Rikki Swannell: Sky Sport Commentator ahead of the Rugby World Cup semi-final clash between the Black Ferns and Canada

The Black Ferns have made it to the semi-finals.  

After handily defeating South Africa in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, they’re now set to face the World No 2 team – Canada.  

However, they’re missing a major player from their line up – flanker Jorja Miller appearing to be out with a hamstring injury. 

Sky Sport Commentator Rikki Swannell told Ryan Bridge that while Miller is a huge loss, her replacement Kennedy Tukuafu is still a handy player. 

She says fingers are crossed that Miller is available again if they do make it through to the finals. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Share my views with you on that in just a second.
First Women's rugby the semi final time is tomorrow six am.
The Black Ferns, unbeaten against Spain, Japan, Ireland and South
Africa now take on second ranked Canada. Big chat is
about that injury to Georgia Miller. Ricky fanale is Skysport
commentator with us this morning. Ricky, good morning, morning to

(00:20):
hear Ryan. How are you very good? Thank you George
and Miller. I see there was there was apparently a
post put up by a New Zealand rugby contractor that
said it was a hamstring injury that was taken down
or edited or something. Do we know what's going on here?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah? Look I think probably a mountain has been made
out of a mole. Hillowey but worth this one and
probably not helped by this sort of the wording around it.
From my understanding, it's not a major injury, but it's
obviously enough to keep her out of a Rugby World
Cup semi final, which as we know, is a really
unfortunate for her as a person and a player, but
for New Zealand because she's I mean, she's a once

(00:54):
in a generation player Georgia Miller on them. The bright
side though her replacement, Kennedy took Awafo, it's not a
bad player to be fisht He's very, very handy. I
think was one of the best in Super rugby. And
it also means Leila Saty can come on to the
bench bench and she's had an outstanding tournament, so you know,
it gives the Black fans options. Yes, it is a
massive loss. Georgia is absolutely incredible. Fingers crossed if they

(01:18):
do go through that she would be available for a
potential final next week. As I understand, the injury isn't
a major and that's the case. But yeah, I guess
it's you know, for the Black Ferns and for Kenny
took helf in particular, it's like, right, go out, job done,
and go out and do that job.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
And Canada, how have they been performing so far in
the competition and what do we need to look out for.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
Most they've been outstanding. I think they've been the best
team in the competition. They played the best forty minutes
of any side in the first half against Australia last week.
They beat the Black Ferns last year they drew with
them in May this year. They played very similar style
to New Zealand. They will they will want to play,
they want to run, they play really fast, but they
can be physical as well, so it is a superb matchup.

(02:03):
They've got Olympic silver medalists in their team, players who've
been on the big stage that you know. To me,
it is the best match of the tournament on paper
at least looks like the wead is going to be
nice and dry for both teams too, so that'll be
a factor giving them that opportunity to run and to
rarely play. So it should be an absolute belter and
perfect time at six am on a Saturday morning in

(02:25):
New Zealand as well. That's a bacon and eggs Brecky
if ever there.

Speaker 1 (02:27):
Was one, frigiantly look forward to it, Ricky. Thank you,
Ricky sonel Skysport commentator. The game is tomorrow six o'clock.
Black Ferms be candidates for more from early edition with
Ryan Bridge. Listen live to News Talk set Be from
five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.