The Black Ferns kick off their Pacific Four test rugby campaign against Australia in Newcastle tonight.
Piney catches up with Rugby commentator Taylah Johnson to discuss what the teams will hope to gain out of this game ahead of the World Cup later this year.
“Every person that wears a black jersey today needs to stamp their mark.”
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Two forty five. The Black Ferns rode to the Shares
Rugby World Cup against this afternoon. They face Australia in
the Pacific Four Series at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, the
first of five matches they'll play before that the World
Cup in August and September in the UK. Live commentary
on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio, also free to air on
Sky Open and on Sky Sport one from four point
thirty this afternoon. Taylor Johnson from Sky Sporters with us
(00:36):
to preview this one. All things being equal, Taylor, the
Black Ferns should win this game fairly comfortably. So what
are you wanting to see from the team in their
first test of such a big year.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Oh? Absolutely, I mean twenty seven and zero against the
Australians for a reason. You know, they're full time professionals
in the Australians are part time and so really they
should blow them out of the park. And I think
score anything less than thirty plass will be concerning for
the Black Ferns. I think what we need to see
is a real dominant performance. We actually need to see
(01:09):
them really give it to the Australians because you know,
to break the open key. The first round was you know,
there was big blowout scores and we didn't really get
much of a competition going until the latter stages. And
I just think every person that wears a black jersey
today needs to stamp their mark because not only do
we want to seek a performance from them, but there's
a lot of women that missed out on that team
(01:31):
and there's still quite a few SEVENS ladies to come
into so it's a big game all round for everyone.
But from that I like to see the connections. I
really want to see that connection at half back as well.
As we threw a hates to Matt obviously because last
year we saw her a lot in the midfield, but
she has to make way in the midfield for the
likes of Jerusa Fitzpatrick and Stacey Waker that are coming back,
(01:54):
but also Amy Duplass and silver A Butt are just
as good, so there's there's cleaning a look at. I
think the biggest surprise for me we're seeing Kanya Colnevalier
get the start, not against it whatsoever, but you know,
the chiefs manner where she just wasn't being selected and
so she's gone into the Black Friends camp and shad away.
They've trusted her with that starting jersey. So that's a
(02:14):
real big one for me. I'm really interested to see
how she goes.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And at the back end, one debutante in the fifteen
Jersey teenager Braxton Sorenson McGhee man, she's been turning hair.
How do you evaluate her readiness to make the step
up to test rugby.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I remember when she made her fire Apartment cup Baby,
she'd only just turned sixteen, and our draws are on
the ground because we couldn't believe a young girl who
played so cool, calm and collected was only year eleven
at high school. And so to see her, you know,
a couple of years later, it's supragy Opeki starting for
the Blues and absolutely owning that jersey. I think she's
(02:55):
going to do really well today. She is a really
calm and collected person. When you talk to her, she's
very humble, she's really focused as well. I think she's
ready for this battle, and that's a good thing that
she's making her debut against a team like Australia. The
challenging thing though, is that they do have some really
good backs, like the likes of Charlotte Kaslick and Georgina
Frederick's there and Desire Miller equally as well, who she
(03:18):
would have came up against when the Waratales Woman played
the Blues. I think it's going to be a great
challenge for her. The only thing with Braxton is we
don't often see her chick as much, so I think
that's probably something that the Black Friends coaching staff have
got her to work on this week and we'll get
her to work on heading into that World Cup. Is
just more of a kicking game, because we know how
(03:38):
elusive she is with ball in hand and as a
running fifteen. But I would like to see her develop
that kicking game.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
And she's part of a tremendously exciting back three when
you're adding Caitlin Vaha Callll and Asha Lettiainger. How tempting
will it be for those you know in midfield and
even my Joseph and royje Demonte just to get the
ball out wide as quickly as they can.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, And I think that's usually been the game plan
right with the Black Friends rightly or wrong, and sometimes
frustratingly that they will just run it and get it
wide when they're in there twenty two and I think
we'll see a lot of that today. Every single person
in the back line is a threat. But equally, when
you look at the forward pack, that loose trio is outstanding.
(04:20):
Corpo Olton Baker running off the back and then Kennedy
took all off with Layla Say and then you know
they're so good that they've had to push Brimner up
into the lock scene with all the firepower that they
do have. And to have someone like Leanna mckkelly to
not even strip up for the twenty three is big
when you look at the competition in the loose board game.
So equally, like with the with the All Blacks, the
(04:42):
Black Bearns is the loose board trio. It's probably the
toughest to pick.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
And with just five matches before the World Cup, Taylor,
how much tinkering can Ellen Bunting afford to do as
opposed to giving his first choice combinations as much time
together as possible.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
That's the tough one, right, We've got such a short
lead up into the World Cup, you know it's only
four tests when you take out the internal one, you know,
against the Black Friends fifteen, and it's going to be tough.
And I think that's why he's made some of those
tough cause with you know, emitting you know, Ruby Tilley
and Rene Holmes, because if these girls don't perform, you know,
(05:24):
if Braxton doesn't perform, he's got full faith that Rene
Holmes has been there, done that and come in beforehand.
So I think that's part of the selection decisions. But
you can't think it too much, you know. I think
we're going to see the Black Friends sevens. Rest of
the contingent, like Georgia Miller and Stacey Whack has come
not next week but the week after, and so these
this test and next week's tests are gotten really really big.
(05:46):
But you can't really afford to tinker too much. I've
been watching England and France when I watched the final
Six Nations game, and the skill set was impeccable. And
they've all been playing with each other for a long time.
That's the benefit of having that Six Nations competition. So
if things aren't working from game one, I don't think
they've got time to tinker. You know, if someone underperforms today.
(06:08):
I don't know if getting given an extra test is
going to do much because it's such a cut threat
environment heading into that World Cup.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, and such a big year, Taylor, so looking forward
to watching the Black Ferns this afternoon and on towards
the World Cup as well. Thank you so much for
taking the time to preview it for us.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
No worries, looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Can't wait me too, Thanks Taylor. Taylor Johnson There from
Skysport five o'clock this afternoon McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
It is our black Ferns against the Wallaroos, first test
of a big, big rugby year for our top women's side.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Two forty five. The Black Ferns rode to the Shares
Rugby World Cup against this afternoon. They face Australia in
the Pacific Four Series at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, the
first of five matches they'll play before that the World
Cup in August and September in the UK. Live commentary
on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio, also free to air on
Sky Open and on Sky Sport one from four point
thirty this afternoon. Taylor Johnson from Sky Sporters with us
(00:36):
to preview this one. All things being equal, Taylor, the
Black Ferns should win this game fairly comfortably. So what
are you wanting to see from the team in their
first test of such a big year.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Oh? Absolutely, I mean twenty seven and zero against the
Australians for a reason. You know, they're full time professionals
in the Australians are part time and so really they
should blow them out of the park. And I think
score anything less than thirty plass will be concerning for
the Black Ferns. I think what we need to see
is a real dominant performance. We actually need to see
(01:09):
them really give it to the Australians because you know,
to break the open key. The first round was you know,
there was big blowout scores and we didn't really get
much of a competition going until the latter stages. And
I just think every person that wears a black jersey
today needs to stamp their mark because not only do
we want to seek a performance from them, but there's
a lot of women that missed out on that team
(01:31):
and there's still quite a few SEVENS ladies to come
into so it's a big game all round for everyone.
But from that I like to see the connections. I
really want to see that connection at half back as well.
As we threw a hates to Matt obviously because last
year we saw her a lot in the midfield, but
she has to make way in the midfield for the
likes of Jerusa Fitzpatrick and Stacey Waker that are coming back,
(01:54):
but also Amy Duplass and silver A Butt are just
as good, so there's there's cleaning a look at. I
think the biggest surprise for me we're seeing Kanya Colnevalier
get the start, not against it whatsoever, but you know,
the chiefs manner where she just wasn't being selected and
so she's gone into the Black Friends camp and shad away.
They've trusted her with that starting jersey. So that's a
(02:14):
real big one for me. I'm really interested to see
how she goes.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And at the back end, one debutante in the fifteen
Jersey teenager Braxton Sorenson McGhee man, she's been turning hair.
How do you evaluate her readiness to make the step
up to test rugby.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I remember when she made her fire Apartment cup Baby,
she'd only just turned sixteen, and our draws are on
the ground because we couldn't believe a young girl who
played so cool, calm and collected was only year eleven
at high school. And so to see her, you know,
a couple of years later, it's supragy Opeki starting for
the Blues and absolutely owning that jersey. I think she's
(02:55):
going to do really well today. She is a really
calm and collected person. When you talk to her, she's
very humble, she's really focused as well. I think she's
ready for this battle, and that's a good thing that
she's making her debut against a team like Australia. The
challenging thing though, is that they do have some really
good backs, like the likes of Charlotte Kaslick and Georgina
Frederick's there and Desire Miller equally as well, who she
(03:18):
would have came up against when the Waratales Woman played
the Blues. I think it's going to be a great
challenge for her. The only thing with Braxton is we
don't often see her chick as much, so I think
that's probably something that the Black Friends coaching staff have
got her to work on this week and we'll get
her to work on heading into that World Cup. Is
just more of a kicking game, because we know how
(03:38):
elusive she is with ball in hand and as a
running fifteen. But I would like to see her develop
that kicking game.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
And she's part of a tremendously exciting back three when
you're adding Caitlin Vaha Callll and Asha Lettiainger. How tempting
will it be for those you know in midfield and
even my Joseph and royje Demonte just to get the
ball out wide as quickly as they can.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, And I think that's usually been the game plan
right with the Black Friends rightly or wrong, and sometimes
frustratingly that they will just run it and get it
wide when they're in there twenty two and I think
we'll see a lot of that today. Every single person
in the back line is a threat. But equally, when
you look at the forward pack, that loose trio is outstanding.
(04:20):
Corpo Olton Baker running off the back and then Kennedy
took all off with Layla Say and then you know
they're so good that they've had to push Brimner up
into the lock scene with all the firepower that they
do have. And to have someone like Leanna mckkelly to
not even strip up for the twenty three is big
when you look at the competition in the loose board game.
So equally, like with the with the All Blacks, the
(04:42):
Black Bearns is the loose board trio. It's probably the
toughest to pick.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
And with just five matches before the World Cup, Taylor,
how much tinkering can Ellen Bunting afford to do as
opposed to giving his first choice combinations as much time
together as possible.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
That's the tough one, right, We've got such a short
lead up into the World Cup, you know it's only
four tests when you take out the internal one, you know,
against the Black Friends fifteen, and it's going to be tough.
And I think that's why he's made some of those
tough cause with you know, emitting you know, Ruby Tilley
and Rene Holmes, because if these girls don't perform, you know,
(05:24):
if Braxton doesn't perform, he's got full faith that Rene
Holmes has been there, done that and come in beforehand.
So I think that's part of the selection decisions. But
you can't think it too much, you know. I think
we're going to see the Black Friends sevens. Rest of
the contingent, like Georgia Miller and Stacey Whack has come
not next week but the week after, and so these
this test and next week's tests are gotten really really big.
(05:46):
But you can't really afford to tinker too much. I've
been watching England and France when I watched the final
Six Nations game, and the skill set was impeccable. And
they've all been playing with each other for a long time.
That's the benefit of having that Six Nations competition. So
if things aren't working from game one, I don't think
they've got time to tinker. You know, if someone underperforms today.
(06:08):
I don't know if getting given an extra test is
going to do much because it's such a cut threat
environment heading into that World Cup.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, and such a big year, Taylor, so looking forward
to watching the Black Ferns this afternoon and on towards
the World Cup as well. Thank you so much for
taking the time to preview it for us.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
No worries, looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Can't wait me too, Thanks Taylor. Taylor Johnson There from
Skysport five o'clock this afternoon McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
It is our black Ferns against the Wallaroos, first test
of a big, big rugby year for our top women's side.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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