana will get a spot in XV2, although they probably will have to qualify for it in an Oceania tournament first. South Africa will probably get the African spot in this group and Japan the Asian one.
Samoa (most likely) or Tonga will probably have to compete for a spot in XV3. Kenya for the African spot?
So looking like only one (possible) home game this year.
Terrible planning by NZR when the impetus is here and now
Given the long gap between Aupiki and tests it will be interesting to see who hangs around.
Quite a few players have been lining up stints in Japan or Oz to earn some $.
Not sure what the NZR contract period was either and when renewals will be looked at.
From Stuff:
The Black Ferns will take on the Wallaroos in Brisbane on June 29 and face them again in New Zealand on September 30 in the annual battle for the O’Reilly Cup.
New Zealand Rugby announced on Thursday some details around what the world champions’ test schedule will be for 2023, although there is still plenty of it to be confirmed, including where the trans- Ta$man test in New Zealand will be held.
@Stargazer All grounds would be available as the last football game (at Eden Park) is on 15 Aug.
@Stargazer said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Bovidae Okay, so no excuses for not allocating this game to Wellington, Napier*, Christchurch or Nelson, for example (Dunedin already gets enough ABs tests).
*If Napier is an option after the flooding, not knowing what the conditions will be like by that time.
It will be OK, it's not cricket afterall!
@Stargazer said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Bovidae Okay, so no excuses for not allocating this game to Wellington, Napier*, Christchurch or Nelson, for example (Dunedin already gets enough ABs tests).
*If Napier is an option after the flooding, not knowing what the conditions will be like by that time.
Christchurch had the Laurie game last year so scratch them.
If they had smarts it would go somewhere like Welly given the huge turnout on their tour to show off the cup. Something to build on and a big enough population centre to get a crowd. Also easier for travel.
Sep 30 will be in the middle of the RWC window so the only domestic rugby will be NPC. NZR will need to work around that schedule.
@Stargazer Are you telling me the hotel/motel sector in HB will not be able to cope with three or four hundred spectators travelling for greater than a one day return driving distance away?
@Higgins said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Stargazer Are you telling me the hotel/motel sector in HB will not be able to cope with three or four hundred spectators travelling for greater than a one day return driving distance away?
Quite possibly not. How much is in use as temporary accommodation for displaced people already?
7 days later
Revelation of the final, Demant ran the ball near the end of the game because Cocksedge call her to. Almost screwed up the whole final
One thing I noticed in the endless replays we have had of that last lineout is the unheralded work from Krystal Murray. Ngan Woo gets the steal but it’s Murray that then holds back the drive to try and push into touch. There was still seconds on the clock at that stage and another lineout was a possibility.
Her effort to push back was huge.
@Crucial said in Black Ferns 2023:
One thing I noticed in the endless replays we have had of that last lineout is the unheralded work from Krystal Murray. Ngan Woo gets the steal but it’s Murray that then holds back the drive to try and push into touch. There was still seconds on the clock at that stage and another lineout was a possibility.
Her effort to push back was huge.
She had a big impact off the bench
19 days later
I'm not surprised, especially after Clarke was named as a NZ U20 assistant coach yesterday.
@Bovidae said in Black Ferns 2023:
I'm not surprised, especially after Clarke was named as a NZ U20 assistant coach yesterday.
Good to know there's no nepotism in the women's coaching selection ...
How much do we think Bunting will change the squads? He has the odd situation of seeing Aupiki then players go back to club followed by FPC.
Untimely injuries may play a part but there were a number of players not involved in the RWC that stood out in Aupiki.
Front rows are fairly settled and it was good to see some improve.
I don't think Demant played well in Aupiki but a second captain change (especially to POTY) would be a big call.
Obviously some 7s players leave gaps to be filled as well.
Will have a crack at a squad or contract list when I have a moment.
@Stargazer said in Black Ferns 2023:
How many players will get a contract? I forgot.
There were 29 players in 2022.
Contracted Black Ferns: Ariana Bayler (Waikato), Eloise Blackwell (Auckland), Alana Bremner (Canterbury), Chelsea Bremner (Canterbury), Grace Brooker (Canterbury), Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury), Ruahei Demant (Auckland), Amy du Plessis (Canterbury), Les Elder (Bay of Plenty), Carla Hohepa (Waikato), Renee Holmes (Waikato), Ayesha Leti-I'iga (Wellington), Pip Love (Canterbury), Patricia Maliepo (Auckland), Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (Counties Manukau), Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland), Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (Auckland), Krystal Murray (Northland), Aleisha Pearl Nelson (Auckland), Georgia Ponsonby (Canterbury), Cheyelle Robins-Reti (Waikato), Maiakawanakaukani Roos (Auckland), Amy Rule (Canterbury), Chelsea Semple nee Alley (Waikato), Kennedy Simon (Waikato), Grace Steinmetz (Canterbury), Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau), Renee Wickliffe (Bay of Plenty), Kelsie Wills (Bay of Plenty).
Of those Elder and Wickliffe have retired, and a few of the older players will be phased out for different reasons (e.g., Blackwell, Hohepa, Semple).
Bunting needs to reward SRA form, or otherwise that is one more reason not to have the competition.
On SRA form Bayler, Blackwell, Hohepa and Nelson (did she play?) def under threat IMO.
I'd like a 10 to really step up as I'm not convinced on the game management of Demant or Tubic. Rosie Kelly looked promising.
Don't think Marino-Tauhinu is Cocksedge's natural replacement either.
Don't know if Willison is returning to Sevens.
@Stargazer I included Chelsea, hence the "different reasons". The others in that list are age-related. Hohepa is 37, for example.
There is certainly no shortage of midfielders and outside backs to choose from, but as @Crucial says, 9 and 10 are a worry, with general play kicking a concern.
Topic event: Stargazer referenced this topic on
14 days later
A complete change in the coaching staff.
Here's a direct route to the link within a link within a link of the Women and Girls in Rugby Strategy recently released.