Simon Middleton has issued a warning to his newly installed New Zealand counterpart, Wayne Smith, suggesting that experience coaching men’s rugby does not necessarily translate in the elite women’s game.
Smith, a former All Blacks coach and widely considered one of the most astute minds in the sport, has been appointed director of rugby of the Black Ferns six months out from a home World Cup. The former All Blacks scrum coach Mike Cron has also been brought in, as has the 2011 World Cup-winning coach Sir Graham Henry in a supporting role. All three were involved in the 2011 triumph, but Middleton is not convinced the move will yield immediate success.
“I don’t know how much Wayne or Mike or any of the others have worked in the women’s game,” said England’s head coach ahead of Sunday’s Six Nations game against Ireland. “Their knowledge is obviously huge but the men’s and women’s programmes are very different, it takes time to understand the best ways of working.
“Just in terms of how you deliver coaching messages and different strategies. The men’s culture compared to the women’s culture within the squad is very different. It’s just a different psyche, a different approach. It will be interesting for them because it is very different.”
On the communication front, Smith has work to do. In a radio interview he described his squad as girls with “shining eyes” and also suggested cultural change was not needed within the camp, despite a recent review that ended with his predecessor’s resignation reporting instances of favouritism, body-shaming and cultural insensitivity.
England
15. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 13 caps)
14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester Warriors, 51)
13. Emily Scarratt (VC; Loughborough Lightning, 99)
12. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 6)
11. Jess Breach (Harlequins, 20)
10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 36)
9. Leanne Infante (Bristol Bears, 49)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 67)
2. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 38)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 43)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 28)
5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 53)
6. Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 48)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 81)
8. Sarah Hunter (Capt; Loughborough Lightning, 133)
Replacements
16 Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 60)
17 Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 26)
18 Maud Muir (Wasps, 7)
19 Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 4)
20 Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 53)
21 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 57)
22 Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 60)
23 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 21)
Ireland
15 Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 0 caps)
14 Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster, 8)
13 Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 46)
12 Enya Breen (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster, 12)
11 Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster, 25)
10 Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster, 19)
9 Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster, 21)
1 Linda Djougang (ASM Romagnat Rugby/Leinster, 20)
2 Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster, 9)
3 Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster, 2)
4 Nichola Fryday (Capt, Exeter Chiefs/Connacht 25)
5 Aoife McDermott (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 18)
6 Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster, 13)
7 Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby, 17)
8 Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster, 10)
Replacements
16 Emma Hooban (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster, 10)
17 Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster, 4)
18 Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 8)
19 Grace Moore (Railway Union RFC/IQ Rugby, 1)
20 Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster, 1)
21 Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht, 3)
22 Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster, 12)
23 Niamh Byrne (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 0)
On the field, Smith is playing catch-up. The reigning world champions were soundly beaten by England in November, losing their two matches by an aggregate score of 99-27. A chasm exists between the Black Ferns and the Red Roses but Middleton welcomes the fresh challenge.
“It’s fantastic that they’ve recognised how critical the competition is,” Middleton said. “They’ve made very bold moves to make sure they’re as competitive and get their programme as close to where they want it as they can possibly be. It’s brilliant for the World Cup.”
While New Zealand have taken a forward step, Ireland have gone in the opposite direction in terms of commitment to the XV-a-side game. England’s next Six Nations opponents will be without eight players – including all the outside backs who started in their last match against Italy – after they were called up to take part in the World Rugby Sevens Series in Canada. Middleton, by contrast, has named his strongest possible team.
“I think it’s a shame because they were going really well,” Middleton said of Ireland who have effectively killed any chance of a contest well before kick-off. “We’ll keep our eyes on ourselves. Our responsibility is to perform as well as we can.”
A record crowd for a Red Roses home game is expected in Leicester and they will cheer on one of their own as county-born Emily Scarratt plays her 100th Test, becoming the eighth player, male or female, to reach the milestone for England.
“There’s nothing she can’t do,” Middleton said. “If the situation was right she’d be the first million pound player because that’s how good she is. The quality she has is phenomenal. How she dealt with what was a horrendous injury is incredible. The touches she has in a game, the influence she has on a game, she’s the ultimate big-game player.”
Leanne Infante will play her 50th game at scrum-half and Helena Rowland moves to full-back with Holly Aitchison partnering Scarratt in midfield. A pack with 491 caps between them is bolstered by the return of the world player of the year Zoe Aldcroft in the second row.
