‘‘She doesn’t just do what’s needed. She actually does that and more.’’

Black Ferns’ semifinal win over France at Eden Park last Saturday, all the attention was on the missed French penalty in the 80th minute and the defensive effort of the hosts as they clung to a one-point lead for quarter of an hour before that.

But earlier in the match, Tui scored a special try, running on to a kick put through by Renee Holmes down the right, making up an eightmetre gap to her marker to get to the ball first and kick it, then dotting it down with millimetres to spare before it hit the dead-ball line.

How can I impact this area of the game? But also, how can I put in an extra step?’’

At first, Tui had Stacey Fluhler for company in chasing Holmes’ kick, but the centre quickly appeared to realise only one of them had a chance of getting there and abandoned her pursuit.

‘‘Ruby never pulls out,’’ says Hireme-Smiler. ‘‘Ruby will do everything 110% and I think that’s what you learn to love about her.’’

Hireme-Smiler was a team-mate of Tui’s in the early years of the New Zealand women’s sevens programme and says she’s a special athlete, who brings energy and enthusiasm to everything she does.

‘‘She has this aura about her that makes you just kind of want to be around her, because she’s someone that you can naturally connect with and she’s just really open and welcoming.

‘‘In terms of what she brings to a

Honey Hireme-Smiler on Ruby Tui