What a way to end the pool stage in Brighton and Hove in front of a sell-out crowd. It was really satisfying getting through those three games unbeaten, but especially in doing so by putting on a clinical performance against Ireland. We’re pretty proud of that and have talked as a team about celebrating the wins and celebrating the little moments.
I’d never been to Brighton before but had a chance to cruise around for a bit and it’s quite a funky little city. It was great to just get out, walk through the lanes, and get out to the pier. It’s been nice to have a change of scenery and be at the beach like back home.
It’s also been good to be back in Exeter this week. We were here when we played against Japan in round two, but this week we’re a bit off the grid and out of town to have more time to get away from the noise and relax and connect with nature.
I like to give everything on the field but as a person I’m pretty casual, so when it’s time to switch on I like to think I can turn on, but when the days off come and we can relax, I really make the most of it and just have some fun.
It also gives me time to reflect on what has been an amazing Rugby World Cup. The support for our team over here has been so good, and so has the atmosphere from the crowds in the stadiums. They’re not always supporting us but they’re supporting women’s rugby which is really cool to see and has been a long time coming.
These crowds and new attendance records have been deserved for many years now, but it’s special that we can be in a place where we can give back to the players and teams that have paved the way for us to be able to enjoy playing this game. It’s the best environment to play in and we’ve definitely been making the most of it.
I’ve been lucky enough to have my own support from back home in the stands as well. My parents, my aunt and uncle, my partner, and some of his family have been over, which has been really special.
Spending time with the family helps get me away from the game itself, which is good. There’s a lot of noise around the Black Ferns given our history at the tournament and there’s been a bit of attention on a few of us as individuals as well.
I guess I’ve had the privilege of coming through the sevens scene, and with that there’s a lot of media attention, so I got the opportunity to learn from a young age how to deal with it. For me it’s just about blocking all that stuff out. It’s just external pressures that are really irrelevant to me and the team’s performance. I keep all of that separate and just play rugby.
We’ve been growing as a team these past few weeks and that’s been really cool to witness. We’ll need that form because we’re coming up against a good South African team this weekend. The South Africans are very powerful individuals and are really strong across the board. They’ve got their speedsters out wide but they’ve got strength going through the middle too.
We’re definitely going to have to front up this weekend and make sure we play to our gameplan and are clinical if we are to put them away. New Zealand and South Africa have a massive rivalry in the men’s game, but this is such a cool opportunity for us to create our own rivalry away from all that.
In terms of my own game, I also feel like I’m hitting my straps at the right time. I pride myself on being able to stand up in big moments, and hopefully I can make sure I do my job and deliver a performance in this big quarter-final against South Africa.
See you all at Sandy Park.
Jorja