1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:14,787 Speaker 2: Two forty five. The Black Ferns rode to the Shares 4 00:00:14,827 --> 00:00:17,707 Speaker 2: Rugby World Cup against this afternoon. They face Australia in 5 00:00:17,747 --> 00:00:21,187 Speaker 2: the Pacific Four Series at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, the 6 00:00:21,227 --> 00:00:23,467 Speaker 2: first of five matches they'll play before that the World 7 00:00:23,507 --> 00:00:26,827 Speaker 2: Cup in August and September in the UK. Live commentary 8 00:00:26,827 --> 00:00:29,707 Speaker 2: on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio, also free to air on 9 00:00:29,787 --> 00:00:32,667 Speaker 2: Sky Open and on Sky Sport one from four point 10 00:00:32,667 --> 00:00:36,187 Speaker 2: thirty this afternoon. Taylor Johnson from Sky Sporters with us 11 00:00:36,267 --> 00:00:39,427 Speaker 2: to preview this one. All things being equal, Taylor, the 12 00:00:39,507 --> 00:00:42,307 Speaker 2: Black Ferns should win this game fairly comfortably. So what 13 00:00:42,347 --> 00:00:44,627 Speaker 2: are you wanting to see from the team in their 14 00:00:44,667 --> 00:00:46,427 Speaker 2: first test of such a big year. 15 00:00:47,307 --> 00:00:51,067 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely, I mean twenty seven and zero against the 16 00:00:51,147 --> 00:00:55,267 Speaker 3: Australians for a reason. You know, they're full time professionals 17 00:00:55,267 --> 00:00:57,347 Speaker 3: in the Australians are part time and so really they 18 00:00:57,387 --> 00:00:59,307 Speaker 3: should blow them out of the park. And I think 19 00:00:59,627 --> 00:01:04,067 Speaker 3: score anything less than thirty plass will be concerning for 20 00:01:04,587 --> 00:01:06,947 Speaker 3: the Black Ferns. I think what we need to see 21 00:01:07,027 --> 00:01:09,747 Speaker 3: is a real dominant performance. We actually need to see 22 00:01:09,747 --> 00:01:12,187 Speaker 3: them really give it to the Australians because you know, 23 00:01:12,267 --> 00:01:15,667 Speaker 3: to break the open key. The first round was you know, 24 00:01:15,707 --> 00:01:17,987 Speaker 3: there was big blowout scores and we didn't really get 25 00:01:18,067 --> 00:01:20,587 Speaker 3: much of a competition going until the latter stages. And 26 00:01:20,627 --> 00:01:23,867 Speaker 3: I just think every person that wears a black jersey 27 00:01:23,907 --> 00:01:26,667 Speaker 3: today needs to stamp their mark because not only do 28 00:01:26,707 --> 00:01:28,827 Speaker 3: we want to seek a performance from them, but there's 29 00:01:28,827 --> 00:01:30,827 Speaker 3: a lot of women that missed out on that team 30 00:01:31,387 --> 00:01:33,587 Speaker 3: and there's still quite a few SEVENS ladies to come 31 00:01:33,627 --> 00:01:37,067 Speaker 3: into so it's a big game all round for everyone. 32 00:01:37,147 --> 00:01:39,107 Speaker 3: But from that I like to see the connections. I 33 00:01:39,187 --> 00:01:42,947 Speaker 3: really want to see that connection at half back as well. 34 00:01:42,987 --> 00:01:45,947 Speaker 3: As we threw a hates to Matt obviously because last 35 00:01:46,027 --> 00:01:47,747 Speaker 3: year we saw her a lot in the midfield, but 36 00:01:47,827 --> 00:01:50,347 Speaker 3: she has to make way in the midfield for the 37 00:01:50,467 --> 00:01:53,787 Speaker 3: likes of Jerusa Fitzpatrick and Stacey Waker that are coming back, 38 00:01:54,067 --> 00:01:57,067 Speaker 3: but also Amy Duplass and silver A Butt are just 39 00:01:57,147 --> 00:01:59,147 Speaker 3: as good, so there's there's cleaning a look at. I 40 00:01:59,147 --> 00:02:03,347 Speaker 3: think the biggest surprise for me we're seeing Kanya Colnevalier 41 00:02:03,427 --> 00:02:07,147 Speaker 3: get the start, not against it whatsoever, but you know, 42 00:02:07,227 --> 00:02:09,907 Speaker 3: the chiefs manner where she just wasn't being selected and 43 00:02:09,987 --> 00:02:12,267 Speaker 3: so she's gone into the Black Friends camp and shad away. 44 00:02:12,267 --> 00:02:14,707 Speaker 3: They've trusted her with that starting jersey. So that's a 45 00:02:14,707 --> 00:02:16,547 Speaker 3: real big one for me. I'm really interested to see 46 00:02:16,547 --> 00:02:17,147 Speaker 3: how she goes. 47 00:02:17,867 --> 00:02:22,347 Speaker 2: And at the back end, one debutante in the fifteen 48 00:02:22,627 --> 00:02:26,867 Speaker 2: Jersey teenager Braxton Sorenson McGhee man, she's been turning hair. 49 00:02:26,947 --> 00:02:29,667 Speaker 2: How do you evaluate her readiness to make the step 50 00:02:29,747 --> 00:02:30,707 Speaker 2: up to test rugby. 51 00:02:31,787 --> 00:02:34,867 Speaker 3: I remember when she made her fire Apartment cup Baby, 52 00:02:34,987 --> 00:02:38,307 Speaker 3: she'd only just turned sixteen, and our draws are on 53 00:02:38,347 --> 00:02:40,427 Speaker 3: the ground because we couldn't believe a young girl who 54 00:02:40,467 --> 00:02:43,907 Speaker 3: played so cool, calm and collected was only year eleven 55 00:02:43,947 --> 00:02:46,627 Speaker 3: at high school. And so to see her, you know, 56 00:02:46,747 --> 00:02:49,787 Speaker 3: a couple of years later, it's supragy Opeki starting for 57 00:02:49,867 --> 00:02:55,427 Speaker 3: the Blues and absolutely owning that jersey. I think she's 58 00:02:55,467 --> 00:02:57,907 Speaker 3: going to do really well today. She is a really 59 00:02:58,187 --> 00:03:00,307 Speaker 3: calm and collected person. When you talk to her, she's 60 00:03:00,387 --> 00:03:04,827 Speaker 3: very humble, she's really focused as well. I think she's 61 00:03:04,867 --> 00:03:07,067 Speaker 3: ready for this battle, and that's a good thing that 62 00:03:07,107 --> 00:03:10,347 Speaker 3: she's making her debut against a team like Australia. The 63 00:03:10,467 --> 00:03:12,667 Speaker 3: challenging thing though, is that they do have some really 64 00:03:12,667 --> 00:03:15,267 Speaker 3: good backs, like the likes of Charlotte Kaslick and Georgina 65 00:03:15,347 --> 00:03:18,027 Speaker 3: Frederick's there and Desire Miller equally as well, who she 66 00:03:18,067 --> 00:03:20,947 Speaker 3: would have came up against when the Waratales Woman played 67 00:03:20,947 --> 00:03:23,507 Speaker 3: the Blues. I think it's going to be a great 68 00:03:23,587 --> 00:03:25,627 Speaker 3: challenge for her. The only thing with Braxton is we 69 00:03:25,667 --> 00:03:28,427 Speaker 3: don't often see her chick as much, so I think 70 00:03:28,467 --> 00:03:32,107 Speaker 3: that's probably something that the Black Friends coaching staff have 71 00:03:32,187 --> 00:03:33,947 Speaker 3: got her to work on this week and we'll get 72 00:03:33,987 --> 00:03:35,907 Speaker 3: her to work on heading into that World Cup. Is 73 00:03:35,987 --> 00:03:38,147 Speaker 3: just more of a kicking game, because we know how 74 00:03:38,187 --> 00:03:40,587 Speaker 3: elusive she is with ball in hand and as a 75 00:03:40,667 --> 00:03:42,747 Speaker 3: running fifteen. But I would like to see her develop 76 00:03:42,787 --> 00:03:43,467 Speaker 3: that kicking game. 77 00:03:44,147 --> 00:03:47,987 Speaker 2: And she's part of a tremendously exciting back three when 78 00:03:48,027 --> 00:03:53,147 Speaker 2: you're adding Caitlin Vaha Callll and Asha Lettiainger. How tempting 79 00:03:53,187 --> 00:03:56,067 Speaker 2: will it be for those you know in midfield and 80 00:03:56,107 --> 00:03:58,547 Speaker 2: even my Joseph and royje Demonte just to get the 81 00:03:58,587 --> 00:04:00,267 Speaker 2: ball out wide as quickly as they can. 82 00:04:00,987 --> 00:04:03,107 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think that's usually been the game plan 83 00:04:03,227 --> 00:04:05,547 Speaker 3: right with the Black Friends rightly or wrong, and sometimes 84 00:04:05,587 --> 00:04:07,747 Speaker 3: frustratingly that they will just run it and get it 85 00:04:07,787 --> 00:04:10,547 Speaker 3: wide when they're in there twenty two and I think 86 00:04:10,587 --> 00:04:14,867 Speaker 3: we'll see a lot of that today. Every single person 87 00:04:14,947 --> 00:04:16,907 Speaker 3: in the back line is a threat. But equally, when 88 00:04:16,907 --> 00:04:20,907 Speaker 3: you look at the forward pack, that loose trio is outstanding. 89 00:04:20,987 --> 00:04:23,827 Speaker 3: Corpo Olton Baker running off the back and then Kennedy 90 00:04:23,867 --> 00:04:26,107 Speaker 3: took all off with Layla Say and then you know 91 00:04:26,107 --> 00:04:29,467 Speaker 3: they're so good that they've had to push Brimner up 92 00:04:29,467 --> 00:04:32,747 Speaker 3: into the lock scene with all the firepower that they 93 00:04:32,787 --> 00:04:35,027 Speaker 3: do have. And to have someone like Leanna mckkelly to 94 00:04:35,227 --> 00:04:37,187 Speaker 3: not even strip up for the twenty three is big 95 00:04:38,147 --> 00:04:40,827 Speaker 3: when you look at the competition in the loose board game. 96 00:04:40,867 --> 00:04:42,947 Speaker 3: So equally, like with the with the All Blacks, the 97 00:04:42,947 --> 00:04:47,067 Speaker 3: Black Bearns is the loose board trio. It's probably the 98 00:04:47,187 --> 00:04:47,947 Speaker 3: toughest to pick. 99 00:04:48,947 --> 00:04:52,187 Speaker 2: And with just five matches before the World Cup, Taylor, 100 00:04:52,507 --> 00:04:56,267 Speaker 2: how much tinkering can Ellen Bunting afford to do as 101 00:04:56,267 --> 00:04:59,747 Speaker 2: opposed to giving his first choice combinations as much time 102 00:05:00,027 --> 00:05:01,107 Speaker 2: together as possible. 103 00:05:03,587 --> 00:05:05,707 Speaker 3: That's the tough one, right, We've got such a short 104 00:05:05,907 --> 00:05:08,107 Speaker 3: lead up into the World Cup, you know it's only 105 00:05:08,427 --> 00:05:10,467 Speaker 3: four tests when you take out the internal one, you know, 106 00:05:10,587 --> 00:05:14,627 Speaker 3: against the Black Friends fifteen, and it's going to be tough. 107 00:05:14,667 --> 00:05:16,467 Speaker 3: And I think that's why he's made some of those 108 00:05:16,507 --> 00:05:21,187 Speaker 3: tough cause with you know, emitting you know, Ruby Tilley 109 00:05:21,227 --> 00:05:24,067 Speaker 3: and Rene Holmes, because if these girls don't perform, you know, 110 00:05:24,107 --> 00:05:26,867 Speaker 3: if Braxton doesn't perform, he's got full faith that Rene 111 00:05:26,907 --> 00:05:29,187 Speaker 3: Holmes has been there, done that and come in beforehand. 112 00:05:29,227 --> 00:05:31,787 Speaker 3: So I think that's part of the selection decisions. But 113 00:05:32,427 --> 00:05:34,427 Speaker 3: you can't think it too much, you know. I think 114 00:05:34,427 --> 00:05:37,307 Speaker 3: we're going to see the Black Friends sevens. Rest of 115 00:05:37,307 --> 00:05:41,227 Speaker 3: the contingent, like Georgia Miller and Stacey Whack has come 116 00:05:41,267 --> 00:05:43,427 Speaker 3: not next week but the week after, and so these 117 00:05:43,747 --> 00:05:46,627 Speaker 3: this test and next week's tests are gotten really really big. 118 00:05:46,667 --> 00:05:48,987 Speaker 3: But you can't really afford to tinker too much. I've 119 00:05:49,027 --> 00:05:51,707 Speaker 3: been watching England and France when I watched the final 120 00:05:51,747 --> 00:05:55,427 Speaker 3: Six Nations game, and the skill set was impeccable. And 121 00:05:55,467 --> 00:05:57,467 Speaker 3: they've all been playing with each other for a long time. 122 00:05:57,547 --> 00:06:00,787 Speaker 3: That's the benefit of having that Six Nations competition. So 123 00:06:01,387 --> 00:06:03,707 Speaker 3: if things aren't working from game one, I don't think 124 00:06:03,707 --> 00:06:07,867 Speaker 3: they've got time to tinker. You know, if someone underperforms today. 125 00:06:08,867 --> 00:06:11,187 Speaker 3: I don't know if getting given an extra test is 126 00:06:11,187 --> 00:06:12,867 Speaker 3: going to do much because it's such a cut threat 127 00:06:12,947 --> 00:06:14,467 Speaker 3: environment heading into that World Cup. 128 00:06:14,947 --> 00:06:17,107 Speaker 2: Yeah, and such a big year, Taylor, so looking forward 129 00:06:17,107 --> 00:06:19,267 Speaker 2: to watching the Black Ferns this afternoon and on towards 130 00:06:19,507 --> 00:06:20,947 Speaker 2: the World Cup as well. Thank you so much for 131 00:06:20,987 --> 00:06:22,947 Speaker 2: taking the time to preview it for us. 132 00:06:23,027 --> 00:06:24,347 Speaker 3: No worries, looking forward to it. 133 00:06:24,387 --> 00:06:27,147 Speaker 2: Can't wait me too, Thanks Taylor. Taylor Johnson There from 134 00:06:27,187 --> 00:06:31,427 Speaker 2: Skysport five o'clock this afternoon McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle. 135 00:06:31,707 --> 00:06:35,427 Speaker 2: It is our black Ferns against the Wallaroos, first test 136 00:06:35,507 --> 00:06:39,587 Speaker 2: of a big, big rugby year for our top women's side. 137 00:06:39,627 --> 00:06:42,787 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 138 00:06:42,907 --> 00:06:46,187 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow 139 00:06:46,227 --> 00:06:47,787 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio