The Black Ferns are hoping referees will crack down on teams slowing the game down at the Rugby World Cup.
Black Ferns set to scrum
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand’s fast, expansive style was stifled during the early stages of their tournament-opening win over Australia.
Australia jumped out to a 17-0 lead early in the game before the Black Ferns fought their way back into the game and in the end scored a comfortable 41-17 victory.
Assistant coach Whitney Hansen expects opposition teams to use the setting of the scrum as a chance to take momentum out of the game.
“Hopefully that is something the referees will look at and police.
“We’re certainly practising how quickly we can do it, at training’s we’ve got it down to about 10 seconds.
“So bring on opposition we welcome to any challengers around that,” she said.
The Black Ferns know they’ll need to improve to have any chance of defending their title.
Their first up performance was riddled with errors.
“We’re pretty critical of ourselves,” said Hansen.
“I just think they recognise that it wasn’t good enough and we’re better than that.
Santo Toumata
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
“We didn’t showcase or introduce ourselves in a way that we set out to so we’ve got to look at that.”
Hansen has also signalled they’ll look to adjust the line-up for Sunday’s game against Wales in Auckland.
“World Cups aren’t won with fifteen or 23 (players) and sometimes not even with 32.
“So there will definitely be some changes to our makeup and give some other players a go and a start.
“But it is a fine line between keeping some combinations together and getting that consistency as well.”
The team will be named on Friday.
Round two pool matches:
Saturday 15 October.
3pm Scotland v Australia, Whangarei.
5:30pm USA v Japan, Whangarei.
8pm France v England, Whangarei.
Sunday 16 October
12:45pm Italy v Canada, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland.
3:15pm Wales v New Zealand, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland.
5:45pm Fiji v South Africa, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland.
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