There’s nothing sheepish about Canterbury’s lock

Tackling opposition players is nothing compared to the sheep Canterbury lock Chelsea Bremner has wrestled with growing up.

The country girl from Little River has already been named Canterbury women’s player of the year, but she knows there’s work to do yet.

The defending champions play last year’s runners-up Counties Manukau in the semifinal in Christchurch tomorrow.

Bremner will have a starring role in the semifinal, towering above her teammates at 1.80 metres and weighing in at 87 kilograms.

Her powerful frame has always helped her while growing up, as she has worked as a sheep rousey for her father who is a fulltime shearer, now based in Tai Tapu, 20 minutes south of Christchurch.

She still dabbles in the woolshed. ‘‘Yeah, I sometimes get the call up every now and then when they are desperate.’’

The 24-year-old’s brute force has seen her dominate in the ruck and she is often Farah Palmer Cup Premiership semifinals:

Auckland Storm v Wellington Pride, 12.05pm today at Eden Park

Canterbury v Counties Manukau Heat, 2.05pm tomorrow at Rugby Park. Championship semifinals:

Otago Spirit v Tasman Mako, 2pm today at Forsyth Barr Stadium

Hawke’s Bay Tui v Northland Kauri, 2.05pm today at McLean Park

the go-to person on attacking lineouts. She earned herself a spot in the wider Black Ferns squad at the start of 2018, but is yet to debut in the black jersey.

This weekend will have challenges.

‘‘We know Counties are going to be a big challenge for us, but it is about focusing on our individual roles and putting the game plan in place.’’

With three Black Ferns team-mates – Kendra Cocksedge, Grace Brooker and Pip Love – in the lineup, Canterbury are well placed to not only win the semifinal, but make it a three-peat in Championship titles next weekend.

First things first though. its

‘‘We have the opportunity to do something really special, but we do have to take this one game at a time.’’

Since 2013 Counties have beaten Canterbury only once, in 2015.

In the other semifinal Auckland are the heavy favourites against Wellington at Eden Park today. Wellington have won just once in 27 encounters against Auckland, including a heavy defeat last month.

The Championship semifinals will see Otago play Tasman in Dunedin and newcomers Northland play Hawke’s Bay at McLean Park in Napier.