New Zealand ‘Black Ferns’, ‘All Blacks’ in shade

First change: 02/11/2022 – 18:06Last change: 02/11/2022 – 18:04

The All Blacks won their first ever World Cup in 1987 and then won another in 2011 at Eden Park on Saturday for the Women’s World Cup semi-final, a record attendance of nearly 40,000. , to encourage ‘black ferns’.

A further sign of progress is that New Zealand women’s rugby is on par with their men.

Although rugby is the most popular sport on the Oceanic island, the ‘Black Ferns’ have had to face the same problems that have plagued the women’s game in the past: low funding, lack of support and publicity.

The New Zealand Federation (NZRU) did not start sponsoring its women’s team until 1995, hiring professional coaches and equipping them with the necessary equipment to improve their performance and establishing a contractual relationship with the players.

But since then the team has dominated the world stage with five world championship titles.

– Different TV treatment –

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ‘Black Ferns’ suffered an unexpected setback that was brutal.

Without travel and internationals, the New Zealanders paid the price with four heavy defeats on their autumn tour of Europe a year ago: two against England (43-12 and 56-15) and two against France (38- 13 and 29-7).

A negative series with two main effects; Several players, some of Māori descent, accused management of offensive words and the coach was relieved.

Since the arrival of former ‘All Blacks’ coach Wayne Smith in mid-April, the ‘Black Ferns’ have rediscovered their rugby: they topped the World Cup group stage with 209 points (with 35 tries). Four games.

But their matches in New Zealand can only be accessed through a paid service on the Spark platform, while the ‘All Blacks’ matches at World Cup-2023 will be broadcast on public network TVNZ.

Questioned by AFP, the former second row of 2017 World Champion ‘Black Ferns’ Eloise Blackwell is apparent.

‘same job’

“Do I want my answer to be politically correct or not? The truth is we are doing the same job as the ‘All Blacks’,” he says, showing hope for a better future for rugby in his country.

Because in New Zealand, although a fifth of the 150,000 NZRU licenses are for women, women’s rugby is “still mostly amateur, with players who work during the day or with mothers,” Shane Van Grammar’s general manager explains to AFP Velzen. TEC Group.

Despite everything, being a ‘Black Fern’ is a “dream” for the New Zealand girls, Ponsonby Rugby Club’s Milan Iremiah admitted to AFP.

© 2022 AFP