Preview: Pacific Four Round Two
USA v Australia and Canada v New Zealand
Look at all the captains being pals! So cute!
Everyone is in now Ottawa and we are ready for round two of the Pacific Four Series. Apparently it is hot, hot in Canada at the moment. Like 30+ degrees hot. Which couldn’t be further from the deluge that welcomed the Pacific Four Series to Aotearoa last year. Weather forecast for Saturday is the late 20s with a chance of rain. Lucky for the Black Ferns, a later kick off means they will be out of the full glare. And hopefully the weather holds to let all teams play some free flowing footy.
Let’s take a look at the teams!
GAME ONE: USA v Wallaroos
When USA last played the Wallaroos at this tournament in 2022, the final score was 16-14 to the Americans. Both teams are hairpullingly inconsistent. You will see them pair something absolutely beautiful with the most basic of errors. Isn’t this just the story of a team with not enough time together though? Because we saw both sides massively improve as the tournament went on at last year’s World Cup.
Both teams feature players that have played quite a bit of footy so far this year which perhaps might knock that on the head. For the Aussies it’s been Super W and a warm-up test against Fijiana. For USA, it’s been a number of their squad running out in England’s Premier 15s (rebranded as PWR - Premier Women’s Rugby for 2024) and a match against Spain.
It’s a strong first half team in Australia, up against the strong finishers from the USA. Both team are playing to keep their WXV1 hopes alive after their first up loses against New Zealand and Canada.
We really didn’t get much of a chance to see what Australia could do in their match against the Black Ferns. It was one of those games you just had to get through and then learn from. They appear to have done that with the change at 10. Arabella McKenzie was strong when she came on against the Black Ferns. Bringing the type of direct running that the Wallaroos had been missing. Mckenzie was strong too in her match against the USA last year, the Wallaroos losing some of the shape and the game, once she was benched.
Lori Cramer arrival is timely to cover the injury of Faitala Moleka at fullback. Cramer was an asset off the tee for the Aussies at last year’s World Cup and is tough as old boots. I saw her dancing up a storm with her ear hanging off after that brutal encounter with the Red Roses in the World Cup quarter final.
Is there any other player in the world right now who regularly bounces between forwards and backs on the international stage? Or is it just Kate Zackary? Playing the role she her team needs her to, Zackary will be directing the defensive line from 13 on Sunday.
Her movement to the backline continues the experimentation we’ve seen from USA this year in their back row. This is the third combination of flankers and number eight we are seeing start for the Americans in as many tests. The ruck then, will be an area to watch. This was a pain point that the Black Ferns exploited well against the Wallaroos. No doubt this trio of Freda Tafuna, Georgie Perris-Redding and Rachel Johnson will be looking to do the same.
This is a do or die match so expect fireworks. Kick off is 8am Sunday, New Zealand time, on Sky Sport 4.
GAME TWO: Canada v Black Ferns
Let’s be honest, this is the test match we should have had lined up here at home earlier this year. In an alternate reality, it was on the books and ready to sell tickets to as soon as the crowd finished the last line of Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi. Alas, we are not that forward thinking so we have had to wait until now to play the scrappers of the Rugby World Cup and we’ve headed to their turf to do it.
Experience has been brought back into this Black Ferns side for this match, changes only at seven and two to what was the regular starting pack for the Rugby World Cup. This makes sense as there is real metal in this Canadian forward pack, led by the uncompromising Sophie de Goede.
On the bench, notable omissions for the Black Ferns forwards are super subs Joanah Ngan-Woo and Krystal Murray. Such rotation through the travelling squad is to be expected at this point in the season but it does leave a question mark regarding lock cover. Lucy Jenkins is waiting to make her debut and should she be unleashed alongside her Matatū teammate, Kendra Reynolds, expect no ruck to go uncontested.
In the backline, the Black Ferns have stuck with the same starting line up that devastated Australia. Ruahei Demant saves her best rugby for the black jersey and will be wanting to do the same on Sunday. Sylvia Brunt will be a ball of energy, putting as much into a tackle as her line breaks.
Mererangi Paul will be looking to back up her dream debut with another commanding performance. Opposite her though is the lethal Paige Farries. She rips backlines apart when given half an inch so it will be a great battle out wide between these two.
Games between these two teams have typically been all over the shot in terms of score lines. 48-5 to the Black Ferns at the 2017 World Cup, 35-20 to the Black Ferns in 2019 and 28-0 to the Black Ferns last year. It is true that New Zealand has a 100% win record against them but Canada are never a team to underestimated.
The Canadians play good clean rugby. They will go to work, perhaps predictably at times but they will do so with a high enough level of execution that it works. They are grafters. They never quit. They will be excited to have the chance to take on the World Champions at home in a game that is on track to set a record for attendance.
It’s going to be the best match we have in the first half of this year, so you better bloody tune in. Sunday, 9 July at 11am on Sky Sport 1 New Zealand Time.
With you,
Alice