Still more expected from the Black Ferns

Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith is wanting more from his side despite another comfortbale victory to finish pool play at the World Cup.

Black Ferns support
Photo: photosport

The Black Ferns head into the quarter-finals off the back of a confidence-boosting 57-0 bonus point win over Scotland in Whangarei.

New Zealand will need to deliver consistent 80-minute performances in their remaining World Cup matches if they want to win the title for a sixth time, Smith said.

The defending champions all but secured top spot in the quarter-final seedings with their nine try performance.

“I just think we played really good heads-up rugby. We were really physical, which is important, really physical up front… It wasn’t as good in the second half but that often happens when you’re up 45-0 at halftime,” former All Blacks assistant coach Smith said.

“We haven’t really played a complete game. We’ve always played like a poor first half then a great second half or great first half, poor second half today. So, I think the focus for us is pretty much get our game together for the whole 80.

“Big moments, been there before. We know what it takes, we’ve just got to produce it.”

Smith added that he was pleased that almost everyone in the Black Ferns squad had got a taste of the global tournament because of the much-changed team he put out.

“They were excellent in that first half, and so they’ve put themselves in line for future selection,” he said.

Arihiana Marino-Tauhino, standing in as captain for the rested Ruahei Demant, said the first knockout round would be a spectacle regardless of who the Black Ferns were paired with when the draw was decided on Sunday.

“Once you get to quarter-finals, the games change. So, we’ll take a rest tonight and look at the games tomorrow and figure out who we have, and then go from there,” she said.

“All of the games have been amazing. Fast, quick rugby and everyone will enjoy it.”

Renee Wickliffe
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Despite making a raft of changes to the side the Blacks Ferns were cohesive and prolific on attack.

New Zealand fullback Renee Holmes crossed the line in the second minute before World Cup debutante Ayesha Leti-L’iga followed eight minutes later.

With the floodgates opened, Sarah Hirini, No.8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Theresa Fitzpatrick dotted down before fleet-footed back Renee Wickliffe scored a brace of tries.

New Zealand accumlated a total of seven first-half tries to lead 45-0 at half-time including five conversions to fullback Renee Holmes.

Scotland absorbed the pressure in the second-half with a much tighter contest but their World Cup journey has come to an end.

Maiakawanakualani Roos and Holmes scored New Zealand’s two unanswered tries in the second-half.

The Black Ferns, with bonus point wins in both their opening games, and the demolition of Scotland, have offered up plenty of selection options for coach Wayne Smith in the knockout stages.

New Zealand have qualified top of pool A – with their opponent in next weekend’s quarterfinals still to be confirmed.

Earlier Australia booked their place in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 13-7 win over Wales.

France also confirmed their place in the last eight with a 44-0 win over Fiji.

Today Japan play Italy, Canada play the USA and England play South Africa.

-RNZ/Reuters