21 Aug 2018

Black Ferns not dwelling on warm up location

6:06 pm on 21 August 2018

The Black Ferns did well to not let frustration prevail after not being allowed to warm up on the main field ahead of their first test match against the Wallaroos in Sydney.

Black Ferns back Ruahei Demant on attack.

Black Ferns back Ruahei Demant on attack. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz

The Black Ferns and the Australian Wallaroos made history last weekend playing in their first international rugby test match ahead of their male counterparts, but equal treatment was a far cry.

Unlike their male counterparts, the world champions and Wallaroos weren't allowed to warm up on the main field at Sydney's ANZ Stadium in front of spectators.

Instead the women were given an alternative location on an adjoining field to preserve the pitch for the double header test matches.

Coach Glenn Moore says the grounds at Eden Park are yet to confirm the warm up situation for this weekend's second game but as far as he's concerned it's the least of his worries.

"It's always frustrating at the moment but things happen at left field at late stages and that's what we have to learn to deal with, says Moore.

"That's parked and moved on and other people will deal with that in the background."

"I've had situations before in New Zealand teams where the bus has broken down and you're arriving with ten minutes to warm up, things happen."

The coach's attention is with selecting a side to secure another win over the Australians and retaining the Laurie O'Reilly Memorial trophy which after 24 years they have never lost.

Despite a dominant 31 to 11 win over the Wallaroos last Saturday Moore says his side showed signs of field-rust.

The Black Ferns hadn't played a test match since winning the Rugby World cup last November and this week the primary focus is on a more polished performance for the full eighty minutes.

"Them rushing us we allowed them to put us under pressure when there were other things we could've done, we've worked on that," says Moore.

"We never go into these games with one style of game, it was a bit like the world cup final we played a style of game that no one expected us to play."

"We have other things that we'll take into this game that will hopefully expose them."

Kick off at Eden Park between the Black Ferns and Wallaroos is at 5pm followed by the All Blacks playing the Wallabies in the second test of the Bledisloe Cup series.

- RNZ