England are in danger this afternoon, if they have not read their sporting history. The Red Roses thrashed New Zealand 43-12 in the first Test in Exeter last week, the biggest losing margin suffered by the Black Ferns in 100 Tests. It was also the most joyous, innovative, compelling performance by any England team for years.
But anyone who believes that the same level of England performance will achieve the same result and margin at Northampton today will be severely disappointed. Vengeance is the mission. History shows that New Zealand so rarely lose. To lose two on the trot is almost dodo rare.
Their team has changed profoundly since their grand-slam triumph in Ireland; it is not as if they had a galaxy of greatness to draft in for the second Test although one of the great players of the era, Portia Woodman, their Olympic sevens gold medallist, is back in the team.
Woodman is arguably the finest attacking player of her generation. Her battle with the sensational Red Rose wing Abby Dow should be worth the money alone. New Zealand’s fallible handing will need to be sharp for Woodman to thrive. But the great Kiwi will also be under pressure from the gloriously unpredictable Dow, who almost tortured the opposition last week.
The other key Black Fern will be the veteran scrum half Kendra Cocksedge. She is another great of the era but looked careworn, off form and even stroppy under pressure last weekend. England got under her skin and she did not react well.
Advertisement
But we must expect their defence to be way more solid, whereas last weekend they allowed Dow and Ellie Kildunne to dance through them out wide; and they will need a lineout, a disaster area in Exeter.
But it is in their attitudes and passion they that will be ferociously challenging. Even if England win, the occasion will be the most telling examination of the Red Rose World Cup credentials. It is impossible to believe that the margin will be big for either side.
England have made changes. With bad weather around and with the Black Ferns likely to kick, there must have been a temptation to choose Sarah McKenna at full back, not as explosive a runner as Kildunne but a fine all-round footballer.
Indeed, England have arguably picked a more attacking side for round two than they did for round one. Helena Rowland, the promising young fly half, starts in the centre today, adding yet another touch player to the mix. Brave.
Lagi Tuima is demoted to the bench to accommodate Rowland. Tuima is a real physical specimen who did sterling work in Exeter when England lost their shape but Rowland is a better distributor, with the ball more likely to reach Dow, Lydia Thompson and Kildunne to set them loose. It is a challenging selection by Simon Middleton, the head coach.
Advertisement
However, England have a refuge should their plans to attack go wrong. Their pack is developing nicely, you feel they missed a chance to drive the Ferns into the middle of next week in Exeter, but with a game under their belts they are to be feared today.
Sarah Hunter, the captain, gives way to Poppy Cleall at No 8 and England can afford to leave out Lark Davies and Hannah Botterman from the front row and replace them with two world-class players in Vickii Cornborough and Amy Cockayne.
Zoe Aldcroft, fast becoming one of the best back five forwards in world rugby, teams up with Abbie Ward at lock. It was Ward who led England’s lineout last weekend to a position of such ascendancy, as if the Ferns were deliberately throwing to her.
And the next generation is also emerging. Last weekend England brought on young Maud Muir, 20, from Wasps Ladies, for her first glimpse of Test rugby. There were only a few minutes left and Muir looked beside herself with what looked like glee. It was not. It was ferocity. In her first scrum she demolished her opposite number and the whole left-hand side of the Kiwi scrum. As a way of announcing yourself as an international player it took some beating.
These are days of high hope in the women’s game. To be live on terrestrial television and have the crowd at Sandy Park in full cry is the kind of backdrop about which top players have dreamt for so long. The momentum is at once belated, and wondrous.
