Final

[Lizard]

Well I don’t think anyone will be surprised by the finalists. France were obviously a good chance and got as close as you can without making it.

I suspect that that the Black Ferns have already played their final though. There weaknesses (ball protection in the ruck, occasional lapses in sticking to the plan) were the same things that left Canada unable to compete. It will take something pretty special for England to not fulfil their destiny and win this one.

[Cameo]

Is there an argument that they worked out how to deal with some of those weaknesses as the game went on? I am thinking of ball security at rucks. England are heavy favourites but you would think the game against France will have prepared NZ to try and play their game against top opposition.

[morepork]

This is going to be fascinating. The Ferns won't die wondering that's for sure. This England team are fearsome and rightly favourites. But there is a chance, a small chance, that the Ferns can knock them off their stride, smile, and murder them while they smile. And what a refreshing change it is to have professional athletes go hammer and tongs at the opposition without the angry pantomime villain philosophy of confrontation.

[Mellsblue]

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/news ... 2021-final

Hollie Davidson has been appointed to referee

[Which Tyler]

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/news ... 2021-final

Hollie Davidson has been appointed to referee

That's a surprise.
She's not had a bad tournament, but she didn't get a QF or a SF; and I wouldn't have had her in my top 3 refs of the tournie. Cox and Groizeleau have been the best for me, with Neville 3rd (mind you, she didn't have the best of days at the office for the SF).

I was expecting Joy Neville TBH

[Mellsblue]

[morepork]

Stacy is the centre the English men's team needs.

Woodman will need to be on her toes defending Dow. And some.

I can't fucking wait for this. No cartoon angry niggle or arm flapping, just two teams going hard at it. The men have more handbags than the women but less pragmatism.

[Cameo]

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/news ... 2021-final

Hollie Davidson has been appointed to referee

That's a surprise.
She's not had a bad tournament, but she didn't get a QF or a SF; and I wouldn't have had her in my top 3 refs of the tournie. Cox and Groizeleau have been the best for me, with Neville 3rd (mind you, she didn't have the best of days at the office for the SF).

I was expecting Joy Neville TBH

Not wanting to derail this thread from the game itself - which should be great if NZ can stay in it - but I have a quick question. Is it just me, or do refs play longer knock on advantages in women's rugby? Penalty advantages go on an age in all rugby but knock on advantage is normally quite quick. Not watched all the games, but there seems to be a difference in approach and wondered if there is any reason why?

[Mellsblue]

[Which Tyler]

Not wanting to derail this thread from the game itself - which should be great if NZ can stay in it - but I have a quick question. Is it just me, or do refs play longer knock on advantages in women's rugby? Penalty advantages go on an age in all rugby but knock on advantage is normally quite quick. Not watched all the games, but there seems to be a difference in approach and wondered if there is any reason why?

I can't say I've noticed that TBH.
The main one I've noticed is how long the tackler gets away with no rolling away, or getting back inside by blocking the SH's access to the ball

[Mr Mwenda]

Not wanting to derail this thread from the game itself - which should be great if NZ can stay in it - but I have a quick question. Is it just me, or do refs play longer knock on advantages in women's rugby? Penalty advantages go on an age in all rugby but knock on advantage is normally quite quick. Not watched all the games, but there seems to be a difference in approach and wondered if there is any reason why?

I can't say I've noticed that TBH.
The main one I've noticed is how long the tackler gets away with no rolling away, or getting back inside by blocking the SH's access to the ball

There were a few quite generous advantages in NZ v fra that I noticed. Not just the length but I had thought they'd got over the advantage line. I wondered if the ref had got slightly disoriented.

[Which Tyler]

FB_IMG_1667979895970.jpg

[Cameo]

Teams have been named. One enforced change for NZ at no 8. A couple of changes in the backs for England.

[Which Tyler]

Eden Park; ITV; 6.30am (GMT)
Ref: Hollie Davidson
TJs: Aimee Barrett-Theron & Aurelie Groizeleau
TMO: Ben Whitehouse


New Zealand:
1 Phillippa Love
2 Georgia Ponsonby
3 Amy Rule
4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos
5 Chelsea Bremner
6 Alana Bremner
7 Sarah Hirini
8 Charmaine McMenamin

9 Kendra Cocksedge
10 Ruahei Demant
11 Portia Woodman
12 Theresa Fitzpatrick
13 Stacey Fluhler
14 Ruby Tui
15 Renee Holmes

16 Luka Connor, 17 Krystal Murray, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Joanah Ngan-Woo, 20 Kennedy Simon
21 Ariana Bayler, 22 Hazel Tubic, 23 Ayesha Leti-l'iga


England:
1 Vickii Cornborough
2 Amy Cokayne
3 Sarah Bern
4 Zoe Aldcroft
5 Abbie Ward
6 Alex Matthews
7 Marlie Packer
8 Sarah Hunter

9 Leanne Infante
10 Zoe Harrison
11 Abby Dow
12 Holly Aitchison
13 Emily Scarratt
14 Lydia Thompson
15 Ellie Kildunne

16 Lark Davies, 17 Maud Muir, 18 Shaunagh Brown, 19 Cath O’Donnell, 20 Poppy Cleall, 21 Sadia Kabeya
22 Claudia Macdonald, 23 Tatyana Heard

[Which Tyler]

Eden Park, ITV, 3.30am (GMT)
Ref: Sara Cox
TJs: Joy Neville & Lauren Jenner
TMO: Ian Tempest

Canada:
1 Olivia DeMerchant
2 Emily Tttosi
3 DaLeaka Menin
4 Courtney Holtkamp
5 McKinley Hunt
6 Sara Svoboda
7 Karen Paquin
8 Sophie De Goede

9 Justine Pelletier
10 Alex Tessier
11 Paige Farries
12 Sara Kaljuvee
13 Alysha Corrigan
14 Maddy Grant
15 Elissa Alarie

16 Gillian Boag, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Alexandria Ellis, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Tyson Beukeboom, 21 Gabrielle Senft, 22 Fabiola Forteza
23 Anais Holly


France:
1 Annaelle Deshaye
2 Agathe Sochat
3 Assia Khalfaoui
4 Celine Ferer
5 Madoussou Fall
6 Gaëlle Hermet
7 Charlotte Escudero
8 Romane Menager

9 Pauline Bourdon
10 Caroline Drouin
11 Marine Menager
12 Gabrielle Vernier
13 Maelle Filopon
14 Joanna Grisez
15 Emilie Boulard

16 Laure Touye, 17 Celia Domain, 18 Clara Joyeux, 19 Safi N'Diaye, 20 Marjorie Mayans
21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Jessy Tremouliere, 23 Chloe Jacquet

[Which Tyler]

Morning all - couple of minutes late arriving, because I was trying (failing) to sleep
How's it been looking so far?

[Mellsblue]

Infante out and Packer, who I thought was injured, in at 9. Big loss,

[Mellsblue]

Boom.

[Which Tyler]

Just spooked the dog as we saw that Kildun was through

[Mr Mwenda]

For fuck's sake. Can't get itv hub to work. Any tips on streams. This is awful.

[Mellsblue]

That was a obvs knock on by NZ

[Mellsblue]

Boom.

Shake, shake the room

[Which Tyler]

Worried when that stuttered.
Didn't need to be

[Mellsblue]

Crap. Could be red.

[Mellsblue]

F**k