Black Ferns Fullback Renee Holmes Credits Coaching Impact as kicking Gameโ Evolves at World Cup
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Black Ferns fullback Renee Holmes โคis โenjoying a โขcareer resurgence at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England,โค fueled โขby a refined kicking โคgame and renewed โฃconfidence, she says. Holmes’ contributions โextend beyond customary fullback duties,โ proving pivotal in the team’s strongest tournament performance to date against Ireland.
Holmes’ re-emergence in the national team coincides with a strategic shift towards a more versatile game plan under coach Whitney Bunting.A key component of this evolution has been the integration of former England international and British & Irish Lion Riki Flutey as attack and skills coach earlier thisโข year.
“Having her in the squad and having โher ability to be ableโฃ to kick off both feet, we don’t get thatโ often even in the male โgame, andโข her ability to actually โฃkick from 22 โคto 22โฆ she’s massively โvaluable,”โข Flutey said of Holmes’ skillset. He also praisedโ her character, stating, “Firstly on โฃRens, she’s an โคoutstanding human, mate, that cares โdeeply about the Black Ferns โand also serving the team first.”
The Black Ferns’ match against Ireland showcased their โtrademark flair alongside aโข willingness to contestโ territory through strategic kicking and robust defense. Holmes herself has benefited significantly from Flutey’s guidance, stating he “made the biggest impact on my career this year.”
Holmes highlighted the โteam’s readiness to embrace kicking battles, anticipating similar challenges in the knockout stagesโ of the tournament. “When we do come up against teams like Ireland, they will have an awesome kicking game,” she said. “We ain’t โafraid to get in that battle and tryโข to put โtheโ pressure back on them too.”
