Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen has praised centre Amy du Plessis’ courage in chasing a win, rather than settle for a draw against world champions England on Sunday morning (NZT).
With the two teams locked at 19-all in the dying stages, the NZ women decided to attack from deep in their own half. Du Plessis lined up a long pass, but England’s Zoe Harrison intercepted it and raced in for the winning try.
The Red Roses’ 26-19 win leaves them unbeaten in their last 41 matches.
Hansen had no trouble at all with du Plessis’ intent.
“We didn’t want to go down as a draw,” Hansen said on Sky Sport straight after the match. “We knew we were going to fight to the death and I love that she threw that pass.”
Later, at the press conference, she expanded on her feelings.
“I think you have got to back that courage from Amy Du Plessis. She saw the space, she sent the pass and it didn’t come off that time.
“If it did, it’s a different story isn’t it. It’s a different headline.”
Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen.
Photosport
Hansen said she was proud of her players, who had developed during their tour of South Africa and England, but said they definitely needed to improve some areas.
“I think there’s still going to be things that we go back and look at the moments, where we didn’t finish and were not clinical enough.
“In those big moments and in those big matches, you have to be able to do that for 90 percent of the time or more.
“We will look at those, and look at where our games have been and where else we can do better.”
The loss was Hansen’s first in eight matches as Black Ferns coach, but she said her first feeling was pride in their performance.
“We always said this week was going to be a real test for us,” she said. “It was going to draw a line in the sand, it was going to give us some things, and show us how we are special and how we are built different.
“I think those watching the game today saw that was right. It was exciting.
“People can’t stay with us, when we do it, but it was always going to be a test for us to see how we could do better.”
Captain Georgia Ponsonby said the side had improved greatly on their four-week tour, especially at set-pieces and mauls, and in developing patience.
“I think we shot ourselves in the foot, when we weren’t able to finish in those crucial moments when it mattered, but hugely proud when we were able to create moments to score.”
Ponsonby said the performance gave the team a lot of confidence heading into a three-test home series against France next month.