Evans: NZ better equipped this time

We caught up with Black Ferns coach Brian Evans as he prepares to lead his side into a three-test series with England beginning this Friday night.

Evans joined as Black Ferns coach in 2009 leading New Zealand to the World Cup in 2010 and combines his role with his day-job as principle of Kelston Boys High School in West Auckland,writes Ali Donnelly.

A break from the game last year meant he missed the three-test tour to England at the end of 2011, but hes back in the driving seat as his side seeks to avenge that series loss.

Based in Teddington for the week, hes enjoying having some long overdue time with the squad.

We met last Thursday which gave us a few more days together than we are used to. The preparation is never as long as we would like to have but you have to just get on with it.

Evans is preparing a side who havent had a game since the end of 2011, with another year passing where the World Champions haven't featured in a single international game.

It is what it is, and in terms of game time that the Black Ferns get not a lot has changed in the years since I have been involved, Evans said.

But the girls are used to that and they just get on with the job. At some point a decision will have to be made back home as to what they want to do with the Black Ferns programme because clearly other nations have caught up.

While Evans was absent last year as the Black Ferns lost two games and drew one with England, he believes the disappointment of those results is still felt by the players.

I would hope that the results last year will act as a bit of extra motivation for the players especially the experienced ones who were here last year and werent used to losing. I am sure that will fire them up to have the chance to put it right but we havent been dwelling on it really. I guess because I wasnt part of the tour it probably helps, I dont have any knowledge of how it went apart from watching the videos!

While Evans laments the fact that he has had no opportunity to introduce international players to the game over the past year, he believes his side is somewhat better equipped than it was 12 months ago.

To be honest last year was always going to be a very tough tour. The preparation was terrible and the girls hardly saw each other between the World Cup the start of the tour. The NPC season had been condensed and finished in August, and there were a lot of players who had stepped down post World Cup. I am not making excuses for losing last year, we lost to a better team without duobt, but I would like to think we are a bit better prepared this year.

The recent end to New Zealands hugely competitive NPC season is also a boost with the majority of the touring side having been involved in recent weeks.

That has been a huge benefit because the girls are coming into camp match fit which is something that rarely happens for us and they should benefit for that sharpness.

With the tour clashing with the start of the Sevens World Series in Dubai, Evans has also been shorn of a handful of players who would be considered key in a Black Ferns side.

He doesnt have too many complaints though.

I have worked closely with the Sevens programme and with Sean and Im happy that Ive got most of the girls I wanted to come on the tour though clearly players like Carla Hohepa and Huriana Manuel are players youd like to have in the mix here.

Evans is also excited about a number of new faces in the squad.

Weve got a few very good young and emerging players here. Victoria Nafatali is inexperienced but shes a fabulous player and has huge potential after a good season. There are other new girls in there like Zoey Berry and Jackie Patea who I think are very exciting and who have been pushing very hard. We have a core of experienced players and some newcomers but I am also really excited about the group in between, that group of players who have a few years under their belts and how they come to the fore now. Players like Hazel Tubic and Aroha Savage will be stepping up now and thats what we want to see.

To England this weekend, and if Evans is jealous of the game-time and preparation time the team he faces this weekend has over his side, he is good at hiding it.

England are clearly a very dangerous team and theyve become the complete package over the last few years. Theyve always been pretty formidable up front but their attacking game has improved out of sight really and we are going to have to be very clever to beat them now. A few years ago yeah we had an edge there but not anymore. Its going to be bloody tough. Wed love to have the same time together in camps and games and so on that England have but theres no point complaining about it. We are doing what we can to push forward ourselves.

Seeherefor the side Evans has named to take on England in the first test at Esher on Friday, November 23rd.