Black Ferns rise to occasion
The Black Ferns know a fast, positive start could be the difference if they are to turn over the tournament favourites in the heat of the Rugby World Cup’s knockout stages.
The reigning world champions managed that in Whanga¯rei on Saturday to dismantle Scotland 57-0 in their final pool match and led 45-0 in a first half coach Wayne Smith said was their best of the season.
The Northland Events Centre was packed with 16,571 in attendance and the Black Ferns didn’t freeze again in front of another large, unprecedented crowd for women’s rugby.
In their World Cup opener – played at Eden Park before a world record crowd of 34,235 for women’s rugby – the Black Ferns suffered from stage fright and trailed Australia 17-0 inside 28 minutes.
They fought back, scoring 41 unanswered points, and are on course for another massive Eden Park night in a looming semifinal with England or France.
The way they started against the Scots was clinical, albeit against a startled defence that missed 34 tackles in 80 minutes.
The Black Ferns know much tougher matches are on the horizon but were delighted with their rapid start against a demoralised Scottish team that was a firm step in the right direction.
Smith said their combinations in the halves (halfback Arihiana Marino-tauhini and first fiveeighth Hazel Tubic) and the midfield (No 12 Theresa Fitzpatrick, the player of the match, and centre Amy du Plessis) were outstanding, although changes are likely again should they play their strongest side for this weekend’s quarterfinals, as expected.
Renee Wickliffe, playing her 47th and potentially last test, also crossed for two memorable tries against a weary Scottish defence.
‘‘The moves were good, they ran hard, kept the ball alive, and Renee Wickliffe will probably remember both of those tries for the rest of her life,’’ Smith said.
The Black Ferns were also slow out of the blocks the previous weekend against Wales, who they are poised to face again in this Saturday’s quarterfinal in Whanga¯ rei, and struggled physically despite cruising to their 56-12 victory with their dazzling attacking game at Auckland’s Waita¯ kere Stadium.
They rectified some of those shortcomings against Scotland and blew them off the park.
Clearly, Scotland are not at the level of Six Nations giants England and France. The Scots haven’t won any matches this season.
Smith, however, was happier with their improved physical intensity after the Welsh managed to trouble the Black Ferns with their scrum and lineout drive. Scotland didn’t have a chance to score from the latter after struggling to escape their own half.
‘‘We’ve been watching Scotland,’’ he said. ‘‘They could have beaten Aussie and Wales. We knew they were physical and that it was going to be a battle.’’
The Black Ferns rose to the occasion of the loud, packed house in Whanga¯rei on Saturday and head to the sparkling Northland coast for their next week of training in Tutukaka.
Assuming they breeze through their quarterfinal, which is extremely likely, the Black Ferns will be heading back to Auckland for the semifinals when they will be seriously tested for the first time.
That challenge will determine how good they are.