Black Ferns signal intent with on-song Tui at fullback
Throughout Wayne Smith’s tenure as coach, the Black Ferns have tried to play a free, high-tempo style of rugby, causing problems for opponents throughout 2022.
Now with a fully fit squad for the first time in their World Cup campaign, tonight’s quarter-final against Wales in Whanga¯rei could see the Ferns in their most aggressive form.
After much speculation as to how certain stars could take the field together, the New Zealand side unveiled a new backline for the match, with Ruby Tui returning at fullback to allow Portia Woodman and Ayesha Leti-I’iga to start on the wings.
With plenty of skill and speed among the three, Stacey Fluhler also returns at centre to partner Theresa Fitzpatrick in the midfield.
It’s an imposing backline that exemplifies the brand of rugby the Black Ferns want to play. Of the five, four were part of the Black Ferns
Sevens side that won Olympic gold in Tokyo.
“Then we’ve got Renee Holmes, Amy du Plessis, Renee Wickliffe — who could well have been player of the match last week — and Sylvia Brunt,” Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith said yesterday of the depth in his backline.
“We’ve got huge quality there, so I’ve never really stressed about injury in this team because there’s always someone else who can come in.”
Tui got her first start at fullback in
New Zealand’s win over Wales in pool play, and her selection in the role again shows clear intent. As the team head into the knockout stages, Tui provides more of a threat with ball in hand in open play than Holmes, who has been named on the bench.
However, that comes at the cost of Holmes’ goal-kicking — an area that has been an issue for the Ferns all season.
It will be an area of interest as the Black Ferns also look to match the physicality of the Welsh pack. After a disappointing outing in that aspect when the sides met in pool play, the Ferns will be wanting a repeat of last weekend’s effort against Scotland, their most complete performance of the World Cup.
Smith said finding the strongest possible squad was always a work in progress and depended on who his side met on any given week.
“They’re not easy discussions, and they’re not on form, they’re not on anything other than small selection issues that go in favour of one woman and not the other,” Smith said of the selection process.
“Everyone’s got, say, one thing to work on. You’re never really right or wrong in selection; it comes down to one person’s perception in the end.
“There really aren’t any [players] we aren’t happy with,” Smith said. “We’re sort of promoting this idea that if we get through this and keep going, then selection is a process every week. Sometimes it’s horses for courses, sometimes it’s current form, but it’s never over until it’s over.”