Whitney Hansen Era Takes Shape

Les is BACK — and there’s plenty to talk about. Alice and Les are breaking down the Black Ferns’ latest battle with the Red Roses at Twickenham. Would they have kicked it out? What were the biggest takeaways from the match? And, most importantly, what does it tell us about how far the Black Ferns have come over the past 12 months?

Les is sick, but with the Black Ferns facing their biggest test yet, Alice is here with the preview you need ahead of a huge clash with the Red Roses at Twickenham. Alice starts by breaking down Canada’s draw with England and what that result can tell us about the challenge facing the Black Ferns. She then digs into the numbers, unpacking the head-to-head stats from the Red Roses and Black Ferns’ last five meetings to identify the key opportunities and challenges ahead. With both sides having shifted over the past 12 months, Alice looks at how those changes reshape the expectations for this weekend’s match. What could prove the difference when the Black Ferns take on the World Champions. Plus, Alice answers your listener questions and gets you set for one of the biggest tests on the calendar. Black Ferns. Red Roses. Twickenham. Let’s get into it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Les Elder and Alice Soper unpack the Black Ferns’ performance against France, looking at what clicked, where there’s still room for improvement, and the players who stood out.

The Black Ferns and Springbok Women go head to head! Les Elder and Alice Soper take a closer look at rugby’s newest rivalry and the wider context surrounding it.
 While the game itself may not have delivered the spectacle they were hoping for, the conversation goes far beyond the scoreline. Les and Alice reflect on the evolution of the women’s game, the expectation for teams to keep pushing the boundaries, and the moments that can turn a match into something unforgettable.
 They also discuss the difficult off-field circumstances surrounding the South African women’s team, including the impact of coaching upheaval and the way these issues can overshadow the achievements of the players. Against that backdrop, they celebrate the resilience of a team that continues to perform in the face of significant adversity, while remembering former captain Lusanda Dumke and the mark she left on the team. 
The episode also delivers some key rugby lessons, from managing relationships with referees and adapting tactics, to understanding the laws around scrummaging and offside play.
 Ultimately, this is a conversation about why women’s rugby deserves to be understood in its full context — not just through results, but through the people, challenges and stories behind the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a big week for women’s rugby, and there’s plenty for Alice Soper and Les Elder to get stuck into. Australia finally has a new coach, Fijiana have one too, and New Zealand Rugby is putting more into its women’s game — both on the coaching side and with the naming of the Black Ferns and Black Ferns XV squads. Alice and Les break down the selections, including the players who were unlucky to miss out, before looking at all the positives from a ten-try performance against the Wallaroos. Three debutants also made strong first impressions, adding to the feeling that there’s plenty to be excited about. But the work isn’t done yet. With more rugby still to come, the Black Ferns’ next challenge is South Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.