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World Cup memories- Stacey Waaka: 'As I limped off the field, I felt deeply gutted'
By Adam Julian
The radiant smile of Stacey Waaka lit up the 2022 Rugby World Cup final between the Black Ferns and England at Eden Park.
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The centre left the field, accompanied by a huge roar from the crowd, in the 73rd minute with a massive grin after setting up a try for Ayesha Leti-I’iga, which helped propel the hosts to a winning 34-31 lead.
However, three years after that momentous occasion in Auckland, the double Olympic sevens gold medallist has a startling confession.
“I kind of faked it, you know? Acting as if I was all good when I wasn’t,” Waaka remembered, whilst laughing.
“The adrenaline flowing through me at that moment was crazy, but as I limped off the field, I felt deeply gutted. I had a high ankle sprain and wasn’t good at all.
“I’ve watched it a couple of times since, and I’m incredibly grateful and proud that the crowd clapped me off, but it’s kind of awkward because I hate being in the spotlight during moments like that. It’s about the team, and I was actually in real pain.”
Waaka quipped shortly after the final: “I’m sore, I’m absolutely sore, but it’s worth it. I said I’d break a leg for this team. I literally broke my ankle, but I’m alright. I’m on six weeks of holiday after this.”
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So when did the pain start?
“We talked about playing with freedom and heart. We knew there was space outside because they were down a player, so we wanted to utilise that space. There was no pain when I was running on the field.
“My eyes lit up when Theresa (Setefano) put the kick in, and I saw a chance to get it. If the ball bounced up, I was going to catch it, and it did. But as soon as I got it, Ellie Kildunne tackled me awkwardly, and my foot got stuck underneath her.
“In a split second, I saw Ayesha coming through. I made the pop and hoped she would catch it. I didn’t see it; I was out, and then the crowd erupted.
“I couldn’t even watch the last two minutes. I thought if we controlled the ball and played at the right end of the field, we’d be sweet. When they got a lineout five meters out from our line, their bread and butter, I tucked my head in my lap and thought, ‘We’re done for here.'”
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In a captivating encounter, English right winger Lydia Thompson was sent off in the 14th minute – receiving a red card for an accidental head-high tackle on Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. At that moment, the Red Roses were leading 14-0, and Waaka sensed a shift in momentum.
“Okay, if we play it right, do what we do in training, look at the pictures in front of us, and control the things we can control, we’ve got this,” Waaka reflected.
“It’s always tough playing with 14 players; you have to work that much harder. I was genuinely gutted for England, but it was still going to be incredibly challenging.”
Down 26-19 at halftime, Waaka scored the first of three second-half tries for the Black Ferns, exploiting the left edge where Thompson would have been defending.
This thrilling length-of-the-field movement was voted the Sky Sport Fans Try of the Year, with commentator Rikki Swannell exclaiming, “New Zealand strikes from the end of the world! What a try to start the second half.”
Black Ferns Director of Rugby Sir Wayne Smith described how the try was planned.
“That whole movement is exactly how we trained. It looks like flair, but its efficiency is camouflaged. The movements off the ball were beautiful. Ayesha cuts in and takes the defender, then she splits the cover defence by staying on the inside of Renee Holmes.
“Everyone’s on the same page. We worked hard to come forward and present multiple threats to commit the defence. Then we need to execute the obvious quickly. There’s a bit of ‘number eight wire’ involved. When the defender comes in, hit the hole, which Stacey did.
“We practised all year, passing closer to the body, nearer to the defender. You can’t afford to throw it out from the hip; it must be close and late.”
Even this short snippet of conversation demonstrates the Black Ferns ethos of playing the ball from almost anywhere, wrapped in their attacking flair.
“Our coaches were awesome in 2022. Man, we had to do a lot of homework with all their nifty little moves,” Waaka reflected.
“Having these legends who had been there and done that brought great confidence to the group, not just because they had knowledge and experience, but because they stepped out of their comfort zones.
“They didn’t have to coach us. We were terrible the year before. They could have made millions elsewhere, but they chose us, and that’s really special.
“I think we got the balance right with youth and experience. We, the sevens girls who’d been professional for a decade, helped nurture the younger girls who’ve been picked for a reason. They have plenty of talent. What better way to make a name for yourself than at a home World Cup?
“Maia Ross, Sylvia Brunt, they’ve got about 20 caps now, so the vibe will be different this year – different coaches, different game plan, different opposition, and different management – but I believe we have the right people in the right places.”
Since winning her second World Cup, the 29-year-old hasn’t slowed down earning the Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year award in 2023 and securing her second Olympic gold medal in Paris in 2024. Waaka then changed codes and had a stint with the Brisbane Broncos in the WNRL.
In 2025, she returned to play in two Tests for the Black Ferns: a 79-14 crushing victory over the USA in May and a recent 37-12 success against Australia in Wellington.
On April 25th, Waaka was named in the Black Ferns squad for her third World Cup. Can she add one more World Cup winners medal to her prolific collection come September?
Waaka was recently named in RugbyPass’ Top 50 best players in the world. View the list here.
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