Allan Bunting has named his side to play England on Sunday:
1. Chryss Viliko 2. Georgia Ponsonby 3. Tanya Kalounivale 4. Alana Bremner
5.Maiakawanakaulani Roos 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u 7. Kennedy Tukuafu (nee Simon) (co-captain)
8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker 9. Maia Joseph 10. Hannah King 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo 12. Ruahei Demant
(co-captain) 13. Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt 14. Ayesha Leti-I’iga 15. Renee Holmes
16. Atlanta Lolohea 17. Kate Henwood 18. Amy Rule 19. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu 20. Layla Sae
21. Iritana Hohaia 22. Mererangi Paul 23. Ruby Tui
Bunting’s one disappointment is the withdrawal of Amy du Plessis from the centre. She has
suffered concussion, so must follow due protocols. His answer is to move his captain back to 12
and re-introduce Hannah King at 10. One way of looking at that is to say he doesn’t feel he has a
back-up midfielder he can shunt in without a second thought.
There are five changes to the pack, though we can’t tell if this is part of a pre-determined tour-plan,
or a reaction to last week’s performance against Ireland.
Tactics and strategies
These days such medicine is harder to self-administer.
Kiwi rugby players have earned a deserved reputation for being quick learners. That is, if they spot
weaknesses in their make-up in one game, they make sure they put them right for the next one.
Over the past few games against England they have not been able to exert pressure in the tight for
any length of time. One response has been to move the ball into space asap, giving their wily
backs the chance to show their paces. They can still do it, though the two major figures of the 2021
tour, Stacey Waaka and Portia Woodman-Wickcliffe are no longer at the party.
They have not been used to the European “exit”, that is, hoofing the ball deep into touch from
inside their own 22. They preferred running it out, but against the strongest teams they’ve found it
unprofitable. Sylvia Brunt admits having to learn a new approach.
They’ve found England’s smother defence difficult to circumnavigate. One answer has been to
kick, but all too often that has simply meant offering up the ball to their most dangerous runners.
Good kicking can still turn the game, but it will need to have pin-point accuracy. The chip over the
top may prove more valuable than the long belt downfield.
Thrusts close to the breakdown, then quick hands wide may be the answer.
On the flanks questions are asked about Ayesha Leti-I’iga’s outright pace, and, though Katelyn
Vahaakolo shows huge promise and has scored some memorable tries recently, Abby Dow did
leave her for dead at Twickenham. There’s more to wing play than quick feet.
WXV to the rescue
WXV is a massive help for the world champions just as much as for sides like Madagascar and the
Netherlands, the new recruits to WXV3. For years they have lacked regular internationals around
the world. Even the Pacific Four has tested them only when they’ve faced Canada.
Now they are on a four-match tour and have lost the last two games. They were in a similar
position three years ago in Europe; now we will see how successful this (relatively) new staff has
been in setting them on the right tracks.
And after the clash with the Red Roses, they still have France to face. Last year they lost to them
narrowly, but Les Bleues also have much to prove. They meet the USA this Saturday, so may find
the time and space to recover their best form.
Spectatorage
I invent a new word to avoid a topic World Rugby may not like.
My lips aren’t sealed; I ask the necessary question: how many people will turn out to watch the top
two nations on earth? Last year it was a home game for one of the sides, and the authorities had to
bang the big drum to entice a decent response. Will schools be invited to come along in droves?
Details
Date: Sunday 6 November
Kick-off: 13.00 local time; 21.00 BST
Venue: Langley Event Centre, Vancouver
Coverage: in UK: BBC iPlayer; elsewhere rugbypass.tv or local stations
