Another series defeat for Black Ferns

AFTER two series defeats to England in the past two years, the Black Ferns’ aura of dominance in women’s rugby has gone, possibly forever.

England won 17-8 yesterday at a chilly Army Rugby Stadium in Aldershot. Hannah Gallagher and Joanne Watmore scored England’s tries and Shakira Baker picked up New Zealand’s only five-pointer.

This result followed England’s 16-13 win last week. It’s not so much that the Black Ferns aren’t as good as they used to be, but that the heavily resourced England outfit have improved out of sight.

‘‘Obviously it is a huge disappointment,’’ said Black Ferns coach Brian Evans.

‘‘England deserved their win and we didn’t play well for the second game in a row,’’ he said.

‘‘There were too many unforced errors again, dropped balls, we lacked a big chase on our kicks through to the World Cup, which is our goal, I am sure we can pull out something special.’’

The series finishes with what is now a dead rubber at Twickenham on Sunday morning, straight after the All Blacks play England there.

Robertson feels that getting a win at London HQ would take the shine off England’s series triumph.

‘‘I’m sure it will feel like they have lost the series if they lose at Twickenham, there would be nothing better than sticking it to them there,’’ she said.

But England coach Gary Street isn’t buying into that theory.

‘‘I think that’s clutching straws really,’’ he said.

‘‘It is about winning the series, if they are happy to lose 2-1 I am surprised.

‘‘Twickenham is another game but it is two series in a row. If they think winning at Twickenham is a moral victory that’s fine but it’s not the standards that we set.’’

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