Georgia Ponsonby: Black Ferns hooker ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup clash against South Africa
September 12, 2025 • 6 mins
After a 3-0 pool play, the Black Ferns are back in action tonight.
They’re taking on South Africa in a quarter-final match up at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Coming off a 40-0 shutout of the Irish last weekend, the Black Ferns will look to put on a strong performance and progress through to the semifinals next weekend.
D'Arcy caught up with Black Fern hooker Georgia Ponsonby ahead of the quarter final to preview the match.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk, SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Three Zip and Paul Play Black Ferns back in action
later tonight more like first thing tomorrow morning midday quarterfinal,
midnight quarterfinal matchup for the Rugby World Cup for women.
Remember they beat the snot out of the Irish last
weekend it was forty zip. So looking now to concentrate
(00:32):
to hone all of that into an effective performance up
against the South African women. This is only the second
time they played them. First time they hammered them by
half a century or so, and that was back in
two thousand and ten. We joined now to talk about
that game with Black Fern hookers. She also plays for
Marta to the Canterbury based Opeki team. Georgia Ponsonb she's
(00:55):
with us now to preview this quarter final clash and
talk about how they are tracking over in England and
sad news around Amy Duplass as well. Right, let's get
amongst it. Good morning, Georgia, Good morning on the CUSP.
You're just about to get it done in the quarter
finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup. This is when
(01:17):
things get very serious. Have you noticed that within the
team that the change and attitude because now it is
must win football.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, definitely, it's exciting times.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
We've earned the right to be in a quarterfinal and
earn another.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Week in the Rugby Will Cup.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
But I guess you know, this is somewhere where we
had hoped and expect probably expected to be. So yeah, no,
we're really excited. Obviously, quarterfinal comes a little bit more pressure,
but this is a team that rises to these occasions.
I think it'll be another sellout stadium, which is pretty cool.
And we've got a lot of our far no that
(01:55):
are coming over and arriving now. My parents just flew
in today, so that's really exciting. So yeah, we've got
a lot of support here with us, which is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
You we're going to retool your because you know you
can't lose now. You should run straight over or straight
through South Africa. But if you bring that attitude, you
might just stumble. So tell us about how you've adjusted
your head space more than your physicality around this game
and the nature of the knockout.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Yeah, I guess there's no secret that South Africa are
going to be a really physical team. They've named a
seven one split on the bench, so it doesn't take
much imagination to protect what kind of game they're planning
on playing. See I guess physicality and bringing it up
front is going to be massive for us, especially in
first twenty minute, but then other than that, nothing really
(02:45):
changes for us. I think like that area of the
game is actually something that the Black Friends, like we
pride ourselves on.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Seeh.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I think it's going to be a really cool moment
for women's rugby, like South Africa making history to be
in the quarterfinals, which is so cool for them, and
obviously it's cool for the Black Friends and the Women's
spring Box to play each other.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
So it's going to be really it's a really awesome
moment Forwarns rugby.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
What are you doing on the park aside from trying
not to be too concerned about being run over by
an enormous path, but because you want what is your
philosophy on how you actually deal with the South African threat?
I mean you look to your outsides and think, well,
we're just going to run away from them because you've
got one of the goats on the outside, and then
on the other side you've got one of the new stars.
(03:30):
I mean, you look at Porscha and Braxton. I don't
even want to talk about the rest. There's some absolute
weapons out there. You're going to be feeding the back
something rotten, aren't you exactly.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Yeah, Yeah, we're going to obviously try to get the
ball wide to our superstars as much as we can,
and that's yeah, I guess that'll be part of that's
big part of the game plan. But I guess that's
part of a big game plan, right when you've got
exceptional players like that out there. But yeah, we've just
got to bring it up front against them, first of all,
and when they have the ball in hand, they do
(03:59):
well to hold onto it by being really direct, So
we've just got to chop them really low. But the
bigger they are, the harder they fall. And we've got
some incredible jacklers over the ball, so hopefully we get
plenty of turnovers as well.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Rotten news. Amy Dipsi is not in the side. She'd
succumbed to that injury, so she's out. That's it for
the World Cup. She's a great mate of yours. I
believe this is tough for anyone, and I think for
a close team like yourselves, particularly tough to lose someone
of that quality right on the eve.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, it's been a really tough a few days after
we've received that news about Dupes.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
As you said, she's.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
A really close friend of mine, and it's been a
lot of tears, there's no doubt about that. You just
don't want to see anyone go through something like that.
They've put their whole all their time and energy these
past few years to make it here. And yeah, obviously
she only played one game before she got injured, so
it's been really tough, but it's been I'm just grateful
(04:56):
that she has been with us for this three weeks
and she has been a huge part of this team
and getting us to where we are now. So she
should be proud of what she's achieved and what she's
contributed to this group. And yeah, we've got her back
and it's cool. Shell she'll remain over here with her
family and she's supported by them, so she's in a
good space.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Talk to us about your role, Georgia. What have you
been charged with? I suppose you do your core role, sorry,
the thing straight, so on and so forth. What else
do you think you're going to bring to this exchange?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
This exchange. Yeah, hopefully straight throws and good scrums. But
aside from.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
That, I know, I guess I pride myself on my defense.
I love techling, so someone that loves a good chop tackle,
I feel like this will be a great game for me.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
I like it. That is very, very direct. I've often said,
Joe that you're not defending a World Cup, you're trying
to win it all over again. Am I right?
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Yeah, there's probably probably a fair comment. Yeah, I saw
a pole. You don't want to look too much on.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
The social media, but I saw a poll the other day.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
And I think it was like predictions eighty percent chance
or something like that that England will win.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
So we definitely the underdogs again, but that's great.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
We love it. We believe in ourselves and I know
there are people out there that believe in us. But yeah,
we've just got to take it game by game. We've
got this South Africa tomorrow which is going to be huge,
and hopefully we earn the right to progress into the
semi final and then hopefully a final after that.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to news talks that'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk, SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Three Zip and Paul Play Black Ferns back in action
later tonight more like first thing tomorrow morning midday quarterfinal,
midnight quarterfinal matchup for the Rugby World Cup for women.
Remember they beat the snot out of the Irish last
weekend it was forty zip. So looking now to concentrate
(00:32):
to hone all of that into an effective performance up
against the South African women. This is only the second
time they played them. First time they hammered them by
half a century or so, and that was back in
two thousand and ten. We joined now to talk about
that game with Black Fern hookers. She also plays for
Marta to the Canterbury based Opeki team. Georgia Ponsonb she's
(00:55):
with us now to preview this quarter final clash and
talk about how they are tracking over in England and
sad news around Amy Duplass as well. Right, let's get
amongst it. Good morning, Georgia, Good morning on the CUSP.
You're just about to get it done in the quarter
finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup. This is when
(01:17):
things get very serious. Have you noticed that within the
team that the change and attitude because now it is
must win football.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, definitely, it's exciting times.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
We've earned the right to be in a quarterfinal and
earn another.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Week in the Rugby Will Cup.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
But I guess you know, this is somewhere where we
had hoped and expect probably expected to be. So yeah, no,
we're really excited. Obviously, quarterfinal comes a little bit more pressure,
but this is a team that rises to these occasions.
I think it'll be another sellout stadium, which is pretty cool.
And we've got a lot of our far no that
(01:55):
are coming over and arriving now. My parents just flew
in today, so that's really exciting. So yeah, we've got
a lot of support here with us, which is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
You we're going to retool your because you know you
can't lose now. You should run straight over or straight
through South Africa. But if you bring that attitude, you
might just stumble. So tell us about how you've adjusted
your head space more than your physicality around this game
and the nature of the knockout.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Yeah, I guess there's no secret that South Africa are
going to be a really physical team. They've named a
seven one split on the bench, so it doesn't take
much imagination to protect what kind of game they're planning
on playing. See I guess physicality and bringing it up
front is going to be massive for us, especially in
first twenty minute, but then other than that, nothing really
(02:45):
changes for us. I think like that area of the
game is actually something that the Black Friends, like we
pride ourselves on.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Seeh.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I think it's going to be a really cool moment
for women's rugby, like South Africa making history to be
in the quarterfinals, which is so cool for them, and
obviously it's cool for the Black Friends and the Women's
spring Box to play each other.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
So it's going to be really it's a really awesome
moment Forwarns rugby.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
What are you doing on the park aside from trying
not to be too concerned about being run over by
an enormous path, but because you want what is your
philosophy on how you actually deal with the South African threat?
I mean you look to your outsides and think, well,
we're just going to run away from them because you've
got one of the goats on the outside, and then
on the other side you've got one of the new stars.
(03:30):
I mean, you look at Porscha and Braxton. I don't
even want to talk about the rest. There's some absolute
weapons out there. You're going to be feeding the back
something rotten, aren't you exactly.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Yeah, Yeah, we're going to obviously try to get the
ball wide to our superstars as much as we can,
and that's yeah, I guess that'll be part of that's
big part of the game plan. But I guess that's
part of a big game plan, right when you've got
exceptional players like that out there. But yeah, we've just
got to bring it up front against them, first of all,
and when they have the ball in hand, they do
(03:59):
well to hold onto it by being really direct, So
we've just got to chop them really low. But the
bigger they are, the harder they fall. And we've got
some incredible jacklers over the ball, so hopefully we get
plenty of turnovers as well.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Rotten news. Amy Dipsi is not in the side. She'd
succumbed to that injury, so she's out. That's it for
the World Cup. She's a great mate of yours. I
believe this is tough for anyone, and I think for
a close team like yourselves, particularly tough to lose someone
of that quality right on the eve.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, it's been a really tough a few days after
we've received that news about Dupes.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
As you said, she's.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
A really close friend of mine, and it's been a
lot of tears, there's no doubt about that. You just
don't want to see anyone go through something like that.
They've put their whole all their time and energy these
past few years to make it here. And yeah, obviously
she only played one game before she got injured, so
it's been really tough, but it's been I'm just grateful
(04:56):
that she has been with us for this three weeks
and she has been a huge part of this team
and getting us to where we are now. So she
should be proud of what she's achieved and what she's
contributed to this group. And yeah, we've got her back
and it's cool. Shell she'll remain over here with her
family and she's supported by them, so she's in a
good space.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Talk to us about your role, Georgia. What have you
been charged with? I suppose you do your core role, sorry,
the thing straight, so on and so forth. What else
do you think you're going to bring to this exchange?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
This exchange. Yeah, hopefully straight throws and good scrums. But
aside from.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
That, I know, I guess I pride myself on my defense.
I love techling, so someone that loves a good chop tackle,
I feel like this will be a great game for me.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
I like it. That is very, very direct. I've often said,
Joe that you're not defending a World Cup, you're trying
to win it all over again. Am I right?
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Yeah, there's probably probably a fair comment. Yeah, I saw
a pole. You don't want to look too much on.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
The social media, but I saw a poll the other day.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
And I think it was like predictions eighty percent chance
or something like that that England will win.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
So we definitely the underdogs again, but that's great.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
We love it. We believe in ourselves and I know
there are people out there that believe in us. But yeah,
we've just got to take it game by game. We've
got this South Africa tomorrow which is going to be huge,
and hopefully we earn the right to progress into the
semi final and then hopefully a final after that.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to news talks that'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.