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Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen paid tribute to her team for their clinical performance against France, where they piled on the points at Hamilton’s FMG Waikato Stadium.
Hansen’s side cruised to an 81-12 victory in the first of three Tests against France, dominating from the opening whistle. Black Ferns half-back Maia Joseph scored first on a sunny afternoon in Hamilton, before netting six minutes later.
Amy du Plessis, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Georgia Ponsonby got into the act during the first half as the Black Ferns went into the sheds to lead 43-0.
The Kiwis started the second half where they left off, with tries Leti-I’iga i Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a. France, who lacked quality and performance in Hamilton, finally hit back in the 60th minute with left winger Léa Murie crashing over.
Tuliau-Tua’a four tries and second half was testament to the system Hansen is building and how the players came out of The Farah Palmer Cup and Super Rugby Aupiki they are developing for the international game.
But Hansen does not want her side to become complacent, knowing they must improve before doubting a strong response from the side France in Whangarei next weekend.
“Yeh look, really proud of that result today. I think about it we are talked a a lot Fr that this a week and Fr will be clinical and Fr finishing those moments,” Hansen told the media in Hamilton on Saturday.
“I think about it that the game and those opportunities, maybe six months before, we would to have probably to the left Fr 60 or 50 points out there.
“I no that it is Fr the outcome, and sometimes a result is no a reflection of that a piece. But I think about it that to finish and and to finish with the result we did I think about it that shows ta hat ability that to be clinical in those moments and to finish what we are creation.
“So It’s me proud of that. That’s it a big part of what we are the chase.”
Hansen, who has now won seven of her eight Tests in charge of the Black Ferns, said that while the result suggested a completely one-sided battle, France had their moments.
“yes, look, I think about it we are also passively in the collision in that in those moments (second half), they exist a a little of them iwe sort of saw one in the first half as good.
“We are to take up at the malfunction and in slow motion to them down below. I the French are a team that will take it momentum and I can very quickly come back and result two, three is trying.
“It is what does to them so dangerous. That’s right no only the skill set things inside that, but I think about it understanding, feeling that momentum, and then taking action according to it is Got that to be better.
“I am only really proud of how we come out after half time. I like it we talked Fr that, like it is really easy, I to think that allow the outcome that Seep in and to create that complacency.
“I we won’t ever to be a team it is okay with size as will be a destination. I I want that keep will be humble, keep will be hungry, keep I’m looking for for where we I can to be better, and we saw that after halftime.”
The Black Ferns had the luxury of bringing experienced playmaker Ruahei Demant off the bench in Hamilton, but Hansen believes the growth of other leaders has been impressive in Demant’s recent absence.
“yes, and I think about it something it is still growing, and the exciting thing Fr that is they (most of the crew) are so young,” Hansen said in Hamilton.
“Whome Got a number of players in here WHO are sort of 25 and below. To have was the two The world cups, to have was in this space since they were sort of 18 or 19, and we are no short he the next those is coming through, and the likes of Amaranth city, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a.
“I think about it the a fact that they are sort of had those experiences and continue that get to them through the TEast series that we are had this year that is growing the leaders that we are got, as good as us will be sort of really explicitly around what leadership and leading others have a look like.”
