Rugby: Ferns looking formidable

There is no more formidable team in women's sport than the Black Ferns, who take on England in the World Cup final at the Stoop, home of Harlequins, tomorrow morning.

They have lost only once in global tournament rugby, to the United States 19 years ago; they are currently averaging around 43 points a game; and in the front-row forward Doris Taufateau, they have a prop who outweighs some of the Premiership's finest.

England, led by No 8 Catherine Spencer, found a way of beating the New Zealanders last year, and if their defence is as mean tomorrow as it has been to date, a more meaningful victory will not be out of the question.

But when it comes to attacking rugby, New Zealand's women are ahead of the field.

"I'd say from a strike-out point of view that they have a little bit more than England across the field," said the Australian coach John Manenti.

"But England are pretty strong up front - they have a wrecking ball of a player in Maggie Alphonsi [the flanker from London Saracens] - and I reckon they could get some pay from taking the Ferns on up front."

That notion will not have been lost on the England camp, who know they cannot afford to play fast and loose with the reigning champions.

"The Black Ferns play the game the same way as the New Zealand men - they're physical and they do things at pace," said Alphonsi.

The Black Fern backs appear to have all the answers to all the questions. Winger Carla Hohepa has been scoring tries for fun - six in four games - while the outside-half Kelly Brazier and the centre Huriana Manuel have also touched down with alarming regularity.

"Some of our backline tries have been pretty stunning," coach Brian Evans said.

"The danger is that it leads us to push things when we don't need to push them - it's tempting when you play like this to keep throwing the ball around. The important thing is to balance it out and make sure we look after our possession, to keep the pressure on and not loosen up."

- INDEPENDENT