England beats New Zealand

Well done to the English women who came back from 10 points down to beat the world champion Black Ferns 16-13 at Esher tonight.

The second test is at Twickenham next Saturday after the men's match (it should be being played as the curtain raiser mutter mutter)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/7992847/Black-Ferns-blow-10-point-lead-against-England

and a yellow card again determines the outcome of a game...

aucklandlaurie wrote:
and a yellow card again determines the outcome of a game...

Whinging again?

Agree that Pete

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:
The second test is at Twickenham next Saturday after the men's match (it should be being played as the curtain raiser mutter mutter)

I guess the concern is that the pitch would be severely churned up prior to the Men's game - which is the one most people have spent £80 on a ticket for.

LondonTiger wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:
The second test is at Twickenham next Saturday after the men's match (it should be being played as the curtain raiser mutter mutter)

I guess the concern is that the pitch would be severely churned up prior to the Men's game - which is the one most people have spent £80 on a ticket for.

A point (and I know it's probably the reason for the time choice). But if it gets "severely churned" by a game of women's rugby I'd be questioning the groundsman about his competence.

Congratulations England well played.

The English girls should be deservedly proud of their performance in outscoring the Black ferns by two tries to one.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:
The second test is at Twickenham next Saturday after the men's match (it should be being played as the curtain raiser mutter mutter)

I guess the concern is that the pitch would be severely churned up prior to the Men's game - which is the one most people have spent £80 on a ticket for.

A point (and I know it's probably the reason for the time choice). But if it gets "severely churned" by a game of women's rugby I'd be questioning the groundsman about his competence.

I think the bigger concern is theyd have to share changing rooms with James Haskell

English Women sealed the series victory with a 17-8 win tonight.

While NZ kept largely the same team from Saturday, England brought in 9 new players to keep everyone fresh.

The English girls have been consistently improving for quite some time , and with more competing nations in Europe, New Zealand have to find some way to get up there more often, we cant just fly over to Australia and play them as their team hasnt played since the World Cup.

Gosh, First Academy players now the women...before the world cup it was only the ABs that werent winning their main events...the rest all were...now its the Maoris, under 20s, women...bit of a switch indeed.

Well done England...going for the double (or consolation as we call it)

Surely the reason they havent played since the world cup is that people havent flown there to do so, not the other way round.

These were the first tests NZ have played since the same series last year, I think.

The quality of European teams is still a bit iffy, i think England have won the last 9 championships with all bar one being slams. Of course in a minority sport (which women's rugby most definitely is) ther resources available to England make it hard for other British (and Irish) teams to compete.

The quality of the women's game has improved out of sight though and at times the passing and tackling techniques are something the men's team should aspire to.

Taylorman wrote:Gosh, First Academy players now the women...before the world cup it was only the ABs that werent winning their main events...the rest all were...now its the Maoris, under 20s, women...bit of a switch indeed.

Well done England...going for the double (or consolation as we call it)

Watching the main event is like waiting for your lottery numbers to come up then realising 49 is the half time deficit not the bonus ball.

I thought it was because the squad just hadnt been reconvened. perhaps I'm wrong?

LondonTiger wrote:English Women sealed the series victory with a 17-8 win tonight.

While NZ kept largely the same team from Saturday, England brought in 9 new players to keep everyone fresh.

Hi LT - the ladies that started the 2nd test were largely the bench players that changed the game for the better in the 1st test. So, not even sure that the 2nd test team was weaker.
There is pretty good strength in depth for England women at the moment.

Congratulations. England definitely a step or two above us. Others might be as well.

NZ women's game's been in trouble for a while. Essentially no money and games for the womens team. It's withering on the vine. Some very good girls grow up playing from the age of 3-4 and drift out. If they can work out a way of retaining them and get the national team going again we may be able to be competitive.

this current NZ squad would probably beat the othe 6Ns countries.

Englands 6 Nations results earlier this year:

Scotland 0 - England 47
Italy 3 - England 43
England 33 - Wales 0
France 3 - England 15
England 23 - Ireland 6


I do suspect though that Women's Rugby globally may start to concentrate on 7s (USA have already started this) to maximise the Olympic effect.

The second test is at Twickenham next Saturday after the men's match (it should be being played as the curtain raiser mutter mutter)

I thought this saturday would be the third and final test. And if England women win it will be 3 out of 3.