A self-described “heart leader”, she’s also a warrior on the field, with an engine and grit that belies an almost cherubic face; it’s not uncommon to see her with a hint of a smile, even in the heat of the most rugged battle.
The Highlanders may have lost electric fullback Finn Hurley for the season, but they have been boosted by the return of the mercurial Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens for their round nine clash with the Fijian Drua.
The stage is set for both NPC semi-finals with Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Wellington and Waikato naming their teams.
The stage is set for both NPC semi-finals with Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Wellington and Waikato naming their teams.
Three matches are scheduled for Athlone: Ireland-Australia (2pm local time), France-Wales (4:30pm) and South Africa-England (7pm). Over in Stellenbosch, it’s Argentina-Fiji (2pm), Georgia-Italy (4:30pm) and New Zealand-Spain (7pm).
The Kiwis got the show on the road with a 41-34 Pool A win over Wales at Athlone and they have now changed three forwards and two backs for their eagerly anticipated clash with the French.
The New Zealand U20 have opened their World Championship campaign in South Africa with a 41-34 win over a resilient Wales side.
New Zealand U20 opener their U20 Championship campaign against Wales U20 on Sunday morning (NZST).
The Spanish have the honour of opening the pool the DHL Stadium this Saturday, taking on a French team that didn’t fire on all cylinders in a Six Nations campaign that only merited third place.
The New Zealand squad features 31 of the country's finest young athletes, with selectors having identified plenty of promising talent at the recent U20 Super Rugby tournament played last month in Taupo.