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Kaipo Olsen-Baker: 'France is going to come out hissing, and so are we'
By Adam Julian
Kaipo Olsen-Baker has experienced the full gamut of emotions during the Rugby World Cup 2025.
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In the opening game against Spain, the gifted Black Ferns number eight injured her ankle while coming onto the field as a replacement in a 54-8 victory. Her tournament future appeared in jeopardy until she made a triumphant return three weeks later in the quarter final against South Africa where Olsen-Baker was named Mastercard player of the match, recording an impressive 26 tackles in a 46-17 success.
However, New Zealand’s reign as world champions ended on Friday night in Bristol, as they lost to a confident, cunning, and courageous Canada, 34-19. Despite her efforts with a mammoth 34 carries and 14 tackles, the 2024 Black Ferns Player of the Year couldn’t turn the tide.
When asked whether losing or being injured is worse, Olsen-Baker, who ranked in the top 10 of RugbyPass’ Top 50 Women’s Players campaign, emphatically replied, “Losing.”
“Losing affects everyone. Injury is a personal struggle. We’re fortunate to be a tight-knit group that supports each other as people,” she said.
“We didn’t show what we wanted to show against Canada. Full credit to them, but it still hurts.
“I want to say I’m so grateful to our medical staff for helping me get back on the field. It wouldn’t have been possible without their support. They were calm and clear about what was required to regain full fitness.”
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The silver lining for Olsen-Baker is the third-place match against France at Twickenham on Saturday.
“It’s a Test match for a medal at the World Cup. France is going to come out hissing, and so are we,” she stated.
“France is hurting like us. We need to be more accurate than we were against Canada,” Olsen-Baker added.
France has had their own issues with accuracy, suffering a 35-17 defeat to England despite having more possession and territory. It was their 17th consecutive loss to the Red Roses.
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Nonetheless, France has won five of its last seven matches against the Black Ferns, with forwards Teani Feleu and Madoussou Fall Raclot, as well as “Lady Dupont” Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Gabrielle Vernier, possessing the talent to cause havoc.
With a Rugby World Cup record of 33 wins and 15 defeats, France has finished third seven times. The Black Ferns have a record of 40 wins and 3 losses and have never officially played for third place.
In the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1991, France won an unofficial third-place play-off 3-0 against New Zealand.
Olsen-Baker has an unusual story. Black Fern #233, she has played 15 Tests, achieving 10 wins and scoring seven tries in her short Test career.
In 2024, she joined fellow flankers and Rugby World Cup winners Rochelle Martin, Sarah Hirini, Charmaine McMenamin, Kennedy Simon, and Liana Mikaele Tu’ as one of the only flankers to win the Black Ferns Player of the Year award, which started in 1994.
She made her Test debut against Australia in Tauranga in 2022, scoring a 20-metre runaway try in a tightly contested match played in torrential rain. She also had a strong showing in a 28-0 whitewash against Canada before injury ruled her out of the 2022 Rugby World Cup.
Her busted ACL took over a year to repair, but Olsen-Baker is no stranger to adversity. Her family hails from Rangitukia, north of Tikitiki, in a remote area on New Zealand’s North Island. It’s not far from where Invincibles All Black George Nepia is buried.
Her father, Jason, passed away when she was one, and her mother, Gabrielle, later lost another partner and is partially paralysed on the left side of her body.
Sport became a vital outlet for Olsen-Baker. She played football with fellow Black Ferns Renee Holmes and Kelsey Teneti and was introduced to rugby by former international and 2010 Rugby World Cup winner Trish Hina.
Rugby prospects in Gisborne (‘Gizzy’), where Olsen-Baker began high school, are limited. However, attending Manukura in Palmerston North – New Zealand’s secondary school champions for the last four consecutive years – proved to be “the best decision I ever made.” Manukura is coached by former Black Ferns Kristina Sue and Rhianna Ferris (sevens).
“They were my teachers, coaches, and parents when I didn’t have any,” Olsen-Baker reflected. “It was a big move leaving Gizzy, but I received so many opportunities because of that, and I’m so grateful.”
Earlier in September, Manukura successfully defended their Hine Pounamu National Top Four Trophy with a last-minute 20-17 victory over Hamilton Girls’ High School. Olsen-Baker sent a good luck video message to the team during their jersey presentation.
No matter how far she may roam from Gisborne, you can’t take Gisborne out of the girl. After receiving the player of the match accolade against South Africa, she was asked what the Black Ferns discussed at half time to improve their performance.
Olsen-Baker responded, “Just AFD, which means ‘all effing day,’” much to the amusement of the international press.
“That’s some Gizzy slang,” Olsen-Baker laughed.
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