‘Crunch time’ for Ferns against France
Changing the way the Black Ferns play has been an ambitious undertaking and now coach Wayne Smith says it’s “crunch time” in determining the success of the project.
The switch to a high-tempo attacking approach has yielded a run of 10 straight wins, with 50 points topped six times. But only one of those wins has been against a side ranked in the world’s top five — 28-0 against Canada in June.
And now France await in tonight’s World Cup semifinal at Eden Park — a team that have beaten the Black Ferns in their last four encounters.
“It hasn’t been easy, because it doesn’t come naturally, the sort of game we’re trying to play,” Smith said of the tactical changes introduced this year.
“It takes a special skillset and a lot of efficiency because otherwise you’ll run yourself into the ground. It’s been a big job. I’ve got some really good coaches working with me and we’re all pretty proud of what we’ve done but now it’s crunch time.”
When Smith, Whitney Hansen and Wes Clarke took charge of the Black Ferns in April, they knew something needed to change to succeed at the World Cup.
The national side’s trajectory toward the sport’s biggest tournament dipped after a winless northern tour — dropping two tests to both France and England — and a review into the team’s culture and environment soon after.
While lack of rugby was a factor in the big defeats, it was also clear the northern teams had figured out how to overcome the Black Ferns.
“We decided as a group that we had to change the way we played to compete against these teams,” Smith said. “I don’t have to tell you what that looks like, because you’ve seen it the last few months.”
Since that ill-fated northern tour, the Black Ferns have bought into the changes made by Smith and his team — in particular the desire to play a high-tempo brand of rugby which has seen them move away from more structured play in favour of freedom.
France have struggled for consistency at the World Cup but the way they competed in a 13-7 defeat to the record-setting England side three weeks ago indicates the Black Ferns face a major challenge tonight.
France lost star halfback Laure Sansus (knee) and No 8 Romane Menager (concussion) early in that test against England, making their performance in the loss even more impressive, and they will be lifted by Menager’s return tonight.
But while France welcome back reinforcements to a lightlychanged side from their quarterfinal win over Italy, the Black Ferns have had the luxury of a fully fit 32-strong squad — with no one on a minutes-restriction — to choose from for the first time during the World Cup, after easing Kennedy Simon back last weekend.
That has allowed for some tactical decisions in the squad, with Smith opting to use explosive winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga as an impact player from the bench in a role he believes the 23-year-old will thrive in.
“Ayesha — you know how South Africa has the bomb squad? Well, she’s going to be the detonator,” Smith said.
“She’s going to come on at some point and, bang.
“She’s exceptional.
“We’re just lucky we’ve got choices and we know they’re all
going to perform.”
The Black Ferns-France semifinal will follow the clash between England and Canada at 4.30pm. The final and third-place playoff are at Eden Park next Saturday.