December 26, 2024 • 11 mins
It has been a big year for women's rugby.
When looking at the Black Fern's results, it was largely a year to forget for the team.
The Black Fern's were beaten by Ireland and Canada for the first time, but they got their mojo back when they beat France 39 to 14.
Player Georgia Ponsonby reflects on the teams performance and what's to come in a World Cup year.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk ZEDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Well, it's been a big year for women's rugby. The
Black Ferns are prepared to wear some short term pain
for long term gain as their Rugby World title defense
creeps closer a Rugby World Cup title. When looking at
the results in context, twenty twenty four was largely a
year to forget for the team. Aside from two defeats
to England in less than a month, one in a
(00:40):
one off test and another as part of the World
fifteen series, the Black Ferns were also beaten by Ireland
and Canada for the first time, but they got their
mojo back beating France thirty nine to fourteen. To talk
more about that Black Fern, Georgia ponsonbe joins me now,
Good morning, morning, tam Hey. Twenty twenty four was quite
a challenging year for you guys, but you finished it
(01:02):
in good form beating France. How would you describe the year.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Was A it was a yeah. It was a challenging year,
I guess in terms of the results. Didn't exactly go
the way we wanted, but it was it was. We
had a lot of growth this year, a few new
girls in the team, getting tea Smetch experience, which is
really important for us going into next year. Yeah, obviously
(01:31):
we got the We ended on a high beating front,
which was exactly Yeah, which was a nice way to
end back. Yes, but no, it was just a good
indication that we're still not where we need to be
getting into World Cup year next year.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
What are the things that you reflect on in terms
of your own performance and year that that you're happy
with and things that you want to want to work
on yourself.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, I guess personally I was pretty happy with how
my year went. I've definitely improved a lot in many
areas which I was really happy with. I guess it
was cool to see a lot of hard ware reckon
if that's gone into especially in terms of my fitness
transfer into the field, so that was really cool to see.
(02:16):
But personally, I'm yeah, never happy, never satisfied. So I'm
not where I want to be yet deferently haven't reached
my potentials, so I'm really excited to hit into twenty
twenty five and and yeah, carry on with an up
to streams and my performances and yeah, see how how
good we can get.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
How the how the new the newer players adapted to
being part of the Black Ferns.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
That's been awesome. They've just taken everything in their stride.
I guess with the Super Rugby, it's been a great
pathway into the Black Friends, you know, getting that taste
of professional rugby and their lifestyle. So I think that's
made a huge difference in allowing girls to transition into
into the Black Friends level really nicely. So no, really
(03:01):
proud of our newbies and and yeah what they brought
to the team and their performances. So it was really
great to say, what.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Are the things that you think the team are going
to be wanting to focus on in twenty twenty five
as areas they want to you know, get a bit stronger,
and in specifically, I think our.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Kicking straight, our yeah, territory game and playing in the
right areas of the field is going to be really
important for us next year. I think, yeah, that's going
to be a big focus area area for us. And
just our taking game, you know, being clinical and executing
executing our game plan. I think that led us down
a little bit this year, so yeah, those will probably
(03:44):
be our big focus areas.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I've always been curious, because you guys seem to have
such a strong set of team culture, what is it
like for new players when they first join. I mean
you might remember the first days when you join the
Black Ferns as well.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, I hope that when the newbies when they join
feel welcome and supported. I think, yeah, like you said,
we do have a really good culture and the team
and everyone cares about each other a lot. So No,
I think that's reflected and the way we play, and
I think that's really important, you know, especially you go
(04:18):
away overseas or you're in campor and tour for an
extended period of time, period of time, and for those
connections and that environment and culture is just so so
important so that everybody's able to you know, be themselves
and thrive, so I think, and then obviously that reflects
and performances and the way we play on the field.
So No, I think it's really important. And I definitely think, well,
(04:40):
I hope that our knew bees feel that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, hey, were you part of that group hug with
King Charles?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I ofvitually wasn't. No, I was standing at the other
side of the room watching him. Yeah, I don't think
he knew.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
What it hit him, to be honest, I think that
was one of the one of the nicest moments of
the sporting year. I just I don't know, there was
something about it. It was just the the you know,
the all the team players. It's just so unaffected and
I just he was like, yeah, why not. I thought
it was just fantastic. We tended to sprint across the
room or anything, were you I know, Yeah, I felt
(05:19):
a little.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Bit left out. Actually, I was in the very first
group that he met, so we were all, you know,
playing it, you know, trying to keep it very formal.
And obviously it was the king. And then yeah, obviously
as he went around the room he met Asia, and yeah,
she obviously just really wanted to hag She's a pretty
lovable person. So yeah, I don't know what would have
(05:40):
happened if he said no, but he obviously embraced it.
But yeah, I think he probably enjoyed the fun of it.
He probably hadn't experienced anything like it before, so yeah, no,
it was quite cool.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, so what's just looking ahead to the Yeah, I
guess you've got summer to enjoy do you get to
sort of put your feet up and said, I mean
they use the cliche of putting your feet up and
lying on a beach toil. I don't imagine you guys necessary.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Do that, but do you.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
No, we definitely get the opportunity to enjoy the Christmas
New Year, which is obviously really important. It's that family
time to heat away on holiday and do the things
that you love and enjoy. We're in a sixth week
like quite hard intense training. I don't know if you
call off season or pre season block at the moment,
but yeah, a couple of weeks out from Christmas where
(06:32):
we go and leave. Obviously still have to train and
train and keep your gym and running up, but obviously
a lot more flexible and if you want to go
head to the family betch on the beach, then you
can do that.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Georgia, what are your thoughts around the Rugby World Cup
and what will you be focusing on?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah? No, obviously next year is going to be a
massive year. The world captain August and September, so it's
going to be quite a condensed year. Rugby will be
finished by into September, so it's good. We're going to
get you know a lot of game time. A lot
of games will start off obviously with our Super rugby
and then we'll have our tech for competition and yeah,
(07:12):
it probably won't be a lot of time until between
that that will head over for the World Cup. So
I think that's going to be really good. We're going
to get you know a lot of consecutive games because
this year we had quite a break there where we
were kind of just in camps and had we did
a lot of training as a team, but we just
weren't getting those games. So I think that's going to
be really important for us hitting over there is just
(07:34):
getting their experience, especially for you know, newbs that come in,
because it's just that consistency and you know that, yeah,
getting as many games as possible that you kind of
get a run on and start to you know, sink
into sink into your performance aside, that's going to be
really really key for us. Obviously, the coaches are very
(07:55):
innovative as well and how they kind of replicate game
like scenarios in our trainings, so they did that a
lot this year, so we'll hopefully you know, build on
that and those competitive moments in ours as well, which
is going to be really important. But yeah, yeah, no,
I think the year is just going to fly by. Personally,
it's going to before we know it, it's going to
(08:16):
be August then we'll be into it.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Does it make a big difference the fact that because
the travel and being in a different country is obviously
it can be a bit of a distraction. Does it
make a big difference the fact that you guys will
have been there, done that with your Northern Hemisphere work
in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, no, it was. I think it was definitely a
good experience. Tools are obviously a little bit different. You're
away from home for an extended period of time, so
especially for the new big they haven't done that before,
it can be you know, a little bit tough. So
a good core group of us have done that for
a while now, so I think we're well equipped to
being overseas, So yeah, no, it'll be. It's always really exciting,
(08:56):
you know, being overseas and traveling as well, So no,
it's going to be really cool.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
What's your favorite destination you've toured to so far? City wise?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I guess let's go say France, England. I debuted in France.
That was really cool in Paris. Yeah, I loved it
over there. No, I debuted in Poe.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Okay, have you got you guys have played in Paris
of course, haven't you? Ah me personally No, okay, oh
well you can say.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
That from probably Yeah, we haven't in the last three years. Yeah,
but I've been involved. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
So when do you actually get back into it in
twenty twenty five in terms of your own training? And
then when does the team sort of start getting together?
Speaker 3 (09:44):
So we'll get we'll be back into our hubs in
the second week of jan But where will be in
with our rugby teams for yeh, January February March, and
we actually won't as symbol as a blackfans group until April,
I believe.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Yeah, I suppose there's always the question of selection as well.
You've got to focus on just having a good start
for the year and then making sure you're all in
the team.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Exactly. Yeah, gotta worry about our super rugby performances before
we before we start talking about black friends.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yeah, where are you hanging out over summer? Do you
go go away or do you just sort of stay
local and train hard.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I'm from the North Island Tiapia, so I'll be heating
home for Christmas. Yeah, and then i'll be kind of
North Canterbury with for mate. So yeah, looking forward to that.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Excellent. Hey Georgia, thanks so much for your time, really
appreciate it. Well, you might get another you might get
another hug with King Charles.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
I don't know if we'll be invited back. I feel
sorry for his bodyguards. He's probably been fired.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Good on you, okay, Hey, take care.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
All right, thank you? Bye bye? Yeah bye?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Is that Georgia Ponson be a black fern and good
luck to them for their campaign this year.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
For more from News Talks, he'd be listen live on
air or online and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on I Radio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk ZEDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Well, it's been a big year for women's rugby. The
Black Ferns are prepared to wear some short term pain
for long term gain as their Rugby World title defense
creeps closer a Rugby World Cup title. When looking at
the results in context, twenty twenty four was largely a
year to forget for the team. Aside from two defeats
to England in less than a month, one in a
(00:40):
one off test and another as part of the World
fifteen series, the Black Ferns were also beaten by Ireland
and Canada for the first time, but they got their
mojo back beating France thirty nine to fourteen. To talk
more about that Black Fern, Georgia ponsonbe joins me now,
Good morning, morning, tam Hey. Twenty twenty four was quite
a challenging year for you guys, but you finished it
(01:02):
in good form beating France. How would you describe the year.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Was A it was a yeah. It was a challenging year,
I guess in terms of the results. Didn't exactly go
the way we wanted, but it was it was. We
had a lot of growth this year, a few new
girls in the team, getting tea Smetch experience, which is
really important for us going into next year. Yeah, obviously
(01:31):
we got the We ended on a high beating front,
which was exactly Yeah, which was a nice way to
end back. Yes, but no, it was just a good
indication that we're still not where we need to be
getting into World Cup year next year.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
What are the things that you reflect on in terms
of your own performance and year that that you're happy
with and things that you want to want to work
on yourself.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, I guess personally I was pretty happy with how
my year went. I've definitely improved a lot in many
areas which I was really happy with. I guess it
was cool to see a lot of hard ware reckon
if that's gone into especially in terms of my fitness
transfer into the field, so that was really cool to see.
(02:16):
But personally, I'm yeah, never happy, never satisfied. So I'm
not where I want to be yet deferently haven't reached
my potentials, so I'm really excited to hit into twenty
twenty five and and yeah, carry on with an up
to streams and my performances and yeah, see how how
good we can get.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
How the how the new the newer players adapted to
being part of the Black Ferns.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
That's been awesome. They've just taken everything in their stride.
I guess with the Super Rugby, it's been a great
pathway into the Black Friends, you know, getting that taste
of professional rugby and their lifestyle. So I think that's
made a huge difference in allowing girls to transition into
into the Black Friends level really nicely. So no, really
(03:01):
proud of our newbies and and yeah what they brought
to the team and their performances. So it was really
great to say, what.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Are the things that you think the team are going
to be wanting to focus on in twenty twenty five
as areas they want to you know, get a bit stronger,
and in specifically, I think our.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Kicking straight, our yeah, territory game and playing in the
right areas of the field is going to be really
important for us next year. I think, yeah, that's going
to be a big focus area area for us. And
just our taking game, you know, being clinical and executing
executing our game plan. I think that led us down
a little bit this year, so yeah, those will probably
(03:44):
be our big focus areas.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I've always been curious, because you guys seem to have
such a strong set of team culture, what is it
like for new players when they first join. I mean
you might remember the first days when you join the
Black Ferns as well.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, I hope that when the newbies when they join
feel welcome and supported. I think, yeah, like you said,
we do have a really good culture and the team
and everyone cares about each other a lot. So No,
I think that's reflected and the way we play, and
I think that's really important, you know, especially you go
(04:18):
away overseas or you're in campor and tour for an
extended period of time, period of time, and for those
connections and that environment and culture is just so so
important so that everybody's able to you know, be themselves
and thrive, so I think, and then obviously that reflects
and performances and the way we play on the field.
So No, I think it's really important. And I definitely think, well,
(04:40):
I hope that our knew bees feel that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, hey, were you part of that group hug with
King Charles?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I ofvitually wasn't. No, I was standing at the other
side of the room watching him. Yeah, I don't think
he knew.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
What it hit him, to be honest, I think that
was one of the one of the nicest moments of
the sporting year. I just I don't know, there was
something about it. It was just the the you know,
the all the team players. It's just so unaffected and
I just he was like, yeah, why not. I thought
it was just fantastic. We tended to sprint across the
room or anything, were you I know, Yeah, I felt
(05:19):
a little.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Bit left out. Actually, I was in the very first
group that he met, so we were all, you know,
playing it, you know, trying to keep it very formal.
And obviously it was the king. And then yeah, obviously
as he went around the room he met Asia, and yeah,
she obviously just really wanted to hag She's a pretty
lovable person. So yeah, I don't know what would have
(05:40):
happened if he said no, but he obviously embraced it.
But yeah, I think he probably enjoyed the fun of it.
He probably hadn't experienced anything like it before, so yeah, no,
it was quite cool.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, so what's just looking ahead to the Yeah, I
guess you've got summer to enjoy do you get to
sort of put your feet up and said, I mean
they use the cliche of putting your feet up and
lying on a beach toil. I don't imagine you guys necessary.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Do that, but do you.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
No, we definitely get the opportunity to enjoy the Christmas
New Year, which is obviously really important. It's that family
time to heat away on holiday and do the things
that you love and enjoy. We're in a sixth week
like quite hard intense training. I don't know if you
call off season or pre season block at the moment,
but yeah, a couple of weeks out from Christmas where
(06:32):
we go and leave. Obviously still have to train and
train and keep your gym and running up, but obviously
a lot more flexible and if you want to go
head to the family betch on the beach, then you
can do that.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Georgia, what are your thoughts around the Rugby World Cup
and what will you be focusing on?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah? No, obviously next year is going to be a
massive year. The world captain August and September, so it's
going to be quite a condensed year. Rugby will be
finished by into September, so it's good. We're going to
get you know a lot of game time. A lot
of games will start off obviously with our Super rugby
and then we'll have our tech for competition and yeah,
(07:12):
it probably won't be a lot of time until between
that that will head over for the World Cup. So
I think that's going to be really good. We're going
to get you know a lot of consecutive games because
this year we had quite a break there where we
were kind of just in camps and had we did
a lot of training as a team, but we just
weren't getting those games. So I think that's going to
be really important for us hitting over there is just
(07:34):
getting their experience, especially for you know, newbs that come in,
because it's just that consistency and you know that, yeah,
getting as many games as possible that you kind of
get a run on and start to you know, sink
into sink into your performance aside, that's going to be
really really key for us. Obviously, the coaches are very
(07:55):
innovative as well and how they kind of replicate game
like scenarios in our trainings, so they did that a
lot this year, so we'll hopefully you know, build on
that and those competitive moments in ours as well, which
is going to be really important. But yeah, yeah, no,
I think the year is just going to fly by. Personally,
it's going to before we know it, it's going to
(08:16):
be August then we'll be into it.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Does it make a big difference the fact that because
the travel and being in a different country is obviously
it can be a bit of a distraction. Does it
make a big difference the fact that you guys will
have been there, done that with your Northern Hemisphere work
in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, no, it was. I think it was definitely a
good experience. Tools are obviously a little bit different. You're
away from home for an extended period of time, so
especially for the new big they haven't done that before,
it can be you know, a little bit tough. So
a good core group of us have done that for
a while now, so I think we're well equipped to
being overseas, So yeah, no, it'll be. It's always really exciting,
(08:56):
you know, being overseas and traveling as well, So no,
it's going to be really cool.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
What's your favorite destination you've toured to so far? City wise?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I guess let's go say France, England. I debuted in France.
That was really cool in Paris. Yeah, I loved it
over there. No, I debuted in Poe.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Okay, have you got you guys have played in Paris
of course, haven't you? Ah me personally No, okay, oh
well you can say.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
That from probably Yeah, we haven't in the last three years. Yeah,
but I've been involved. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
So when do you actually get back into it in
twenty twenty five in terms of your own training? And
then when does the team sort of start getting together?
Speaker 3 (09:44):
So we'll get we'll be back into our hubs in
the second week of jan But where will be in
with our rugby teams for yeh, January February March, and
we actually won't as symbol as a blackfans group until April,
I believe.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Yeah, I suppose there's always the question of selection as well.
You've got to focus on just having a good start
for the year and then making sure you're all in
the team.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Exactly. Yeah, gotta worry about our super rugby performances before
we before we start talking about black friends.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yeah, where are you hanging out over summer? Do you
go go away or do you just sort of stay
local and train hard.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I'm from the North Island Tiapia, so I'll be heating
home for Christmas. Yeah, and then i'll be kind of
North Canterbury with for mate. So yeah, looking forward to that.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Excellent. Hey Georgia, thanks so much for your time, really
appreciate it. Well, you might get another you might get
another hug with King Charles.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
I don't know if we'll be invited back. I feel
sorry for his bodyguards. He's probably been fired.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Good on you, okay, Hey, take care.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
All right, thank you? Bye bye? Yeah bye?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Is that Georgia Ponson be a black fern and good
luck to them for their campaign this year.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
For more from News Talks, he'd be listen live on
air or online and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on I Radio
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