Brazier confident ahead of final
She has won it, she has lost it and now she wants it again - that’s Black Fern Kelly Brazier’s attitude towards the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Brazier has been a Black Fern since 2009 and knows the feeling both of winning a Rugby World Cup final and failing to make it that far.
At Brazier’s first World Cup in 2010 the spirited 20-year-old collected a winner’s medal, but in 2014 New Zealand were knocked out by Ireland before the playoff stages.
After yesterday’s 45-12 semifinal demolition of the USA in Belfast, in which she was named player of the match, the secondfive could not be blamed for being confident ahead of this year’s final against England on Sunday morning.
England beat France 20-3 in the other semifinal yesterday.
‘‘You’ve got to beat the best to be the best. England will be tough at set piece, the rolling maul and lineout, they are strong there. They won’t change that, they will draw us in before spinning it out wide. We have hit our straps at this end of the tournament and as long as we do our jobs, we should get the job done.’’
At 27, Brazier looks to be in the
form of her life. Against the US, she scored arguably the try of the match when she stepped two defenders and ran 30 metres to touch down under the sticks.
‘‘I’m pretty happy to get the win. Last time [2014] to not make it through was tough.’’
This time round Brazier wants redemption and knows how to keep a cool head in the leadup. ‘‘I’m used to dealing with finals footy now. I like to chill out in the week leading up and I am always last out of bed on game day. I generally don’t rark up until I am on the field.
‘‘With every game I am just growing confident with every win and yeah, hitting the straps at the right time.’’
Having always been a consistent player, Brazier has improved since being immersed in the sevens environment and employed full-time in rugby, which she considers her dream job.
It means that she and teammates such as Portia Woodman, who scored four tries against USA, and Sarah Goss all look sharp because they are living and breathing rugby, just like their male counterparts at the All Blacks.
‘‘Growing up I always wished I could get paid to play rugby.’’
After the World Cup Brazier will turn back to sevens and aim for the Commonwealth Games next year, and ultimately gain the gold she missed out on in Rio, at the Tokyo 2020 Olymplc Games.