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Despite continuing their 100 per cent winning record under Whitney Hansen, the Black Ferns believe they must make key improvements ahead of next weekend’s blockbuster against England.
Hansen’s side is outclassed Scotland at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Sunday morning, 66-14, scoring ten tries to two in a dominant second-half performance.
Scotland were no match for New Zealand’s brutality with ball in hand, while the Blacks Ferns’ electrifying outside backs proved why they can be so dangerous when given the chance.
The Kiwis kicked four unanswered sevens in the second half, with Braxton Sorensen McGee and Hannah King adding the extras from a range of areas on the court.
However, not everything was easy, as Hansen admitted to journalists after the match in Edinburgh.
“Yeah, well, I think Georgia (Ponsonby) was talking about a lot of things and around watching some exciting Black Ferns footy, but I think for us too, you know, we had eight changes,” Hansen said.
“I think it ended up being for our starting line-up, what we usually put out, and we did that because we needed the rest of our group to feel the pressure, and Scotland certainly brought that to us in that first half, and you know it’s a real achievement to have that now.
“Even though we were probably a little clumsy about it at times, but again, we wanted them to feel those moments. We wanted everyone to be ready for what’s coming, not just this year, but the Lions next year, and then build into the World Cup in 2029. So, yeah, we’re excited for them to get those minutes.”
In the final ten minutes of the first half, the Black Ferns led by ten points before breaking the game open with two quick tries from Layla Sae and Amy Du’Plessis.
The Black Ferns coach, who is yet to lose a game as head coach of the side, identified the period before half-time and the first 15 minutes afterwards as the turning point in the competition.
“Yeah, I think you know sometimes you’re able to finish on the end of a try and sometimes you’re not. And I think beyond the point outcome, we’re going to look at our processes, and we’re going to look at our performances and go, where do we keep the momentum going? Where do we give it away?”
“Even within those tries, there’s room to be better and we’re building week by week, and for any team we play, the week before isn’t going to be good enough for the week after.
“If we’re chasing, great. So we’ll take those loads off and be better for them again next week.”
