I have really enjoyed being a part of this Rugby World Cup campaign, but I have to say it’s going much quicker than I anticipated – we’re in week five now already. It’s been a tournament full of highs, but a particular highlight for me was watching my sister Keilamarita play for Samoa, and then for her to be able to be at my debut game was really special. Seeing my mum and dad over here was really amazing, but also being able to connect with all our whānau (family) that have travelled so far to be with our team and support our girls is incredibly special.
In terms of activities I can’t say I’ve been up to much. I’m quite boring, I don’t really like exploring too much because I just get really tired quickly. I really enjoyed York because it was nice and small and I didn’t have to walk too much!
The camaraderie around this whole World Cup has been awesome. Throughout the whole campaign, we’ve seen through the Fijiana girls, the Manusina girls, and South Africa to name a few, that the atmosphere here is of everyone being really welcoming towards everyone’s culture. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what the scoreboard says, some things are always bigger than rugby. This is about bringing the people together, and it has been really special to be able to connect with all these girls.
One of the recent down sides was losing Amy du Plessis to injury. It was a really heart-breaking time for her, but at the same time my heart was filled with a lot of warmth and joy to see how our team got around her. I’ve played against Dupes since high school, so it was really amazing to be able to share these last few weeks of this campaign with her, and to see her growth. I know how far she’s come and how much of an influence she’s had on this team. Doing the haka was not a send off for her because we know she’s still here with us, but it was a great way for us to be able to show the love and respect we have for her.
I was on the sidelines for the South Africa quarter-final, and I know some people get stressed watching on when they can’t do anything to help but I’m not someone who worries too much from the stands. I knew the team that was out there was more than capable of achieving the win. Although it was close at the start I had full faith we were going to pull through and get over the line. There may have been a few hearts racing, but I’d seen the work that the girls had put in through the week so I had full trust that we knew what we were doing, and we managed to get the win. At the end of the day the girls that are on the field are in control and we’ve just got to trust the system, trust the process and know that they know what they’re doing.
The same goes for the team announcement. I’ve got a lot of trust in the coaches that the team they pick will get the job done. I’m really happy to be starting, but regardless of whether or not I’m playing, I know that we have the players in the squad to perform in a semi-final.
People talk about our Rugby World Cup winning streak going back to 2014 but I don’t really think about our history and our wins, because the game’s evolved so much over that time and it’s a completely different style of play now. There’s so much growth that’s happening in women’s rugby, so we know what’s at hand and what’s coming for us. Canada are an awesome team, they’ve got some very skilful players, so for us we’re just focussing on our strengths and what we can do to best perform this weekend in a huge semi-final.
There will be a big crowd at Ashton Gate but that’s not something to be worried about in terms of expectation. We had a little glimpse of that when we played Ireland – it was a pool of green! To be able to see all the Irish supporters and hearing them sing their anthem, it was just so cool.
Within the squad we talk about pressure being a privilege and it absolutely is a privilege to play a game we love in front of so many people that have come to watch us play. We’re also fortunate to have a mental skills coach who we can go to if we need help in the area of dealing with pressure. We’ve had a lot of time to find out what works for us because everyone’s different, everyone responds differently, but I know we have a group here that will embrace the occasion in their own way.
Pulling on the jersey for such a big game is an opportunity for me to reflect. I like to think about all the people who have helped me get to where I am. I think of my family, and I think about my grassroots coaches because I know if it wasn’t for them I literally would not be here. I know that if they didn’t give me the opportunity when I was a ten-year-old girl then I may not have been playing rugby at all. I also like to think of my journey to that point and I do a little Karakia prayer (maori prayer) before I play, to just centre and ground myself as a reminder that at the end of the day it’s just a game of rugby. I like to remember we have all been given gifts and it’s a privilege to be able to express them on the world stage.
One of those people with a gift to express tonight is Ruahei Demant. She’s celebrating her 50th cap which makes it extra special for her and for those of us lucky enough to share in the moment. We have a buddy system in the squad and she’s my buddy, so it’s been great to get to her and connect with her off the field. We’re finding similarities with each other as well which is cool.
I’m really looking forward to getting out on the field. There’s a lot on the line in Bristol, but I’m staying centred and focussed and treating it like I would any other game of rugby. Here’s hoping we can put in the kind of performance that will see us over the line, and in with a chance of defending the title at Allianz Stadium next week.
Risi