Black Ferns halfback ‘never had any doubt’
Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge knew after her side scored first in the second half of the Women’s Rugby World Cup final against England they had the match won.
That was a brave thing to say when it only meant the scores were evened up at 17-all, but she knows about winning Rugby World Cup finals: she did so in 2010.
On Sunday the Black Ferns won their fifth rugby world cup title with a 41-32 win over England.
The nuggety halfback, originally from Taranaki, will be the first to admit her kicking game was off in the final and she was a little quiet in the first half.
After the match she didn’t make any excuses, or put it down to nerves. Cocksedge was talking like it was another day at the office and had no real sense of relief they had won it.
‘‘I never had any doubt. After watching the All Blacks this morning and seeing them come back from 17-down was a bit of motivation. We came out in the second half and put our foot on the throat and never stopped.
‘‘I felt as soon as we got that first try in the second half, I knew we had it.’’
The halftime talk from coach Glenn Moore was simple she said. Keep the ball in hand, work on their structure and keep it in the forwards.
Cocksedge said it was pleasing to see the team follow instructions and deliver a win for their coach after the first half kicking game wasn’t going to plan.
‘‘We wanted to get them down their end and we wanted territory, but we just weren’t pulling our kicks off.’’
While she and her team mates know their All Black counterparts steal the limelight, she said she had spoken with New Zealand rugby chief executive Steve Tew earlier this week about how to celebrate if they were to be successful.
‘‘I had a conversation with Steve Tew earlier and said we need a parade if we win it.
‘‘He looked me in the eye and said we will have one.’’