2024 CONSTELLATION CUP – AUS v NZ (October)

No Cara Koenan?

Koenen does makes sense as she did not look right on Sunday and she looked close to tears after the match. Hopefully she is feeling supported and can refresh herself for 2025.

The Ellis trial hasn’t worked. I’m sure the diamonds would have engaged with the umpires as they do attend training with each team. Ellis will not get away with that sort of dangerous play at this level.

The back up GS would be Dwyer IMO. I’d like to see Horjus start at WA with Watson in C.

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by NB12.

Woops 11 that should be, Diamonds are in a bit of a frazzle, but don’t think the Ferns will quite reach those dizzy heights

@McLeod, haha I thought you were a little enthusiastic with the 111.

In an interview with Grace, she said winning 4 – 0 was now more important than winning the cup. If thats the whole squad viewpoint there really could be sparks flying on court tonight.

I’d say it came from Noeline making the right decisions and playing players in their actual position.
Also a major reason is Briony Akles influence. Sounds like she’s instilled the aussies mindset into the ferns; physical, confident, mongrel, and not being so humble all the time.
I’d still prefer Toeava in the 12 over O’Brien, Souness and Buchannan. But in saying that, she needs to get fit.

@Ian you raise a darn good point.

The last time I saw that want/mongrel from the Ferns was the bronze medal match in Birmingham. The swinging towels on the side line, the shoulders back and playing to win on the court. Before that the Ferns had been largely pedestrian.

NWC went by without a whimper and I suspect for all the spouting about 6 weeks together in the lead up, the team had probably spent too long in camp and already peaked by time the tournament started.

I noticed at 3/4 time on Sunday night Taurua and Gordon in really animated conversations and Taurua ‘geeing her up’. That sort of stuff, while might seem minor, really backs-up comments from Tuivaiti re Taurua working hard on how she connects with the younger players. Think she had Van Dyk, Kopua, Langman, Folau who are a different breed/era of player to the likes of Gordon, Heffernan, Nweke, et al. She needs to change her approach.

My 2c worth is Taurua is walking her own talk post the NWC debrief and reappointment process and it’s paying dividends.

I like Akle being in the mix, but definitely think there’s a missed opportunity for the likes of a YMD to also be around the Ferns traps – acknowledging she is coaching the Fast5 team but thinking purely about the Ferns 7-aside group. She’s the future Ferns coach IMO.