England’s Simon Middleton issues warning to new Black Ferns coach Smith | Women’s Six Nations
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 their appointments 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 as the Red Roses prepare for this weekend’s Six Nations game against Ireland. “Their knowledge part is obviously huge but the men’s and women’s programs are very different, it takes time to get to understand the best ways of working.
“Just in terms of how you message, 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 worked to do. In to 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 in New Zealand women’s rugby.
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 recognized just how critical the competition is,” Middleton said of the new coaching set-up. “They’ve made very strong, very bold moves to make sure they’re as competitive and get their program 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 their 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 from him.
“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 on Sunday 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 this milestone for England .
“There’s nothing she can’t do,” Middleton gushed. “If the situation was right, she’d be the first million pound player because that’s how good she is. The quality that she has in her play de ella 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 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 formidable pack with 491 caps between them is bolstered by the return of the world player of the year Zoe Aldcroft at second row.