Hansen hails Black Ferns' clinical 81-12 demolition of France in Hamilton opener

The Black Ferns dismantled France 81-12 in the first Test of three at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday, with head coach Whitney Hansen crediting her side’s growing clinical edge as the defining factor in a performance that would have been unrecognisable six months ago.

Halfback Maia Joseph opened the scoring on a sunny afternoon in Hamilton before crossing again six minutes later. Amy du Plessis, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, and Georgia Ponsonby all added tries as New Zealand led 43-0 at the break. The second half brought more of the same, with Leti-I’iga and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a extending the lead before France finally responded through left-winger Léa Murie in the 60th minute. Tuliau-Tua’a went on to finish with four tries in the half alone.

“I think that game and those opportunities, maybe six months ago, we would have probably left about 60 or 50 points out there,” Hansen told media after the match. “But I think to finish with the score we did, it shows that ability to be clinical in those moments and finish what we’re creating. So I’m proud of that. That’s a big part of what we’re chasing.”

For Hansen, Tuliau-Tua’a’s performance was emblematic of the pipeline she is constructing — drawing players developed through the Farah Palmer Cup and Super Rugby Aupiki and sharpening them for the international stage. The victory extended her record to seven wins from eight Tests in charge of the Black Ferns.

Despite the lopsided scoreline, Hansen was careful not to let the result obscure areas that need attention. She pointed to moments of passivity at the breakdown in the second half, warning that France are capable of turning momentum quickly.

“The French are a team that will take momentum and can very quickly come back and score two, three tries. That’s what makes them so dangerous,” she said. “Understanding, feeling that momentum, and then taking action towards it has got to be better.”

Hansen also acknowledged the psychological challenge of maintaining intensity after a commanding first half. “It’s really easy to allow outcome to seep in and create that complacency. And we won’t ever be a team that’s okay with greatness as being a destination. I want to keep being humble, keep being hungry, keep looking for where we can be better.”

The second Test takes place in Whangarei next weekend, where Hansen expects a sharper response from a French side that struggled for quality and execution in Hamilton.