Honey Hireme-Smiler is a former Black Fern, Sky Sport commentator, and Stuff columnist for the Rugby World Cup
ANALYSIS: We hear a lot about Fortress Eden Park, but what does it mean for the Black Ferns?
They will run onto their own field of dreams for a semi-final against France on Saturday with a 8-0 record there, an unbeaten streak they extended in their tournament opener against Australia.
That match gave an indication of how a heaving Eden Park can be the Ferns’ not-so-secret weapon as they look to knock over France before a potential decider against England.
The atmosphere was electric and the poi brought a whole new dimension, uniting all the fans when the stadium DJ gets everyone up to show their support by twirling their poi. Now it’s up to Ruahei Demant and her team.
How do the Black Ferns beat France and which players hold the key?
This will be the Black Ferns’ first true test during this World Cup, against a real heavyweight in women’s rugby ranked No 2 in the world.
Two key areas they will need to control to compete against France are their defence and their phase play.
It’s no secret that defence wins games, and this often comes down to attitude. The Black Ferns need to bring some real intent and aggression and be prepared to get into a dogfight with the French women.
They will need to play a real suffocating defence system, giving the French attack no time and space. Key players will be Liana Mikaele Tu’u, and later in the match off the bench Kennedy Simon and Luka Connor – they ooze aggression and charge into the contact areas with a huge physical presence.
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Manae Feleu has returned to New Zealand for the first time since her high school days where she won a rugby championship with Karamu College in Hastings.
It will require aggressive line speed, in your face dominance and bruising contact, and maintain it for a full 80min against the battle-hardened French.
Now, phase play. The Black Ferns have scored a number of tries this tournament from 3-4 phases. Against the French they will have to be prepared to go 10+ phases to break down the solid French defence and build pressure slowly but surely.
I’m not suggesting the Black Ferns slow down the high tempo that they play at, but perhaps keep a variation within their phase play from pick and go, tight running channels, going out wide and offloads galore. Just create a real frantic attacking pattern that confuses and disrupts the more structured, focused French.
Greg Bowker/Getty Images
Joanna Grisez of France races away for another try.
Who are the biggest French dangers?
Joanna Grisez on the wing is a real weapon and continues to score tries from anywhere on the field including a hat-trick against Italy. Loose forward Charlotte Escudero is an imposing defender and tops the tackle count for her team across this RWC.
However, the biggest threat comes in their team drivers, halfback Pauline Bourdon and first-five Caroline Drouin. Their combination has been seamless, both are strong leaders and have great tactical nous to direct their team around.
Is there any bigger attacking threat than Portia Woodman in world rugby right now?
Woodman is the ultimate athlete, to me New Zealand’s next Valerie Adams (and also worthy of a movie of her life!). She never succumbs to pressure on and off the field and has this unwavering belief in her own abilities.
She never settles for average and never allowed her achievements and the rise in her profile to distract her from her values, her culture, and the most important thing to her in life which is her whānau.
Her performance this World Cup has gone to another level, and now holds the record for most Rugby World Cup tries. Her game continues to evolve and her tryscoring ability can overshadow other areas of her game where she is dominating – her positional play, her work rate off the ball and tackle technique. I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts working on her kicking game soon just to add more tools to her extensive skillset.
Let’s talk England v Canada – and what to expect from the first semi-final. Any chance of a massive upset?
England are clear favourites but Canada have been building nicely throughout this tournament, the silent assassins finishing head and shoulders above everyone in pool B.
The biggest matchup is between the two captains Sarah Hunter (the most capped England player) and Sophie de Goede (whose parents both represented Canada in rugby). Hunter is an inspirational leader and her longevity in the game is commendable. She has in no way slowed down in what is likely her last RWC, she continues to lead from the front for her world No 1 team.
De Goede has played every minute of every game at this tournament and ranked up a team high in almost every facet of the game. Her skillset on both sides of the ball is outstanding, she runs strong lines, leads the Canadian defence and if that’s not enough she also kicks goals.
Canada have a good chance of upsetting the Red Roses if they play their own game and not succumb to the English preference to play a very structured style.
