No love lost among Black Ferns as World Cup selection looms

Black Fern Kaipo Olsen-Baker clashes heads with Wallaroos rival Emily Chancellor during the Pacific Four test series.
Photo: DAN HIMBRECHTS

With Black Ferns hopefuls looking to book their World Cup tickets, the hits at training carry a little extra heat behind them this week.

Just two matches remain before the squad is selected, and players are doing everything to impress and holding nothing back.

“There’s a level of really deep competition,” co-captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos said. “We’re all coming for each other’s spot, and I think it’s just forcing us to grow, learn, and pull out our own superpowers even more,”

The 29-test lock said there was an edge in the air.

“There’s so much competition, so much on the line right now, and we’re at a point where we have so much trust in the group that we can give each other a good hit, but we know that it’s because we want the other person to be better,” she said. “I think that’s a really cool feeling to have in a group.”

Friendships will be put to one side this weekend, when the Black Ferns take on the Black Ferns XV, where players like Ruby Tui, who missed out on the initial New Zealand squad, will have a big point to prove.

“There’s so much quality in the Black Ferns XV to match the quality in our side,” Roos said. “I’m really excited to see how it plays out.

“It will just be head to head everywhere. We’re so close to World Cup selection right now, so it will just be how we can make the most of those minutes that we have.”

She said the fact the likes of Tui were fighting for a spot spoke to the talent pool New Zealand currently boasted.

“There’s depth and experience, depth in even the young players who have just started playing this year. It’s been really exciting to see their growth.”

Sylvia Brunt in action against Canada in the Pacific Four series.
Photo: Photosport

Among those young players is Mia Anderson, who will make her first start for the Black Ferns this Saturday.

“We’re definitely playing against some of my mates and some girls I’ve played alongside for years,” Anderson said. “When you get on the field, it’s just luck in, but off the field, mates again.”

The debut will be made even more meaningful for Anderson in her home region of Northland, an area that also holds special significance for Roos.

“We played a few games up north during the Rugby World Cup and I think a few people were going around, saying it was the home of the Black Ferns, so we’re just so excited to go back to the fields up there,” Roos said. “The rugby culture is so cool, so connected, so together, we just love getting out to the regions.”

She believed the side was building strongly towards the August tournament.

“We still haven’t reached our peak. I feel like we’re still at like 70 percent and so we’ve got a few more weeks to keep building.

“When the squad that gets selected to go to World Cup gets to play that first match, I’m sure we’ll be right where we need to be.”

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