September 2, 2024 • 8 mins
The Black Ferns have brought on some big names as part of their highly-anticipated end of year tour.
Ayesha Leti-I'iga is set to make her big return after an ACL injury kept her out of commission this season.
She joined Piney to discuss further.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Got to get to the Black Ferns because they're shortly
jetting out for a very exciting end of year tour.
They're going to play England at Twickenham before heading on
to Canada for WXV WXV one. That is, they'll play Ireland,
England in France and back in the site after missing
the second half of last year with a serious knee injury.
Is electric winger Asha Inger demands on the wrap around
(00:34):
Holmes a space here, Remember England short? Why are you
so litty headed away head over?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
What a strike coming off the bench?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Asha Litti Inger is with us? Your last test for
New Zealand was that game the twenty two World Cup
Final where you came off the bench early in the game,
got a couple of tries in one of the stars
of the tournament. How much are you looking forward to
getting back out there with the Black Ferns after missing
the last year with a knee injury.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Oh definitely. It's been a whole year since I've been
out of rug bed. I feel like a new be
all over again, learning how to play rugby. But I'm
super excited. What a tour to come back as well,
and also what a team to play against? Is my
return games?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Can you tell us about the last twelve months and
first of all, how did the knee injury happen and
what have the last twelve months been like for you?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
So it was on our tour year. I think it
was our first Lawyer Riley game or Packed four actually,
and it was one of our trainings. I had just
returned back from being sick and my first fall training back,
my knee gave way, and luckily it was not in contact.
(01:49):
The only thing that was damaged was just my aco,
so I was lucky in regard to it has been fun.
I've enjoyed it so much. I've got to spend more
time with family and being more present at home, and
I guess just a lot of South afleet I think.
I guess being high from the World Cup and then
(02:11):
staying on that kind of find a motivation to come
back from that. It has been yeah, crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
So I mean you're putting a very positive spin on it,
But were there some challenging times because it's a long rehead,
isn't it?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yes, definitely it was my first real injury back. Oh sorry,
it was my first real injury, so I've never been
injured and then to be out for twelve months from
the game that you love and or you know how
to do well clearly as my job, it was pretty hard.
I think in the beginning of freshly in my injury,
(02:50):
there were a lot of I guess stuffed out in
regards to will I ever play again or will I
ever be able to play at the level that I can.
I mean, I felt like I was at the peak
of my get The climate to come away with the
injury was pretty scary, and I guess there are a
(03:12):
lot of tears during my rehab and times where I
sat alone. Even though I did have people great support
around me, I know they don't understand unless they actually
go through it. So there were a lot of tough times,
especially mentally.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But yeah, what keeps you going in the in the
darkest times.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I guess I had to find the luck for the
sport again and I found a whole new appreciation. I
want to say I never even wanted to rehab again.
Rehabits actually harder than normal training, So anything I can
do to not be in rehab club again, I would
(03:59):
definitely do it, but I guess rugby wise, it was
during club season when I did my me and I
guess I got to give back to my club off
the field and that was where I found the whole
appreciation in love to rugbygion. I was able to serve
my club team off the field and share my knowledge,
(04:20):
and yeah, I was fortunate to come back on the
second round club rugby.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I saw a speech you did where you talked about
not being defined solely by being a rugby player. Is
that something that was strengthened during your time off the field.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, I think I yes, most definitely. I think what
had happened was I mentioned I've never been injured, and
so when I did get it injured, I think I
kind of took that for granted. And I know in
the beginning of when I was freshly injured, I saw
(05:00):
I had thoughts like I was nothing without rugby, and
so I had to learn what life was like without rugby,
and yeah, rehab definitely helped with that.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Cool. So when you started running again and in particular
changing direction again, was there any was there any trepidation?
Did you worry that it might just buckle under you again.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
H No, I was teeky actually, so I had been
going to club pre season and I wasn't allowed to
be doing as much running as I was, but I
was pushing myself and I guess I'm too competitive, so
I can't hold back. And free season we had a
(05:43):
lot of conditioning games and I'm all for it, like
especially when we play against the boys. So, yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So you've actually I was because I was wondering how
much recent rugby you've actually had going into these big
test matches, so you feel like you're in pretty good
shape in terms of match fitness, if you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, I haven't fully been tested so year, but I
have got an enough friends by under my bout to
be returning. I feel like I'm at my first i've been.
I'm at the lightest I've been since returning. And yeah,
I was able to play club games, fired games, and
(06:23):
then the three weeks in camp there gave me enough.
I guess we played some of the boys, so there
was enough game time under my brow to return. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Good to hear your try scoring records amazing thirteen tries
and twenty one test but prolific for Wellington and for
Oriental wrong at time? Have you got eight and one
game once or something stupid? How big a part of
how you judge your own game is try scoring?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Oh I always say their team tries, I can't. I
can't score any of those tries of everyone else isn't
doing their work, so they make it easy for me.
I basically just have to put the ball down on
the try line. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I think we all know that's not true. But it's
a very very nice way of deflecting, deflecting away from
what you can do yourself.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
There was a point, there was a point where my
granddad used to beat me ten dollars the try. So
I think maybe there has some play into that.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
To the scoring se man, you would have sent him
broke the poor guy.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, so we stopped doing that.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
I think that's probably wise on his But are you
just to finish?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
How exciting?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How exciting is the prospect of playing England at what
is likely to be a sold out stadium at Tickenham.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, it's very exciting and what a game to actually
return back to and to play in a stadium like
talking them. That's for a lot of us, it'll be
our first time mine as well, and I guess every
time we faced England, it's always a good game and
I know I always take it personally and like the
(08:02):
last time I played international rugby was against England, so
to play them on my first one returning back is
very exciting and also yeah, I'm excited for it.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I bet I think we're all excited to have you back. Asha.
Thanks so much for taking the time for a chat.
All the best for a very exciting back end of
the year. Hope, hope it goes really really well for
you over there.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
No, thank you, Asha, Asher let Inger there returning to
the Black Ferns, looking forward to seeing how they go
against England and then on towards WXV one.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Got to get to the Black Ferns because they're shortly
jetting out for a very exciting end of year tour.
They're going to play England at Twickenham before heading on
to Canada for WXV WXV one. That is, they'll play Ireland,
England in France and back in the site after missing
the second half of last year with a serious knee injury.
Is electric winger Asha Inger demands on the wrap around
(00:34):
Holmes a space here, Remember England short? Why are you
so litty headed away head over?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
What a strike coming off the bench?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Asha Litti Inger is with us? Your last test for
New Zealand was that game the twenty two World Cup
Final where you came off the bench early in the game,
got a couple of tries in one of the stars
of the tournament. How much are you looking forward to
getting back out there with the Black Ferns after missing
the last year with a knee injury.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Oh definitely. It's been a whole year since I've been
out of rug bed. I feel like a new be
all over again, learning how to play rugby. But I'm
super excited. What a tour to come back as well,
and also what a team to play against? Is my
return games?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Can you tell us about the last twelve months and
first of all, how did the knee injury happen and
what have the last twelve months been like for you?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
So it was on our tour year. I think it
was our first Lawyer Riley game or Packed four actually,
and it was one of our trainings. I had just
returned back from being sick and my first fall training back,
my knee gave way, and luckily it was not in contact.
(01:49):
The only thing that was damaged was just my aco,
so I was lucky in regard to it has been fun.
I've enjoyed it so much. I've got to spend more
time with family and being more present at home, and
I guess just a lot of South afleet I think.
I guess being high from the World Cup and then
(02:11):
staying on that kind of find a motivation to come
back from that. It has been yeah, crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
So I mean you're putting a very positive spin on it,
But were there some challenging times because it's a long rehead,
isn't it?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yes, definitely it was my first real injury back. Oh sorry,
it was my first real injury, so I've never been
injured and then to be out for twelve months from
the game that you love and or you know how
to do well clearly as my job, it was pretty hard.
I think in the beginning of freshly in my injury,
(02:50):
there were a lot of I guess stuffed out in
regards to will I ever play again or will I
ever be able to play at the level that I can.
I mean, I felt like I was at the peak
of my get The climate to come away with the
injury was pretty scary, and I guess there are a
(03:12):
lot of tears during my rehab and times where I
sat alone. Even though I did have people great support
around me, I know they don't understand unless they actually
go through it. So there were a lot of tough times,
especially mentally.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But yeah, what keeps you going in the in the
darkest times.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I guess I had to find the luck for the
sport again and I found a whole new appreciation. I
want to say I never even wanted to rehab again.
Rehabits actually harder than normal training, So anything I can
do to not be in rehab club again, I would
(03:59):
definitely do it, but I guess rugby wise, it was
during club season when I did my me and I
guess I got to give back to my club off
the field and that was where I found the whole
appreciation in love to rugbygion. I was able to serve
my club team off the field and share my knowledge,
(04:20):
and yeah, I was fortunate to come back on the
second round club rugby.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I saw a speech you did where you talked about
not being defined solely by being a rugby player. Is
that something that was strengthened during your time off the field.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, I think I yes, most definitely. I think what
had happened was I mentioned I've never been injured, and
so when I did get it injured, I think I
kind of took that for granted. And I know in
the beginning of when I was freshly injured, I saw
(05:00):
I had thoughts like I was nothing without rugby, and
so I had to learn what life was like without rugby,
and yeah, rehab definitely helped with that.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Cool. So when you started running again and in particular
changing direction again, was there any was there any trepidation?
Did you worry that it might just buckle under you again.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
H No, I was teeky actually, so I had been
going to club pre season and I wasn't allowed to
be doing as much running as I was, but I
was pushing myself and I guess I'm too competitive, so
I can't hold back. And free season we had a
(05:43):
lot of conditioning games and I'm all for it, like
especially when we play against the boys. So, yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So you've actually I was because I was wondering how
much recent rugby you've actually had going into these big
test matches, so you feel like you're in pretty good
shape in terms of match fitness, if you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, I haven't fully been tested so year, but I
have got an enough friends by under my bout to
be returning. I feel like I'm at my first i've been.
I'm at the lightest I've been since returning. And yeah,
I was able to play club games, fired games, and
(06:23):
then the three weeks in camp there gave me enough.
I guess we played some of the boys, so there
was enough game time under my brow to return. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Good to hear your try scoring records amazing thirteen tries
and twenty one test but prolific for Wellington and for
Oriental wrong at time? Have you got eight and one
game once or something stupid? How big a part of
how you judge your own game is try scoring?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Oh I always say their team tries, I can't. I
can't score any of those tries of everyone else isn't
doing their work, so they make it easy for me.
I basically just have to put the ball down on
the try line. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I think we all know that's not true. But it's
a very very nice way of deflecting, deflecting away from
what you can do yourself.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
There was a point, there was a point where my
granddad used to beat me ten dollars the try. So
I think maybe there has some play into that.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
To the scoring se man, you would have sent him
broke the poor guy.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, so we stopped doing that.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
I think that's probably wise on his But are you
just to finish?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
How exciting?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How exciting is the prospect of playing England at what
is likely to be a sold out stadium at Tickenham.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, it's very exciting and what a game to actually
return back to and to play in a stadium like
talking them. That's for a lot of us, it'll be
our first time mine as well, and I guess every
time we faced England, it's always a good game and
I know I always take it personally and like the
(08:02):
last time I played international rugby was against England, so
to play them on my first one returning back is
very exciting and also yeah, I'm excited for it.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I bet I think we're all excited to have you back. Asha.
Thanks so much for taking the time for a chat.
All the best for a very exciting back end of
the year. Hope, hope it goes really really well for
you over there.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
No, thank you, Asha, Asher let Inger there returning to
the Black Ferns, looking forward to seeing how they go
against England and then on towards WXV one.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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