Black Ferns zero in on World Cup target

AP

ON TARGET: Renee Wickliffe dives for the line to score past France's Sandra Rabier during their Women's Rugby World Cup semifinal match at the Stoop Stadium, London.

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The New Zealand women's rugby team are on the cusp of establishing a remarkable record in the World Cup final against England in London on Monday morning (NZT).

The Black Ferns are 80 minutes away from their fourth successive World Cup crown, an unprecedented achievement coach Brian Evans said his side were not dwelling on as they seek to lighten the load of expectation.

The New Zealanders have not been beaten in a World Cup match since losing 0-7 to the United States in the 1991 semifinal.

They have since chalked up 18 successive Cup match victories, including four in England where the three-time champions have scored 29 tries en route to the final at Twickenham Stoop.

"Having won it three times and having the chance of a fourth title does carry with it some pressure," Evans told NZPA.

"Most of the players welcome that pressure but they haven't really talked about it.

"This group are very much their own team and they haven't used that as a motivation. They consider they have a lot of new players and it is just another match to do well in."

Adding extra spice to the contest are memories of England's 10-3 win over New Zealand in London last November, which saw the two-match series drawn 1-1 and marked the Black Ferns' first loss to the English in eight years.

The 2006 final between the nations went to the wire before Amiria Marsh scored a try in injury time to seal a 25-17 success.

Evans said the final had all the makings of a classic grudge match.

"I do think the players feel like that. It certainly adds some spice to it all. It's the third time the teams have met in a World Cup final and we drew 1-1 in a series with them last year."

The Black Ferns have swept all before them heading into the final, waltzing past pool opponents South Africa 55-3, Australia 32-5 and Wales 41-8 before conceding just their third try of the tournament in the 45-7 semifinal win over France.

England, too, have not been fully stretched, although they were forced to battle hard before eliminating Australia 15-0 in the semifinal after earlier casting aside Ireland 27-0, Kazakhstan 82-0 and the United States 37-10 in the pool phase.

Evans has watched England closely and knows his team must be near their very best if they hoped to collect a fourth consecutive World Cup crown.

It is a sentiment echoed by captain Melissa Ruscoe, who believes the best has yet to be seen of her side.

"We are putting the pressure on ourselves now and we have standards we want to meet," she said.

"We've got pace out wide and we have to use it. The forwards have to do their job to set the platform."

The English have scored 24 tries from four matches, including 12 against an uncompetitive Kazakhstan, while conceding just two.

"They defend very, very well and they are very organised," Evans said.

"They're definitely strong. To a certain extent they are a replica of a good England men's team. They have some bloody good backs and they do move the ball very well.

"Their forward pack is similar to a good England men's pack - they are big and strong and they scrum well, lineout and drive etc."

Evans said discipline and accuracy were paramount to denying the English opportunities.

"We have to hold on to the ball. I don't think we can afford to give away too many turnovers and we'll look to play a bit of territory."

He has been particularly taken with how his team have performed in the first half of their matches, and he now wants them to replicate similar intensity for the full 80 minutes.

Evans will not confirm his team until the weekend but he remains confident that No 8 Casey Robertson (neck) and first five-eighth Kelly Brazier (knee) will overcome injuries to be considered for selection.

- NZPA