Some rugby websites are quick to register players’ birthdays, often with a clip of a great deed by the candle-blower. What could be more pleasant?
It’s Maud Muir’s birthday. Congratulations!
Source: Michael Gorton / action press
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Photo by Michael Gorton / action press)
By a strange quirk it is also Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s birthday, her 34th, and she was able to celebrate with a hat-trick of tries against the Wallaroos, in the Black Ferns last outing before they fly to England.
A Brief Mention of the Trans-Tasman match
Result: New Zealand 37 Australia 12
This brings the series to a 29-0 lead for the Ferns. Not for the first time people may question the usefulness of the Laurie O’Reilly Cup, but tradition is tradition.
The Kiwi press was still happy to use cliches like “legend” and “super-star” – and they may be deserved – but that second offering was aimed at Jorja Miller.
She played No 7 again, but could she perhaps switch to No 15, far from the Ferns’ soundest position? Between them Renee Holmes and Kelly Brazier converted one of the seven tries. (The first, by PWW, came after precisely 62 seconds!)
Opposing managements now have a last chance to analyse BFs’ game-plans and individual performances will Allan Bunting manage to find a hooker who can hit her targets? Georgia Ponsonby didn’t convince.
Back to England’s Birthdays
I selected an arbitrary list of 34 Red Roses who might be plucked out of John Mitchell’s hat for the World Cup.
I was slightly surprised to find the average age working out at 26.6. I had expected it to be (quite a bit) higher. How disrespectful! 26.6 might be considered a quite admirable average.
While there are seven over 30, there are eleven 25 and under. So that works out at a very pleasing mixture of wizened know-how and youthful energy.
It remains to be seen what view the 61-year old Mitchell takes of the passing years.
Afterthought
A direct confrontation between our two birthday girls on the field of play – each in turn with ball in hand – would be a sight to behold. Memo: they are not the same age!
