Yes, I’ve seen the “stay humble” comments after the Black Ferns’ 40-0 domination against Ireland. Yes, there were some handling errors to be addressed.
Yes, there is a mighty battle ahead for the Black Ferns as the Women’s Rugby World Cup hits the halfway point with the knock-out stages.
But as the Black Ferns show, humility and acknowledging achievements isn’t a one or the other thing. Celebrating as a team gives this group energy and confidence. I’ve seen it myself. It boosts their one-of-a-kind bond and psyche, shaped by those around them.
Fans’ nerves about what’s to come, including the number one ranked English side, can be put aside for a moment. A moment of hype won’t change this team’s attitude. Their performance against Ireland, nearly a year on from a 29-27 defeat by the same opponents, is worth celebrating separate to the wider competition.
Director of performance Allan Bunting looked like a weight had lifted off his shoulders when 1News interviewed him after the match.
“The Irish, they threw everything at us, and then for our ladies to sort of… see mana today.”
He shakes his head when describing how their strong line defence didn’t let the Irish through once. There’s glistening in his eyes.
“That’s a bit deeper than anything, that comes from the soul there, it was just an unwavering, connected Black Ferns line… that’s what it takes to go all the way in this competition.”
He mentions how the team has been through “real pain and some adversity” in the past two years.
“Everything sort of happened for a reason for us and it’s placed us right here and we’ve got this group of ladies now, a special group of ladies, and now we’re building for something special and probably seen the first glimpses of that today.”
There had been talk that wins over lower-ranked Spain (54-8) and Japan (62-19) should have been stronger. The team came in with less international game experience than some European sides. Ireland had the confidence of their past win, New Zealand had the expectation to deliver. There was a lot riding on this game.
Apart from the easier ride in the quarterfinals playing the runner up of another pool (South Africa), it would be a significant momentum boost for either side to take the win.
The 18-year-old rising star and her mum are set to reunite in England this week after their longest time apart during her Rugby World Cup campaign. (Source: 1News)
Nine of the Black Ferns match-day 23 were there when they last faced the Irish. Armed with a quiet confidence they’d put the work in back home and in the lead up week, it was a match in front of a crowd of 30,000 where the women in black showed the impact of that preparation and really worked together.
They had a game plan to be fast, physical and clinical and they largely nailed it. The plan to have two full backs on the field in Renee Holmes and Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who returned to the wing, paid off. The team were slow to get going but from Stacey Waaka’s opening try about 15 minutes in, it was all on.
“They’ve got athletic profile across the park and that creates some problems for us,” Ireland head coach Scott Bemand reflected afterwards.
“If we made an error and gave them an in, they were pretty clinical really today in terms of scoring.”
Black Ferns co-captain and flanker Kennedy Tukuafu said things “just clicked” after “getting the rust out” in the past two weeks.
“It was just a really connected game, we had a goal today to just hit the burners, just everything, we would be desperate for every inch of territory, possession, the ball, all of it.”
On the score, she said it didn’t reflect that it was a tough game.
“They’re a strong team so we’re going to wake up… with sore bodies, but yeah, we won’t rest there.
“We want to make sure we get better every week.”
This is my first time being around the Black Ferns. At the halfway point of the Cup, having put in their strongest performance of pool play, their actions off the field have stuck with me too. There’s a gratitude for every experience on this journey from each player, coach and staff member I’ve spoken to.
“We’re just kind of stunned at the amount of support and effort and money that’s gone into the women’s game over here… we’re just very grateful,” Maiakawanakaulani Roos said earlier this week.
She was beaming as she described the mural the team saw in Brighton and Hove. That gratitude clearly benefits their performance mindset.
When asked to comment on other player’s performances, the sisterhood and their pride is strong, and when it’s turned on them, they’d rather not have to answer.
Cue winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga gassing up prop Chryss Viliko after she scored her first try in a World Cup.
“Yeah baby, okaaaay! A prop scoring! Ooh!” she said with her hand on Viliko’s shoulder. The pair crack up.
“That was an exciting feeling,” Viliko said.
“I mean it’s not often props score aye, so thank you for doing the winger’s job,” Ayesha added.
There’s also respect for the role and professionalism of those not selected for the match-day squad.
“We had a good prep week and those who weren’t playing, they really challenged our starting 23,” Leti-I’iga said.
It’s the way they’ve made time to catch up with the hosts where they’ve trained.
And Holmes getting fans to sign her jersey after the game in Brighton and Hove. Classy stuff.
When asked about stand-out players against Ireland, Bunting said it was a team effort.
He said the team displayed the best attitude and mindset of the Cup so far, and acknowledged the coaching team.
“Riki Flutey’s been working with our kickers for a while now and I said the fruits will start showing around that and even Dan Cron around our defensive maul and I thought our set piece was pretty solid today.
“Steve Jackson, he’s doing an amazing job around our defence and for them to be pretty relentless around that and not let them pass our try line was massively impressive.”
What stood out to me was Waaka’s energy, shifting the game into action and setting up other try scorers, along with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u. Woodman-Wickliffe flipping Irish winger Beibhinn Parsons over near the try line when the Irish got close to scoring. Sylvia Brunt breaking down the Irish defence, for which she was awarded Player of the Match. Holmes, with another near perfect conversion rate.
Then there’s Sorensen-McGee. Learning what it’s like to play on the world stage and being on the other side of the world from whānau, let alone continuing to deliver so highly – the 18-year-old has made a great start. Fans will be watching to see how many hat-tricks she’ll end the Cup with, her current tally for scoring three tries in a match – two in two weeks.
With the air of a cool and calm teenager, maturity beyond her years, she said her achievement was “pretty unreal.”
“Definitely feel more confident in myself as each week comes, but yeah, it’s really cool to do this.”
A confidence boost for all the team as they continue their fight to go all the way.
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including new details about the end of the Marokopa search and how the injured officer is doing, plus Banksy’s new politically charged artwork. (Source: 1News)