1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:16,827 Speaker 2: Thirty three strong squad tasked with defending the Black Ferns 4 00:00:16,947 --> 00:00:21,067 Speaker 2: title as Rugby World Cup champions has been announced. Not 5 00:00:21,147 --> 00:00:24,667 Speaker 2: too many surprises in the squad named in Wellington last night. 6 00:00:24,747 --> 00:00:27,747 Speaker 2: The main talking point was the o mission of outside 7 00:00:27,747 --> 00:00:31,107 Speaker 2: back Ruby Tooey. She's featured only once off the bench 8 00:00:31,147 --> 00:00:33,667 Speaker 2: for the team this year, after being a pretty integral 9 00:00:33,707 --> 00:00:36,067 Speaker 2: part of the team that won the World Cup at 10 00:00:36,107 --> 00:00:38,547 Speaker 2: the back end of twenty twenty two. No room for 11 00:00:38,587 --> 00:00:41,627 Speaker 2: her in the outside backs, the selectors instead opting for 12 00:00:42,067 --> 00:00:47,467 Speaker 2: Poorsha Woodman, Wickliffe, Renee Holmes, Asha Lettiinger, Caitlin colll and 13 00:00:47,547 --> 00:00:51,987 Speaker 2: Braxton Sorenson McGee. Veteran Cali Brazier has earned a place. 14 00:00:51,987 --> 00:00:55,627 Speaker 2: She's the backup first five to co captain Audola hey Dumont. 15 00:00:56,067 --> 00:00:58,987 Speaker 2: She's only played Calli Brazier twice for the Black Ferns 16 00:00:59,027 --> 00:01:02,107 Speaker 2: since twenty twenty one, but has done enough to convince 17 00:01:02,147 --> 00:01:04,467 Speaker 2: the selectors they needed her in the squad for what 18 00:01:04,547 --> 00:01:07,747 Speaker 2: will be her fourth World Cup. I was lucky enough 19 00:01:07,747 --> 00:01:11,387 Speaker 2: to be at the squad announcement yesterday out in Upper 20 00:01:11,467 --> 00:01:14,467 Speaker 2: Hut and it was a terrific occasion. I have to 21 00:01:14,467 --> 00:01:17,507 Speaker 2: say it was very family focused. All of the players 22 00:01:17,787 --> 00:01:20,667 Speaker 2: came into the room and up onto the stage accompanied 23 00:01:20,707 --> 00:01:25,707 Speaker 2: by a family member. There was a real family feel 24 00:01:25,747 --> 00:01:29,067 Speaker 2: to the whole thing and genuine excitement. I think about 25 00:01:29,067 --> 00:01:30,907 Speaker 2: this team, even though they won't go to the World 26 00:01:30,987 --> 00:01:33,427 Speaker 2: Cup as favorites, I've got a lot of work to 27 00:01:33,467 --> 00:01:36,507 Speaker 2: do to try and defend it, particularly against a very 28 00:01:36,627 --> 00:01:39,587 Speaker 2: very strong England side who will be on home soil. 29 00:01:39,707 --> 00:01:42,347 Speaker 2: But there was a real sense of optimism in the 30 00:01:42,387 --> 00:01:44,947 Speaker 2: room yesterday about their ability to do that. I caught 31 00:01:44,987 --> 00:01:47,427 Speaker 2: up with a few of the players during the event. 32 00:01:48,107 --> 00:01:52,627 Speaker 2: One of those was Hurricane's poor winger Asha Letty, ainger 33 00:01:52,987 --> 00:01:54,907 Speaker 2: who was off to her second World Cup. So how's 34 00:01:54,907 --> 00:01:55,787 Speaker 2: she feeling about that? 35 00:01:56,467 --> 00:02:00,627 Speaker 3: Overwhelm with the motions, I guess We're doing this in 36 00:02:00,707 --> 00:02:02,787 Speaker 3: my hometown in Wellington and I get to have all 37 00:02:02,867 --> 00:02:07,267 Speaker 3: my family here and to go to another World Cup again. Yeah, 38 00:02:07,387 --> 00:02:09,147 Speaker 3: it's a pinch me moment all over again. 39 00:02:09,427 --> 00:02:11,067 Speaker 2: It hasn't been a straight line for you either, has 40 00:02:11,107 --> 00:02:13,027 Speaker 2: it since the last World Cup? How do you reflect 41 00:02:13,027 --> 00:02:14,707 Speaker 2: back on that time out of the game, that what 42 00:02:14,867 --> 00:02:15,987 Speaker 2: nearly two years. 43 00:02:16,947 --> 00:02:21,867 Speaker 3: Yeah. I guess with my injury, doing my AC hour 44 00:02:21,987 --> 00:02:23,707 Speaker 3: kind of made me more hungry to come back for 45 00:02:23,747 --> 00:02:26,627 Speaker 3: the squad and to even make the World Cup squad again. 46 00:02:26,707 --> 00:02:29,187 Speaker 3: So that was always my goal, my driving god, to 47 00:02:29,187 --> 00:02:31,147 Speaker 3: get back. So yeah, pretty stoked. 48 00:02:31,467 --> 00:02:31,747 Speaker 1: What's that? 49 00:02:31,867 --> 00:02:34,107 Speaker 2: What sort of kept you going in those darker moments? 50 00:02:34,627 --> 00:02:36,747 Speaker 2: Were you able to look ahead to twenty twenty five 51 00:02:36,787 --> 00:02:38,307 Speaker 2: and think, right, that's what I'm aiming for. 52 00:02:39,707 --> 00:02:42,747 Speaker 3: I guess with injury comes challenges, and one of those 53 00:02:42,787 --> 00:02:45,387 Speaker 3: is south doubt. Will you ever play like how you sue? 54 00:02:46,267 --> 00:02:49,507 Speaker 3: But my goal was always to make another World Cup again, 55 00:02:49,627 --> 00:02:54,067 Speaker 3: so there was the driving force for everything, and also 56 00:02:54,107 --> 00:02:57,267 Speaker 3: my family as well. Although I was injured, it gave 57 00:02:57,347 --> 00:02:59,667 Speaker 3: me time with family just to refresh, to come back. 58 00:03:00,067 --> 00:03:02,547 Speaker 2: Are you back to where you were? Is that how 59 00:03:02,547 --> 00:03:02,987 Speaker 2: you feel? 60 00:03:03,947 --> 00:03:06,947 Speaker 3: Oh? If I'm being honest, I think I'm better than 61 00:03:07,547 --> 00:03:12,347 Speaker 3: what I was. I'm in better shape mentally and physically. 62 00:03:12,507 --> 00:03:14,747 Speaker 3: So yeah, let's go and win another World Cup. 63 00:03:14,907 --> 00:03:17,187 Speaker 2: I love that. I love that. How often do you 64 00:03:17,187 --> 00:03:18,987 Speaker 2: think back to twenty twenty two, the last one? I 65 00:03:18,987 --> 00:03:20,787 Speaker 2: know you've got to put it behind you at some stage, 66 00:03:20,787 --> 00:03:22,107 Speaker 2: but how often do you think back to that night. 67 00:03:22,787 --> 00:03:25,067 Speaker 3: You can never put that behind you. I guess when 68 00:03:25,067 --> 00:03:26,747 Speaker 3: do you ever play a World Cup at home, right 69 00:03:26,787 --> 00:03:30,027 Speaker 3: in front of your families and just their last moment 70 00:03:30,707 --> 00:03:34,187 Speaker 3: with Jonah getting their last line out there will always 71 00:03:34,267 --> 00:03:36,427 Speaker 3: replay my head and every time I rewatched the game, 72 00:03:36,467 --> 00:03:38,427 Speaker 3: I always cry at the inside yeahs. 73 00:03:38,707 --> 00:03:40,507 Speaker 2: And you look at the outside backs in this team, 74 00:03:40,507 --> 00:03:43,907 Speaker 2: it's stacked, man, there are some talented outside backs. How 75 00:03:43,907 --> 00:03:46,227 Speaker 2: do you balance up eron moster play but doing what's 76 00:03:46,227 --> 00:03:46,907 Speaker 2: best for this team? 77 00:03:47,707 --> 00:03:50,507 Speaker 3: I guess we all know our role in this team, man. 78 00:03:51,147 --> 00:03:53,987 Speaker 3: I know selections will be based off who was better 79 00:03:54,307 --> 00:03:57,347 Speaker 3: for the team that we play against, and we're just 80 00:03:57,707 --> 00:03:59,867 Speaker 3: trying to make each other better. And it's all healthy 81 00:03:59,947 --> 00:04:00,867 Speaker 3: competition out there. 82 00:04:01,187 --> 00:04:02,747 Speaker 2: And there's word up on the stage that you're sort 83 00:04:02,747 --> 00:04:05,267 Speaker 2: of the spark plugging this team. I know you yelled 84 00:04:05,267 --> 00:04:07,107 Speaker 2: out that you were you're actually white, shehy, It didn't 85 00:04:07,107 --> 00:04:08,787 Speaker 2: seem like it. What do you can you talk a 86 00:04:08,787 --> 00:04:12,107 Speaker 2: bit about the culture off the field in this Blackfins team? 87 00:04:12,227 --> 00:04:14,267 Speaker 3: I guess you could say the girls are pretty a 88 00:04:14,307 --> 00:04:17,707 Speaker 3: tiny group. We all come from big family, so it's 89 00:04:17,707 --> 00:04:20,307 Speaker 3: pretty easy to mingle against each other. But also we're 90 00:04:20,347 --> 00:04:23,067 Speaker 3: together for long periods of time, so we only have 91 00:04:23,187 --> 00:04:26,747 Speaker 3: each other. We actually enjoy each other's company off field. 92 00:04:27,347 --> 00:04:29,787 Speaker 3: We love good board games and stuff like that, and 93 00:04:29,827 --> 00:04:30,707 Speaker 3: we love to have a laugh. 94 00:04:30,787 --> 00:04:32,787 Speaker 2: So yeah, all right, you reckon This team can go 95 00:04:32,827 --> 00:04:33,267 Speaker 2: back to back? 96 00:04:34,067 --> 00:04:34,907 Speaker 3: Why not? Right? 97 00:04:37,347 --> 00:04:38,547 Speaker 2: Of course there'll be a challenge. 98 00:04:38,587 --> 00:04:42,147 Speaker 3: We're playing England at their home turf, but we're up 99 00:04:42,187 --> 00:04:42,827 Speaker 3: for their challenge. 100 00:04:42,827 --> 00:04:43,347 Speaker 4: So yeah. 101 00:04:43,427 --> 00:04:47,947 Speaker 2: That is Aisha Littiainga who was a big star at 102 00:04:47,947 --> 00:04:50,707 Speaker 2: the last World Cup when New Zealand won in twenty 103 00:04:50,707 --> 00:04:53,067 Speaker 2: twenty two, then had that long lail with injury. Great 104 00:04:53,107 --> 00:04:55,587 Speaker 2: to have her back and fit and firing by the 105 00:04:55,587 --> 00:04:57,467 Speaker 2: sounds of it, and her words are better than she 106 00:04:57,627 --> 00:05:01,107 Speaker 2: was before. Also spoke with co captain or doo Hey DeMont, 107 00:05:01,507 --> 00:05:04,787 Speaker 2: the veteran of forty five test matches. I asked her 108 00:05:04,827 --> 00:05:07,787 Speaker 2: if she remembered the feeling of being selected for her 109 00:05:07,827 --> 00:05:12,547 Speaker 2: first World Cup as many of her teammates experienced yesterday. 110 00:05:13,307 --> 00:05:15,947 Speaker 4: Yeah, I remember I missed the car because I was 111 00:05:15,987 --> 00:05:18,667 Speaker 4: on a flight, so I got a text when I 112 00:05:18,747 --> 00:05:26,107 Speaker 4: turned my phone back off flight mode. And the overwhelming disbelief, 113 00:05:26,147 --> 00:05:27,507 Speaker 4: you know when you have a goal and you work 114 00:05:27,587 --> 00:05:30,307 Speaker 4: so hard towards it. And for so long that goal 115 00:05:30,827 --> 00:05:34,267 Speaker 4: seems like it's out of reach, and so to be 116 00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:37,027 Speaker 4: named for the first time is a feeling I'll never forget. 117 00:05:37,027 --> 00:05:39,227 Speaker 4: And I see that when I look at my teammates 118 00:05:39,227 --> 00:05:43,187 Speaker 4: who are experiencing their first time, you know, and just 119 00:05:43,267 --> 00:05:47,227 Speaker 4: seeing the happiness, the tears, and to cap it off 120 00:05:47,227 --> 00:05:50,747 Speaker 4: with our family being here just makes this moment so 121 00:05:50,827 --> 00:05:56,147 Speaker 4: much more real and so much more full circle. I guess. 122 00:05:56,507 --> 00:05:58,587 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's going to get real pretty quick, isn't it. 123 00:05:58,587 --> 00:06:00,427 Speaker 2: When you I think another week or so here and 124 00:06:00,427 --> 00:06:01,827 Speaker 2: then you're on the plane and away you go. In 125 00:06:01,867 --> 00:06:04,267 Speaker 2: a month or so, you'll be out there. How ready 126 00:06:04,307 --> 00:06:07,307 Speaker 2: do you feel to defend the World Cup? Yeah? 127 00:06:07,347 --> 00:06:10,107 Speaker 4: I think the beauty of the World Cup is that 128 00:06:12,627 --> 00:06:14,227 Speaker 4: you kind of want to peek at the right time, 129 00:06:14,267 --> 00:06:17,227 Speaker 4: you know what I mean? Like, I have full confidence 130 00:06:17,467 --> 00:06:20,627 Speaker 4: and trust in our team that we will be exactly 131 00:06:20,667 --> 00:06:23,027 Speaker 4: where we need to be when we need to be there. 132 00:06:23,587 --> 00:06:24,987 Speaker 4: I hope that answers your question. 133 00:06:25,267 --> 00:06:28,867 Speaker 2: It answers it perfectly. It's a great answer. The blend 134 00:06:28,867 --> 00:06:31,147 Speaker 2: of youth and experience in the team. It was talked 135 00:06:31,147 --> 00:06:34,427 Speaker 2: about up there on stage. How crucial is that in 136 00:06:34,467 --> 00:06:36,707 Speaker 2: a World Cup iss you need those who have been 137 00:06:36,707 --> 00:06:38,907 Speaker 2: there before, for those who are a little bit naive 138 00:06:38,987 --> 00:06:40,467 Speaker 2: really and just play without bear. 139 00:06:40,667 --> 00:06:40,827 Speaker 1: Oh. 140 00:06:40,907 --> 00:06:43,667 Speaker 4: I think those players that in some cases are even 141 00:06:43,667 --> 00:06:46,347 Speaker 4: more important than the players who have been there, done 142 00:06:46,387 --> 00:06:49,147 Speaker 4: it before and know what to expect. I think of 143 00:06:49,267 --> 00:06:53,307 Speaker 4: players like Young Bay, one of the new props within 144 00:06:53,347 --> 00:06:58,307 Speaker 4: our team, who hasn't played many tests, and she reminds 145 00:06:58,347 --> 00:07:01,187 Speaker 4: me of many of us who experienced our first World 146 00:07:01,267 --> 00:07:04,427 Speaker 4: Cup back in twenty twenty two, and just the excitement 147 00:07:04,467 --> 00:07:06,827 Speaker 4: that we had walking towards anything and nothing seen as 148 00:07:06,867 --> 00:07:09,947 Speaker 4: pressure because it was a privileged pressure, and we flip 149 00:07:09,987 --> 00:07:12,907 Speaker 4: that into enjoyment. And that's what I see when I 150 00:07:12,947 --> 00:07:16,347 Speaker 4: look at my teammates who who are inexperienced when it 151 00:07:16,347 --> 00:07:19,947 Speaker 4: comes to World Cups, they have that youthful enthusiasm and 152 00:07:20,067 --> 00:07:23,827 Speaker 4: welcome and embrace every challenge as an opportunity and as 153 00:07:23,827 --> 00:07:25,027 Speaker 4: something to be celebrated. 154 00:07:25,267 --> 00:07:25,547 Speaker 2: Yeah. 155 00:07:25,547 --> 00:07:29,227 Speaker 4: So it's extremely important and one of our values of joy, 156 00:07:29,947 --> 00:07:32,187 Speaker 4: and those players bring joy to those moments where some 157 00:07:32,227 --> 00:07:34,467 Speaker 4: of us have experienced in before and kind of remind 158 00:07:34,507 --> 00:07:36,827 Speaker 4: us what it's like and how it should feel. 159 00:07:37,267 --> 00:07:40,467 Speaker 2: That's amazing, But of course, you know, cool heads under 160 00:07:40,507 --> 00:07:43,307 Speaker 2: pressure are needed, and that's where experience does come and 161 00:07:43,347 --> 00:07:45,227 Speaker 2: you're going to be guiding this team around from the 162 00:07:45,267 --> 00:07:47,987 Speaker 2: ten jersey most probably are you ready for that challenge? 163 00:07:48,027 --> 00:07:50,827 Speaker 2: How do you feel about the responsibility of doing that again? 164 00:07:51,267 --> 00:07:54,907 Speaker 4: I feel excited, first of all, that I'm even here 165 00:07:55,507 --> 00:07:59,747 Speaker 4: and I'm able to don this jersey and guide this team. 166 00:08:00,067 --> 00:08:03,027 Speaker 4: It's a privilege that I don't take for granted, so 167 00:08:03,107 --> 00:08:07,707 Speaker 4: I'm excited at that. I feel that our coaching staff 168 00:08:07,707 --> 00:08:10,387 Speaker 4: have worked really hard behind the scenes to make sure 169 00:08:10,427 --> 00:08:11,827 Speaker 4: that we have a game plan. 170 00:08:11,707 --> 00:08:13,027 Speaker 2: Where we're really adaptable. 171 00:08:13,387 --> 00:08:16,627 Speaker 4: We're able to shape opposition and understand, you know, solutions 172 00:08:16,627 --> 00:08:19,267 Speaker 4: to different pictures. Our analysts is another awesome guy who 173 00:08:19,307 --> 00:08:21,947 Speaker 4: works behind the scenes. He does a lot of scouting 174 00:08:21,987 --> 00:08:23,787 Speaker 4: for us and identifies with the opportunities, you know, like 175 00:08:23,867 --> 00:08:28,107 Speaker 4: many analysts do, and so it makes our jobs as 176 00:08:28,147 --> 00:08:29,827 Speaker 4: players on the field. It makes my job as a 177 00:08:29,827 --> 00:08:33,667 Speaker 4: game driver so much more easier. That we have plan A, 178 00:08:33,867 --> 00:08:37,547 Speaker 4: Plan B, Plan C. And we've experimented with a lot 179 00:08:37,547 --> 00:08:39,307 Speaker 4: of those plans this year. Some have come off and 180 00:08:39,387 --> 00:08:42,067 Speaker 4: some haven't, and we've had a lot of time to prepare. 181 00:08:43,067 --> 00:08:44,627 Speaker 4: Like you said, we've got another week and a half 182 00:08:44,627 --> 00:08:47,387 Speaker 4: here in Wellington where we're still assembled as a squad 183 00:08:48,147 --> 00:08:51,307 Speaker 4: and training, and we get more time to get those 184 00:08:51,347 --> 00:08:53,867 Speaker 4: training pictures, iron out a few kinks before we get 185 00:08:53,907 --> 00:08:55,707 Speaker 4: on the plane and head over for our first game. 186 00:08:56,227 --> 00:08:59,387 Speaker 2: And obviously everybody's talking about England, and rightly so, they're 187 00:08:59,387 --> 00:09:02,427 Speaker 2: a very good team. But are you able to look 188 00:09:02,427 --> 00:09:04,547 Speaker 2: at this as not just you against England? It's an 189 00:09:04,867 --> 00:09:06,907 Speaker 2: actual tournament. You want to get to the final first, right, 190 00:09:06,987 --> 00:09:09,267 Speaker 2: So can you approach it game by game? Is that 191 00:09:09,307 --> 00:09:10,107 Speaker 2: actually possible? 192 00:09:10,267 --> 00:09:13,507 Speaker 4: I think so? I mean, for us, we've got the 193 00:09:13,507 --> 00:09:15,707 Speaker 4: big third in our poolers Ireland, and so that's the 194 00:09:15,707 --> 00:09:17,907 Speaker 4: first one for us. You know, we also know that 195 00:09:18,187 --> 00:09:20,427 Speaker 4: well England is, yes, a very good team. Can there's 196 00:09:20,427 --> 00:09:22,587 Speaker 4: also another great team that we've had opportunity to play 197 00:09:22,587 --> 00:09:25,427 Speaker 4: in the last few months, and potentially we might have 198 00:09:25,467 --> 00:09:28,067 Speaker 4: the opportunity to then play a game before that, before 199 00:09:28,107 --> 00:09:32,067 Speaker 4: that final. So I think it is still a game 200 00:09:32,067 --> 00:09:34,827 Speaker 4: by game approach. And while some you can kind of 201 00:09:36,267 --> 00:09:39,587 Speaker 4: bank that you'll most likely you know, get the dub 202 00:09:39,627 --> 00:09:41,907 Speaker 4: in some games, there's still a lot of preparation as 203 00:09:41,947 --> 00:09:43,867 Speaker 4: you look forward towards some of those harder games and 204 00:09:43,907 --> 00:09:45,987 Speaker 4: take those games game by game. 205 00:09:46,827 --> 00:09:49,307 Speaker 2: Do you still feel the same excitement that a young girl, 206 00:09:49,307 --> 00:09:51,107 Speaker 2: oh Hey Dumont felt when she got off the plane 207 00:09:51,147 --> 00:09:52,067 Speaker 2: and got the text that day. 208 00:09:52,187 --> 00:09:57,347 Speaker 4: Oh I still do, and it's probably exacerbated by just 209 00:09:57,387 --> 00:10:00,627 Speaker 4: the magnificence of this event. I remember, you know, I 210 00:10:00,667 --> 00:10:03,187 Speaker 4: recall back to the last World Cup team naming and 211 00:10:03,427 --> 00:10:06,507 Speaker 4: not even all the team was there, you know, it 212 00:10:06,587 --> 00:10:10,547 Speaker 4: was just another day. Our finos weren't there. And so 213 00:10:11,267 --> 00:10:14,467 Speaker 4: the time and the effort that's gone into making this 214 00:10:14,587 --> 00:10:19,027 Speaker 4: particular what announcement, they're extra special. It does bring back 215 00:10:19,027 --> 00:10:22,587 Speaker 4: those feelings and emotions and excitement of being named for 216 00:10:22,627 --> 00:10:23,187 Speaker 4: the first time. 217 00:10:23,187 --> 00:10:25,827 Speaker 2: For me, go, well, everybody is behind you. 218 00:10:25,867 --> 00:10:26,587 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. 219 00:10:26,667 --> 00:10:29,747 Speaker 2: Jason, Hey DeMont, hope you can hear okay over the 220 00:10:29,747 --> 00:10:31,747 Speaker 2: background music there. I think we got it okay. 221 00:10:32,387 --> 00:10:35,547 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 222 00:10:35,667 --> 00:10:38,947 Speaker 1: to news Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 223 00:10:38,987 --> 00:10:40,587 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.