The Black Ferns celebrate a try in their win over Canada. Photo / Photosport
The Black Ferns answered the call.
In their first test of the year last weekend, the New Zealand side claimed a 48-15 win over the United States. It was a dominant enough win to kick off their new era under Whitney Hansen, but they worked their way into the test after a slow start.
The team addressed this aspect leading into the clash against Canada in Kansas City on Saturday, where a physical Black Ferns outfit ran up an impressive 36-14 scoreline for their first victory over Canada in four tests.
“We talked lots about bringing edge right from the kickoff today. We didn’t last week. We waited until halftime really,” Hansen said.
“So that was a massive part of what we wanted to do, and that was asking individuals to own that in terms of their performance, preparation and how they did that.”
It was clear from the opening plays that the Black Ferns had shown up in the right space as they immediately put pressure on Canada through their defence and ultimately forced an error to get possession deep in enemy territory.
While their attack in the first half was hurt by a lack of accuracy at times, playing into a strong wind for the first half, the Black Ferns maintained their composure and looked assured in what they were doing.
Ultimately, they were able to overcome a 14-5 halftime deficit with five unanswered tries in the second stanza.
The performance was perhaps all the more impressive as the test was delayed by three hours due to severe weather conditions.
“We were challenged with some adversity across that today, but we reflected back to the whakapapa of this team and what our legacy’s gone through and what it might have been like for them,” Hansen said.
“So, you know, a couple of hours’ delay based on what it might have been like for them in the past actually was just something we could control. I think the girls took really good control of that and owned those moments and yeah, really proud of how we started today.”
The Black Ferns did, however, lose halfback Maia Joseph to a knee injury about halfway through the first half.
Immediately after the game, Hansen said she wasn’t sure how serious the injury was, but it was bad enough that the 23-year-old needed to be replaced.
In her place, rookie Black Fern Tara Turner played a strong hand, looking comfortable at test level against the world No 2, even when she had to deputise as a lineout thrower because hooker Georgia Ponsonby was in the sin bin.
Turner is one of a handful of newcomers who have made their mark on the squad this year, and Hansen said that was an outcome of the pre-season work they had put in.
“We were really lucky at the start of the year. We were sort of forced into being really courageous in and around who got invited into the camps early,” Hansen explained.
“We went broad and we knew we wanted to take a younger group ... we went back to fundamentals and how we wanted to play and going slow to go quickly now has meant that with those young ones we’ve taken with us, we’ve taken them on the journey and we can expect a bit more from them.
“I think for those that are new, you look at them and go that’s a real celebration of our experienced players because they take the time to get around, have the conversations, they might sit there and have a wee few hands of euchre, which, you know, Lou [Ruahei Demant] and I normally beat Aish [Ayesha Leti-I’iga] at. But outside of that, they’re also there helping them with their homework and getting them up to speed, and no man’s left behind and everyone just shares everything, which is a pretty cool thing about this space.”
Black Ferns 36 (Kaipo Olsen-Baker 2, Kennedy Tukuafu, Mererangi Paul, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Amy du Plessis tries, Renee Holmes 3 cons)
Canada 14 (Penalty try, Asia Hogan-Rochester try; Claire Gallagher con)
HT: 5-14
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.