Rugby: Black Ferns skipper relaxed and ready

Blacks Ferns skipper Melissa Ruscoe stands next to the Women's Rugby World Cup alongside England captain Catherine Spencer. Photo / Martin Seras Lima

New Zealand captain Melissa Ruscoe is possibly the most relaxed sounding skipper you'll ever chat to just days out from leading a side into a World Cup final.

When asked if she had thought about her pre-match speech to the team before hitting the turf at The Stoop she sounds genuinely like the thought hasn't crossed her mind till now.

"I'm pretty laid back to be honest and not much of a talker. The good thing about the Black ferns is that everyone does their job. As a captain I don't have to worry about everyone else so I just focus on leading by example when I get out there."

Ruscoe has certainly been leading from the front, forming part of an impressive set of backrow players that New Zealand have been rotating during the tournament. When reflecting on how smoothly her side came through the pool stages, she disagrees that the defending champions haven't been tested hard enough.

"We have had physical games. We were in a tough pool - everyone called it the pool of death beforehand - and it doesn't matter what the scores were, they games have been tougher than they look. We think we have had a good mix of physical games before the final. We had things to achieve in every game, some we did some we didn't. There are always things to work on. "

"Our finishing has obviously been good. We know we have scored some really good tries and our backs have been sharp. Up front we are happy with how we have improved. Our setpieces are solid, and what we need to focus on now is making sure we have no lapse of concentration during the game."

Ruscoe says that she has been impressed by England and that she'll be telling her team to stay patient in the opening exchanges.

"In any final the name of the game is patience - we have 80 minutes to go out there and play and we have to trust that whatever is happening that we believe we can win. England have been very good throughout the tournament. They did well against Australia and we know they have a particularly good forward pack."

The last time these two sides met of course, England came out on top in the game at Twickenham in November. Ruscoe missed the matches after suffering a head injury shortly before the tour was due to depart.

"It was difficult. If it had been a knee or an ankle knock or something like that then I probably would have just played through the pain but you can't muck around with head injuries and I wanted to go to the World Cup. I'm sure England will use that win as a bit of motivation coming into the final but we have worked hard since then and I think we have improved and worked on our game a lot during this tournament. "

She also thanks the supporters who have been backing the Black Ferns all tournament.

"We have had great support - our friends and families are here and the ex-pat Kiwi community coming to support us in London has been fantastic. We're really grateful to them. We've really enjoyed the overall experience. Surrey is a nice place and the surfaces were really good to play on.

"The only disappointment has been that some people have been turned away so I think maybe a bit more thought about how to resolve that after so many people came the first day could have gone in. You really don't want to turn people away from a women's sporting event."

With ticket sales edging towards a full house at the Stoop on Sunday, more fans may be turned away from their next game. I have a feeling Ruscoe won't be quite so disappointed that time around.

Black Ferns
1. Ruth McKay
2. Fiao'o Faamausili
3. Mel Bosman
4. Vita Robinson
5. Victoria Heighway
6. Melissa Ruscoe
7. Justine Lavea
8. Casey Robertson
9. Emma Jensen
10. Anna Richards
11. Renee Wickcliffe
12. Kelly Brazier
13. Huriana Manuel
14. Carla Hohepa
15. Victoria Grant

Reserves
16. Karina Penetito
17. Steph Te Ohaere-Fox
18. Linda Itunu
19. Joan Sione
20. Kendra Cocksedge
21. Rebecca Mahoney (nee Hull)
22. Trish Hina

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