Black Ferns brush history as incredible mark beckons

2 years ago 53

New Zealand's Black Ferns person mislaid their past 4 contests with France.

However, that means small to manager Wayne Smith who volition anticipation to proceed his unbeaten grounds with the Rugby World Cup hosts.

Smith, who took connected the relation this twelvemonth from Glenn Moore, has 10 wins to his recognition frankincense far.

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At the extremity of the year, he'll discontinue and extremity a coaching vocation that stems backmost to the mid-1980s and included 2 stints arsenic adjunct manager of the All Blacks.

As helium heads towards becoming lone the 4th Black Ferns manager to decorativeness with a 100 per cent triumph record, Smith said there's small constituent looking astatine past results for a signifier guide.

"I don't deliberation past gives you an edge," helium said.

"I told the girls a communicative astir 2007 erstwhile we [the All Blacks] bushed France, 61-10, successful Wellington.

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"Four months aboriginal they bushed america successful the quarter-final of the World Cup. History counts for nothing. You request to beryllium up, week by week.

"We've said each on that we've got a batch of crushed to marque up," helium added.

"We got immoderate hidings connected the end-of-year circuit past year. Again, there's pridefulness astatine involvement I deliberation and we'll person a bully week preparing for this.

"What I've seen from [France], they're highly efficient. Great antiaircraft team, bash things well, they've got immoderate bully players. It's going to beryllium a battle."

New Zealand mislaid successful consecutive Tests to France past twelvemonth by sizeable margins.

In their archetypal outpouring circuit match, they mislaid 38-13. A week aboriginal they went down 29-7.

The past clip New Zealand bushed France was successful 2018 erstwhile they triumphed 14-0.

New Zealand has lone faced France connected 9 occasions – 5 of those were wins.

Smith admitted that he's not definite which mode the forthcoming semi-final volition fall.

New Zealand conceded 17 points aboriginal to Australia successful their archetypal Pool A lucifer lone to respond with 41 unanswered points.

Their consequent games against Wales and Scotland were walkovers, winning 56-12 and 57-0 respectively.

"Seventeen-nil against Australia was testing," remarked Smith.

"We've had to conflict done immoderate games. Even [against Wales successful the quarter-final] we had to conflict done the start. They were truly into us. We were into them arsenic well.

"It is what it is. Who knows if we've been tested capable oregon not? I've ne'er coached against this French team. I've lone truly seen them play successful this tourney and a mates of games erstwhile I watched the end-of-year circuit past year. It'll beryllium interesting."

The archetypal semi-final of this year's Rugby World Cup volition instrumentality spot betwixt Canada and favourites England connected Saturday, November 5 astatine 2.30pm (AEDT).

Hosts New Zealand volition look France the aforesaid time astatine 5.30pm (AEDT).

Both semi-final matches volition beryllium played astatine Eden Park arsenic volition the bronze medal lucifer and the last a week aboriginal connected Saturday, November 12.

The Blacks Ferns person won 5 of the past six Rugby World Cup competitions.

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