Taylor Curtis on making history and the thrill of the Farah Palmer Cup
On eve of week one of the Farah Palmer Cup, Canterbury’s Taylor Curtis reflects on her team’s historic maiden title in 2017, and why they are ready for the brand new season.
We never discussed the idea of making history. It didn’t really cross our minds until we were inches from potentially making the final and, even then, what was before us was talked about purely in a light-hearted manner. We knew that our captain, Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox (AKA Foxy), and the little nugget, Kendra Cocksedge, had made the final a handful of times but had never walked away with the trophy but that was never something they would have wanted us to dwell on. Even so, we all thought one thing: ‘We better not let these two
legendary Cantabrians down’.
The season had started well for us, even before the competition had begun. Something had catalysed in training and there was a new sense of direction for the team. Yes, in past years we all had played hard and we all lived and breathed rugby as it was, but this time the feeling was more relaxed, more assured than it had been in previous seasons. I think we were all beginning to feel like we belonged in provincial rugby. It was a world cup year, women’s rugby was on the rise. We had the one thing every team needs: excitement at the prospect of a tough and thrilling competition.
The nature of the women’s game at club level means we all knew each other, and understood our collective strengths and weaknesses. We had bonds that had been tightened on cold Tuesday trainings, and tested on combative Saturday afternoons. We were mates, really, a band of sisters connected by the game we loved. We reinforced those friendships through the grind of training.
We wanted to improve individually and as a team, making sure everyone took ownership of their tasks and that we were present mentally with everything we did, from training and fitness to the ultra-competitive mini-team challenges. Let us be clear here: There is no love lost in a mini-team challenge. This is an opportunity to muster every dirty trick and double-cross in the book. We had themed our teams around Game of Thrones, which was rather problematic for those among us who had never seen the show. The GoT Geeks among you
out there will appreciate the fact that no one liked “The Lannisters”.
We felt we were in great shape for the first game of the season against the Otago Spirit and managed to win comfortably if not with a lot of the polish we were looking for. The Spirit, just like their male counterparts are a team imbued with a certain physicality and fight that takes a lot to tame. Getting the win gave us confidence for our next assignment, but we knew it would be another level up.
It was a season of firsts for our team, and one of the most memorable was a rare chance to play on Eden Park. Regardless of where in the country you hail from, there is no doubt that Eden Park remains the Holy Grail for players. Of course we tried to pocket the excitement and play it cool, but walking out onto that field upon arrival and feeling that turf under the boots was a genuine thrill. Maybe it was a little too much for most of us.
I can still remember going through some high ball drills in the warm up when the heavens opened and a biblical rain began to fall. None of us saw it coming, and from that point on none of us could see the balls coming either! It was high-risk Falcon weather and we did our best to take our catches without taking a ball straight to the face. We were almost giggling by the end of the drill, and as we finished up, the rain stopped and the clouds parted. Talk about timing! We knew then that we were ready for anything. Anything, that is, except a Storm of a different kind. Auckland absolutely annihilated us that afternoon, winning 41-12. If we were going to be any chance, we were going to have to fight fire with fire.
There was plenty of soul-searching following that Auckland loss. We were on the hunt for the Iron Throne, but if we had thought it would be easy, we had been handed a harsh lesson in reality. We needed to bounce back quickly and found a groove against the Cyclones the next week. That set us up for another Auckland trip – this time to face perennial contenders, Counties-Manukau Heat. It was to be a turning point for us in terms of our process and mentality.
What the Auckland loss had taught us most was that we needed to play the best rugby we could without thinking of the final outcome. We needed to stay in the moment and trust what we were doing. Yes, the Heat were going to be tough but if we kept playing for 80 minutes, we would force them to stay with us, rather than allow them to set the pace. We became aware of just how important our finishers were – not just when they entered the game, but in constant communication from the sideline. All afternoon the bench barracked for the girls, imploring them to get up from the tackle or praising the clearing and ruck work. It was non-stop, and so were the girls in the middle. They had subjugated the desire to get the competition points, preferring instead to focus on playing a full game of good rugby. In the end, we had the victory: 32-29.
Most fans of the game would be unaware that the Farah Palmer Cup also has its own challenge trophy. Just as it is for the Ranfurly Shield, the JJ Stewart Trophy is a much-prized provincial possession and the victory meant it was ours. Unfortunately, it had been left by one of the Heat girls in Auckland, so there was a race to get it to the stadium to hand it over. We thought it was hilarious. I’m not sure the Heat thought they would be needing to give it up that day!
On the flight home the JJ Stewart sat next to me on the plane, although the flight attendant was rather concerned it was a hazard. Its two steel goal posts sticking out from the top do give it a rather menacing appeal. That said, it’s a perfect design for code heads like Grace Brooker. She would spend many hours over the next few weeks perfecting her coin football flicks. Grace Brooker: the Queen of Extras.
The momentum was ours. From there we despatched Tasman, Waikato and Wellington and set up a semifinal showdown against Waikato. We began to think that the Iron Throne could indeed be ours but we needed to stay in the moment. The semifinal was slated for AMI Stadium in Christchurch, home of Canterbury and Crusaders rugby and another chance for us to play on one of the most well-known grounds in the country. We knew what had happened last time we ran out on a famous ground. We were going to damn well make sure
we weren’t overawed this time.
Semi-finals are such head trips. There is excitement, certainly, but there is also dread. Sudden death is such a brutal thing in sport, and as much as you try to treat it as any other game, you know that there is so much more at stake. There were also other factors to deal with – we had to warm up outside the ground and then take a long walk to the stadium to play the game, a situation that would be repeated just a few weeks ago in Sydney for the Black Ferns and Wallaroos test match – but we refused to let these small obstacles get in the way. Confidence, process, trust. That was our mantra. On a windy afternoon at AMI Stadium, it all came together. We defeated Waikato 60-26. We were heading to the final.
A week later, we returned to Pukekohe to face the Heat. It would be one of the most intense afternoons of rugby any of us had ever known. Seven times Canterbury had been in the final, and seven times we had come away with the runners-up medal. We had history against us and ahead of us, barely acknowledged but in the backs of our minds all the same. We wanted this so badly now. But so did the Heat.
It took 33 minutes before there was any score in the game. Kendra Cocksedge kicking a penalty to put us 3-nil up. We were playing a massive pack – the Heat renowned for big ball carriers and big hitters. In the second half, Grace Brooker was cleaned up by Timara Leaf, resulting in a yellow card for the Counties second-five. Still we couldn’t find a way through the line. A dropped goal extended the lead midway through second spell, and then Kendra was taken out after a lineout and the Heat were again reduced to 14 players.
We were 6-nil up, into the final quarter and looking to play from anywhere. From nowhere, Lanulangi Veainu, the young Heat winger intercepted a width pass and sprinted away under the posts to score. Hazel Tubic, one of the legends of the women’s game, slotted the conversion and the Heat led by one.
I would tell you that any of us remembered the next 15 minutes, but it was a blur. We kept pushing, punching away at the Heat defence, and making tackles when they had the ball. We kept talking, encouraging eachother to stay in the fight. We were chasing the game, chasing the Iron Throne, but we just needed to stay patient. With two minutes to go, after pressing hard on the Heat line, Rebecca Todd, our tough as nails number eight, dived over for the try. The title, finally, was Canterbury’s. If you ever want to see unadulterated joy, check the highlights of Kendra Cocksedge at the end of the game. I don’t know if it could have meant more to her.
And now here we are again, on the eve of the new season. It is great to say that while a few faces have changed, the passion from last year has returned. We are set on regaining that feeling of being part of a well-drilled team, one that wants to be better and wants to help every member be better. We want to keep learning and evolving in everything we do but there is no thought of a title defence. This is a new season. We are ready.
We know that the expanded season will present many more challenges for us, challenges that we – and all the women in this competition – accept. We all want the same thing: to play the game well, and to win. We want that feeling of being in the final again. As Crusaders Coach Brad Mooar once told us, “The hard work is all the games leading up to the final, the final is when you play to have fun.”
Long may the fun continue.
Taylor Curtis is a Canterbury women’s rugby player, studying Media and Psychology at the University of Canterbury.
Instagram: @taylorcurtis6
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Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments