Maia Joseph on Black Ferns' persisting World Cup 'hurt' ahead of Canada rematch

Maia Joseph, 23, has become a permanent fixture in the Black Ferns. The halfback has featured in 17 of the last 19 Tests since making her debut in a 57-5 win against the USA in Hamilton in May 2024.

On Saturday, she will oppose Canadian captain and arguably the best halfback in the world, Justine Pelletier, in the Black Ferns’ Pacific Four clash against Canada in Kansas.

The winner will likely capture the PAC4 championship, and though New Zealand are the defending champions, it was Canada who ended the Black Ferns’ reign as Rugby World Cup champions, scoring a record 34-19 win in the semi-final at Ashton Gate in Bristol. Pelletier, who has won 31 of her 44 Test matches, was named player of the match, scoring one of her seven Test tries in that game.

“That result still hurts,” Joseph admitted to RugbyPass.

“Most of the girls in this team were in that match, and we didn’t play the way we wanted to. We made too many mistakes and didn’t play in the right parts of the field.

“Canada’s lineout drive is very strong. It’s one of the key foundations of their game. The best way to stop that is not to concede penalties.

“Justine is a very good halfback. She’s got a quick pass, and her running game near the rucks is dangerous. One of the highlights of the World Cup was challenging myself against quality halfbacks and learning some of the things that make them successful.”

Joseph produced a polished 57 minutes in the Black Ferns 48-15 win against the USA in Sacramento last weekend to open PAC4. The highlights of the victory included 23 points by fullback Renee Holmes and three tries to Mererangi Paul.

“It was pretty cool. The back three had a lot of fun out there. We worked hard throughout the week to build connections, so it was good to get some rewards, though I did bomb two tries, which I wasn’t happy about,” Paul said afterwards.

“It was great to have a game after seven months. Many of the US girls have been playing since the World Cup in PWR. That’s a major reason for their improvement and perhaps explains why we were a little rusty,” Joseph added.

Head-to-Head

Last 4 Meetings

Wins

2

Draws

1

Wins

1

Average Points scored

26

29

First try wins

25%

Home team wins

0%

Narrowly ahead 19-15 at halftime, the Black Ferns faced anxiety when veteran blindside Liana Mikaele-Tu’u was yellow-carded for a shoulder-to-head tackle in the 42nd minute. The Eagles immediately launched a menacing attack inside the Black Ferns’ 22. A massive ruck turnover from tighthead prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu defused it.

From the ensuing penalty, the Black Ferns gained favourable field position and used their backs, whose handling was far superior to the Eagles’. In the 45th minute, slick distribution freed Paul, who nearly repeated her eighth-minute chip-and-chase try. A knock-on over the line denied that, but anchored in US territory, Paul eventually set up Renee Holmes. From there, the floodgates opened.

“I wasn’t really thinking about the score. It was more about getting our process right and achieving the right balance between defence and our strength, which is to attack,” Joseph said.

“Veisinia is an incredible player. That turnover was a big moment. We’re lucky to have someone that big and mobile who can play for 80 minutes.”

The Black Ferns made 14 line breaks in the USA match, more than twice as many as all other teams combined (6). They have made 45 line breaks across their last three games at the tournament. Mererangi Paul made four line breaks in Round 1 and has made more total line breaks than any player in the history of the Pacific Four Series (16).

Another highlight of the match was the American debut of halfback Abigail Paton, who was a teammate of Joseph’s at Matatu.

“I was so happy for her to get her debut. She’s a quality player. It’s great to see her doing well,” Joseph said.

The Black Ferns have lost only one of their last 12 Tests (W10 D1), scoring an average of 44.3 points per game across that frame. Additionally, the Black Ferns have won all nine women’s Tests against Canada in North America by an average margin of 38 points per game. Their overall record in North America is 28 wins and three defeats.

Canada beat Australia 24-0 in the opening round and have won 11 of their last 12 Tests. They haven’t lost to the Black Ferns since a 52-21 defeat in Ottawa, 2023. Last year, the teams shared a thrilling 27-27 draw in Christchurch.

With two minutes remaining, the Black Ferns were down 27-22 but strung together 22 attritional phases, probing from side to side, up the middle, anywhere there was a possible chink in the Canadian armour. Eventually, the red wall cracked when Sylvia Brunt crashed over for her 10th, and most vital, Test try. Ruahei Demant, who in the 68th minute slotted a clutch penalty to tie the scores, was unable to nudge the hosts ahead from the edge of the sideline and a packed grandstand.

The progression of the score is the quickest way to surmise the evenness of proceedings. New Zealand struck first with Braxton Sorensen-McGee capitalising on a Chryss Viliko charge down. Canada responded to make it 7-7. Then it went 12-7, 12-12, 19-12, 19-17, 19-22, 22-22, 27-22, and finally 27-27. The Black Ferns led twice; Canada enjoyed ascendancy for the first time in the 65th with an Alysha Corrigan try. A shallow clearance by the Black Ferns was punished in Sevens-like style by Canada. Four quick passes opened up the openside, and it was Goodnight Irene. Corrigan was electric for Canada, adding two linebreaks. Olivia Apps made a huge impact from the bench. The Black Ferns’ previous draw was 8-8 against England in London in 2011.

“Canada is a very good side, but we’re focused on our performance. We have a lot of work to do regarding discipline and fully implementing our game plan,” Joseph said.

Joseph scored a try in the Black Ferns best performance of the Alan Bunting era, a 40-0 win over Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.

“That was a special try. It happened in front of my family, too,” Joseph said.

“The Ireland game was one of those games where everything clicked. Our defence set a tone, and we’ve always had the firepower out wide. Hopefully, we can play like that on Saturday.”