Black ferns

[Red Beard]

Has anyone else been watching the Womens World Cup? The Black Ferns are on fire, they dismantled France in the semi 45/7 this morning. Superbly coached and supremely fit with two sensational wingers our girls are hitting their straps at the right time. The test will be if we can subdue the mammmoth England pack, who incidently are all professional contracted players. Should we get parity we will run the Poms off the pitch. If you havent managed to watch any games so far be sure to tune in for the final this weekend.

[matata_massive]

yep i have watched nearly all their games, they have alot of skilled players in their team, impressed with their back 3 as well as the number 8 and the 12 all very very good players

[Bones]

Think I might have to get along for the final! Aussie barred up against England and England had a tough time trying to bully them around - so I can't see them finding it any easier against us.

[LAKiwi]

This site has full replays if anyone wants to watch them - http://www.rwcwomens.com/video/index.html

England only got up over Aussie 15-0, as opposed to our earlier 35-5 towelling of the sheilas in pool play.

[whatty]

mmm about as interesting as women's crickets but a lot more interesting if the team you support is streets ahead of any other team such as this one I suspect.

[ACT Crusader]

I watched a replay a little while ago of the last test that England beat the BFs. Eng were very physical and forced alot of mistakes when we carried the ball into contact. They were pretty effective in cutting down the space for our centre and back 3

[matata_massive]

I watched a replay a little while ago of the last test that England beat the BFs. Eng were very physical and forced alot of mistakes when we carried the ball into contact. They were pretty effective in cutting down the space for our centre and back 3

i look forward to seeing the final, wasnt much into womens rugby but geez i have been impressed with the BFs

[Bones]

mmm about as interesting as women's crickets but a lot more interesting if the team you support is streets ahead of any other team such as this one I suspect.

[Mokey]

Anna Richards is a machine. Still kicking ass at age 40+

[Bones]

She's 45! Certainly lacks the pace off the mak of the others but still knows how to run a backline - doing very well as wasn't even selected for the WC squad originally.

[da_grubster]

The general feeling is that this is the one that England will finally win. They are pretty physical and their star player is their 7.

Hope the black ferns can get up over them, subdue their pack and they will be quids in! I would go to the final but am in portugal for a stag weekend!

[Knock On Wood]

The England side have excellent set-piece and defence and are very physical... they're good at winning turnovers, disrupting and pressuring players into mistakes. They also have home advantage and benefit from competing in the female 6 nations where they meet a variety of opponents. They have very good funding, and by playing New Zealand at Twickenham after a men's test last season they will have benefitted greatly from video and player tracking analysis. The cards are as stacked in England's favour as they could possibly be.

New Zealand will have to keep their error rate down and avoid conceding turnovers. They're also going to have to have a massive game defensively. They'll know what they're in for, but having not been challenged by most of their other opponents you could argue their buildup hasn't been ideal.

Good luck NZ. Wish I could support the team in the final, but I will be in Slovenia.

[Red Beard]

The England side have excellent set-piece and defence and are very physical... they're good at winning turnovers, disrupting and pressuring players into mistakes. They also have home advantage and benefit from competing in the female 6 nations where they meet a variety of opponents. They have very good funding, and by playing New Zealand at Twickenham after a men's test last season they will have benefitted greatly from video and player tracking analysis. The cards are as stacked in England's favour as they could possibly be.

New Zealand will have to keep their error rate down and avoid conceding turnovers. They're also going to have to have a massive game defensively. They'll know what they're in for, but having not been challenged by most of their other opponents you could argue their buildup hasn't been ideal.

Good luck NZ. Wish I could support the team in the final, but I will be in Slovenia.

Not to mention the 1.5 million quid Sport England have recently pumped into English womens game. The English girls are all on tasty full or semi pro contracts while the Black Ferns are back receiving measley NZ$50 a day touring allowances.

So its all set up for a tantalising final.

[ABman]

When is the final being played ?

Watched the Aussie/Pommie game and yes, the Pommie girls really meany business. Huge physical foward pack, very good wingers and fullback with heaps of pace.

I'll still back our girls to teach them a lesson in rugby though.

BFs by 12

[matata_massive]

go the BFs it will be a tough game but im sure they can get the job done, they are pretty driven by that loss to Eng last year but then i guess you could argue the same for the Eng team too

BF's by 15

[Knock On Wood]

When is the final being played ?
BFs by 12

17:15 local time Sunday the 5th at the Stoop...

so, 4.15am Monday morning in NZ

[sparky]

Well done to the Black Ferns on beating France 45-7. Two of the English team were introduced on British breakfast TV as "the Future world champions". I hope the Black Ferns have something to say about that.........

[Luigi]

The way you guys have stacked the odds against the BFs in this thread is classic Kiwi - great skills!

I think it will be a close final and should be really exciting. Will be watching for sure.

[Bones]

Who's going?

[Knock On Wood]

Would like to be attending this but am not in London.

Despite us scoring 40+ points in our semi and England only getting 15 or so in theirs I think the fact England held Australia to nil is the more significant factor.

I expect England to win, but if we do manage a victory it'll be the best win by the Black Ferns in their history for me. In fact it'll rank as one of the bigger achievements of New Zealand rugby this year. The NZRU have cut back funding and support for women's rugby in New Zealand (probably to stockpile cash for the World Cup next year) and so if the girls can do it against the strongest opposition they've ever faced with an aging team at the opposing team's home ground I'll be really impressed.

New Zealand have to protect their possession better than they did the last time they played England. If the new law interpretations apply that could help us. I think we could also come under big pressure at set-piece, so we need to minimise errors and keep the ball in play.

[Bones]

Well Australia did only score one try Vs NZ....

[rgrocott]

I must say, it's very nice of the ARU to let England play Matt Dunning at scrum half...

[aucklandwarlord]

Score update?

[TeWaio]

WORLD CHAMPIONS............A FOUR-PEAT! Congratulations girls. Cracker of a game, huge intensity, was screaming at the television in the last 20mins. That knock on by the England 17 in the 22 at the death sealed it. Brilliant stuff.

[Bones]

Final score looks to be 13-10 to the good girls.