Game drivers key to NZ’s field of dreams
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What gives you the most confidence the Black Ferns will win?
Two factors stand out for me: self-belief and grit. Leading into this RWC, I wasn’t completely confident the Black Ferns would make it to the finals. But the grit they have shown as both individuals and a collective remind me of the power that the black jersey brings to these players. When I had my time in the jersey, I had an unwavering belief that I was in the best team in the world and I wanted to be the best I could be, to add to the collective. That is what I am seeing in this group of outstanding wahine toa. The Black Ferns have been through some trying times in the past 18 months but with all the ups and downs they remain 100% focused on their goal and persevere with real confidence. You create confidence through actions and the quality of rugby being played has been phenomenal; a brand that is thrilling, exciting, risky and everybody wants to be a part of it.
Who needs to really fire to ensure victory?
The Black Ferns’ game drivers, Kendra Cocksedge and Ruahei Demant, will be vital and need to remain calm and composed, make good tactical decisions. This decider will be won or lost on pressure moments and ensuring there is clarity across the board – having the right balance of when to kick, run and pass and controlling the tempo. Theresa Fitzpatrick has been the silent assassin in this team, she goes about her work with such poise and makes it all look so easy. She is astute yet ruthless and if anyone can pull off a game-breaking moment I think it will be her.
Eden Park, full house, is that a key advantage for the Black Ferns or will that expectation actually help England?
The Black Ferns have thrived on the home crowd advantage throughout this World Cup. They don’t see it as pressure, they see it as a privilege and use it as motivation to keep them going. Stacey Fluhler said it was the crowd that lifted them in those dying moments of the semifinal. She couldn’t bring herself to watch Caroline Drouin take the penalty kick, she looked away and thought it was over. But then she heard the huge roar of the crowd and realised she had missed. A full house of Black Ferns supporters swinging their poi is going to bring an unreal atmosphere.
What’s England’s biggest vulnerability and how can the Black Ferns exploit it?
England have a very strong forward pack and threats right through their backline. They don’t have any weak links across the field, so New Zealand will need to approach this game with plan A, B and C. Canada showed against England that if you can hold onto the ball for long phases of play and force them to make tackles and batter them down they do start to compress their defence line and get narrow. Those wide channels can be left unmarked and with the New Zealand strike force of Portia Woodman and Ruby Tui, this is an area they could expose. Still, the grind work needs to be done through the middle of the park first, and holding possession is the key.
What’s the winning margin and to whom?
I’m backing the Black Ferns to get the job done and keep Nancy (their nickname for the World Cup) locked away here in New Zealand. It will be won by the closest margin, and in the last minutes or even seconds of the game, so I predict another nailbiter and a 25-20 scoreline to the home side.