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'Words that I cannot repeat': Ruby Tui on how Black Ferns overcame early jitters in win at Eden Park

(Photo by Greg Bowker/Getty Images)

The Black Ferns opened their Rugby World Cup campaign with a stirring haka complemented by a jet flyover that sent the Eden Park crowd into raptures, but it was the Wallaroos who got the fast start once play resumed.

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The magnificent occasion for the reigning champions quickly turned south as the Wallaroos raced out to a 17-0 lead with the home side committing a host of errors that piled pressure on and played into the hands of the Australians.

The Black Ferns were able to regain composure to reduce the gap to 17-12 heading into halftime and then were able to produce some of their best rugby in the second half to run away 41-17.

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Star wingers Ruby Tui and Portia Woodman bagged a combined five tries while Tui was named player of the match after a terrific double and tough defensive work.

“I’ve been in that position way too many times! The Aussie-New Zealand rivalry is something you can’t script,” Tui said on the side being down early.

“It is something special to be honest. I know it is not the national sport there so I always have respect for them growing the game over there and bringing it to us, it was awesome.”

On what was said to turn around the performance, Tui said she could not repeat it but with the right mix of youth and experience, the team had the leadership to pull themselves out of the hole that they were in.

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“A couple of words that I cannot repeat. But the cool thing about is was we were all on the same page. We have had to grow pretty quick in this team and what I think that does is it forces you to bring out your best because if you don’t, someone else will step up. There is pretty hot competition in our team right now.”

Captain Ruahei Demant said the side just needed to get the ball into the right areas before looking to attack wide and use more ball movement.

“It was really difficult for us to get into the game, I think we were playing in to their hands and not playing our game. Once we managed to flick that switch and get into our grove it was a lot of fun,” she said.

“A couple of things. One) having the ball and two) having the ball in the right parts of the field.”

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Black Ferns head coach Wayne Smith admitted that his side may have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the occasion which was a situation all of the players had never been in before with a home World Cup game against traditional rivals in front of a record crowd at Eden Park.

“I think it was overwhelming for a lot of the players, a lot of them hadn’t been at a World Cup, certainly not in a game like this; it was like no other,” Smith said.

“So, the first half I think was a reflection of that and there were some concerns around how we prepared individually for the game, we seemed to be frenetic and not at our best. But we had a really good half-time, nice and calm and nice and specific and, credit to the girls, they came out and put their game on the park.

“We got out-physicalled in the first half, you can’t hide from that. We were not in the contest, nowhere near it and that’s a concern in terms of the way we prepared.”

Some of the Black Ferns tactics were creatively designed, using switches in the backfield on kick returns that saw the backs from the far side sweep around down the short side.

As the Black Ferns got into their groove, opportunities opened up for the firepower out wide who managed to score seven tries to Australia’s two.

One of the best of the night was Tui’s second, a swerving run after a clean break that beat the Australian cover defence for pace. The flying winger was ecstatic after the score and celebrated in unison with the delighted crowd.

Tui spoke of the experience afterward and said that ‘nothing compared’ to the opportunity to play in front of a full Eden Park, the spiritual home of rugby in New Zealand.

“Nothing compares to selling out a crowd at Eden Park in your home country. People said we couldn’t do it,” Tui said.

“As a rugby player in this team, playing New Zealand’s national sport, it is really hard to describe, it is amazing. I have been saying it all night, I am just really proud to be a New Zealand rugby player right now.”

 

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Easy_Duzz-it 28 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .


Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .


anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

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