The 18-year-old national dance champion adding new spark to Black Ferns Sevens
Behind the natural charm of Jorja Miller, there’s a resilience, drive, and maturity which suggests she’ll be a permanent fixture on the New Zealand rugby scene for some time.
The 18-year-old from Canterbury was player of the match in the Black Ferns Sevens 35-0 thumping of France in the Sydney Sevens final last week.
She created the first try of the match with an exquisite pass to Tenika Willison and thrived all-round as the Black Ferns won their 30th tournament in the World Sevens Series.
Earlier Miller scored tries in wins against Papua New Guinea (48-0) and France (29-14) to help New Zealand make the decider.
“I’ll play anywhere,” Miller enthusiastically announced to RugbyPass when asked what her best position is.
“I’m a working prop now which I’ve really enjoyed. In fifteens, I’m an openside flanker so I really like the physical stuff, making tackles, getting to the breakdown first, and challenging for the ball.
“It was a surprise we beat France by such a big score, but they did really well to make the final and we were on our game because of the threat they present. They’re physical, unpredictable, and fast.
“We actually played them in Mount Maunganui before Hamilton. That was really cool for both teams as we tried different combinations and learned more about our strengths and weakness.”
In 2022 handling Australia was a weakness for the Black Ferns. The Aussies won 51 of 56 matches including the World Series, Commonwealth Games gold medal, and World Cup titles.
In December the Black Ferns were again beaten by Australia in the final of the Dubai Sevens, the first event of the 2022-23 World Series. Without veterans Sarah Hirini, Stacey Fluhler, Theresa Fitzpatrick, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Cape Town the following week appeared an insurmountable challenge.
However, New Zealand thrashed Australia 31-14 in the final and has since embarked on an 18-match win streak which includes home success in Hamilton.
“We had a bit of reflection with management after Dubai and changed some things. Mostly subtle stuff like a better connection on defence and mindset. As a younger player in the team, I needed to be more decisive,” Miller said.
Miller has appeared in all 24 matches for New Zealand in the World Series this season and scored 10 tries. Her professionalism is a far cry from most teenagers. Does she miss parties, study, and typical youth?
“They’re choices I’ve made. I want to be a serious rugby player, so I must make sacrifices. I still see my friends a lot and have a good time. I think balance is key.”
Miller was born and raised in Timaru. With two older brothers, she never shirked the physical challenge, but Highland Dancing was her first sporting love.
“My great grandma first saw it at an ANP show and fell in love so taught my nanna who taught my Mum which meant I had to do it.
“It’s been massive for my rugby. It’s taught me agility, lateral movement, and being responsive to changing direction with my feet.
“It’s a competitive thing. I have won National titles in my favourite dance, Sailor’s Hornpipe, which is something Navy Seals do.”
Christchurch Girls’ High School was massive for Miller. In pursuit of harder rugby, she headed to boarding school. In 2019, while only in Year 11, she helped Christchurch win the National Condor Sevens title.
In the final against Howick College, Auckland she scored four tries in a 29-14 triumph. It was in the semi-final against reigning championships Hamilton Girls’ High School though where she made the biggest impression.
“It was 17-all and went to extra time. The game had been going for more than 20 minutes when we were lucky to get a scrum and I just got through.”
Miller sprinted 80 meters for the winning try having earlier been sin-binned and dropping the ball at a key moment.
Inevitably her performances sparked the interest of Canterbury selectors. In 2021 she played five matches and scored three tries in the Farah Palmer Cup. In the final, she topped the tackle count, but it wasn’t enough to deny Waikato their first title.
A year later she was awarded a Black Ferns Sevens contract. Covid halted the Black Ferns competition schedule for much of 2022 which was actually timely for Miller.
“In the FPC semi, I injured my knee. A chuck of cartilage fell off and was basically floating behind my patella. I played the final on anti-inflammatories. The break was hard for some of the girls, but it gave me the chance to rehab.”
Miller built a good relationship with Sarah Hirini whose captained New Zealand in 43 of the 54 tournaments she’s played.
“I started playing hooker and then when Sarah wasn’t available, I was playing in her position. It was like wow; I’ve been watching her since I was 12. She’s really welcoming except for when she tells me off for following her around all the time.”
Comments on RugbyPass
best news and very helpful
4 Go to commentsA year ago Ireland and France looked impressive. In this 6N neither looked special. Both have lost good players, but more importantly teams have figured out how to shut them down. In particular the Irish loss to a rebuilding England and the home game struggle against a brave Scotland did nothing to prove that the Irish RWC result was undeserved. If the Scots can shut down the Irish attack, then SA can do so with interest. Rassie will have watched that game with confidence. Farrell is smart, and the Irish team is talented, so we should expect a more creative game plan in SA. But if all they bring is what they showed against Scotland then Ireland is going to struggle against the Boks. It was a fun 6N tournament, but the win for Ireland was as much about weak competition as about Irish brilliance. It was mostly due to France being off the boil, Wales and Italy not being contenders, and Scotland being a home game. England are looking much better, but “much better” should not be enough to topple a team that is supposed by some to be The Best in the World. I hope that Ireland can bump it up a notch or two for the Bok tour. A year ago they were fantastic to watch. It would be great to see that again.
24 Go to commentsLooking forward to the Wallabies being competitive again. No doubt that Joe can get them back on track.
1 Go to commentsThanks, Nick, not only for this fine article, but for all the others during 6N 2024. I really enjoyed this 2024 tournament, and felt it was one of the best for many years. That final match in Lyons was really good. England were certainly unlucky when that speculative hack by Ramos lead to a French try. It could just so easily have landed in English hand.s, and they score at the other end. I did think though that the French played some great rugby, and some of their driving play in the forwards was just fearsome. I watched Meafou with interest, and he has a good start to his career. It is interesting to compare him with Will Skelton. Lot of similarities, though so far Meafou has not shown any offloading threat. All credit to Borthwick for being prepared to change, and what great result, even if that last game was lost at the death. I feel they are a real chance to cause the AB’s problems this winter/summer. Finally a comment on Ireland. I thought their last game was their worst, and they did not look like the world’s No 2 side at all. What really worries me is that the loss to England was, in my view, down to poor decision making by the coaching group, and ofc Andy Farrell wears that. It was a big mistake to move JGP away from scrum half. Murray should have been the one to go to the wing. And the “finishers” should have been on the field earlier. And this is the second time this has happened. The RWC Qf against the AB’s, and not getting Crowley onto the field was a huge mistake. Finally, finally, watching Italy play was a joy. How wonderful that they are no longer the punchbag of the 6 N.
42 Go to commentsGreat story. Rugby needs new investment in teams like Brussels another pro league in Europe would be great.
1 Go to commentsAlso, looking at the data from last year, it seemed like by far the two biggest predictors of success were (1) kicking more than your opponents, and (2) having a higher rate of line-out wins than your opponents. I haven’t gone through the stats this year with a fine tooth comb, but the increase in kicks per game and the increase in tries from lineouts would suggest that these two metrics are only getting more important. England’s move away from a kick-heavy game to win against Ireland was seen by some as evidence that running rugby is on the rise. Alternatively it could be taken as evidence that if one team kicks more, and the other team wins more lineouts (as England did) a match is bound to be close to a draw.
2 Go to commentsI have been finding it odd that points per 22 entry has become such a talked about stat, given that your points per entry can be driven down by having more entries. These data would seem to confirm that it isn’t a useful metric, or at any rate is less useful than total entries.
2 Go to commentsI think the last two games England have played is some of their best rugby they have played under Borthwick. There has been a lot more attacking instinct and as a reward have created some well worked tries. Ollie Lawrence is a good foil at 12 as he offers the hard direct lines whilst the rest of the backs can play open. As much as it pains me to say but I do hope England keep playing this way. On a side note my favourite try of the weekend was Lorenzo Pani’s for the nice loop play that put him away and his finish was excellent. Thanks as always Nick.
42 Go to commentsMost exciting player on the planet right now, worth the price of a ticket.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
24 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
42 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
6 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
42 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
4 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
4 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to comments