RWC2025 | Assistant coach Tony Christie, Risi Pouri-Lane and Tanya Kalounivale speak ahead of New Zealand's Rugby World Cup 2025 semi-final

Assistant coach Tony Christie, Risi Pouri-Lane and Tanya Kalounivale (pictured) speak ahead of New Zealand's Rugby World Cup 2025 semi-final against Canada at Ashton Gate Stadium on Friday.

Tony Christie, assistant coach

On if the Black Ferns consider themselves the favourites or the underdogs:
"I don’t know. I haven’t looked at the odds. We’re very confident in our ability, so it doesn’t really matter whether we have a favourite’s tag or underdogs. We prepare the same."

On how much confidence he has in his squad:
"We’re really confident in our team. We’ve said it all along, that we need not only the 32 but the 42 squad that we have back at home. I think you’ve seen with some injuries that we have the quality to come in, so yeah I’m really confident."

On New Zealand’s style of play:
"I would say adaptable. We’ve always been a team that’s been fast, physical and unpredictable, but what we’re seeing now is our ability to play multiple styles, our ability to go through teams, go over teams and go around. We’re really proud with their adjustments we’ve made in our game areas for this weekend."

Risi Pouri-Lane

On balancing training and recovery following South Africa:
"I think one of the advantages we had was a six-day turnaround the week before so we know what it’s like. For us, we can play a physical style. So this week’s just about letting our bodies reload, refresh and go out and put on a physical performance."

On if she has a message for New Zealanders at home:
"If there’s one game to watch and get behind our girls, it’s this game. It’s not a crazy hour of the morning. We have really appreciated all the support that we have from Whãnua over here, so we really appreciate the support we’ve had from home and hopefully it continues at 6am tomorrow!"

Tanya Kalounivale

On the public support the tournament has been receiving:
"It’s been such an awesome experience to be a part of. I’m grateful. To even be named to play in the 23 is such a blessing. This is a different World Cup compared to the last one at home. For me, I’ve just been trying to live and learn a lot and go about my game as a player."

On what it was like watching the South African game from the bench:
"I was anxious, I’ve actually lost my voice from yelling on the sidelines in support."

On what Canada bring to the table:
"Canada is a strong physical team and so are we. Whatever they throw at us, we’re very adaptable."

On if they had any preparations tonight ahead of the match:
"Tonight we have our jersey presentation. When we were in York it was in a small room, right now in the semi-final it’s maybe three times the size, this room. That’s the amount of support we have from our families that are coming over from New Zealand and that’s one of the days in the week we look forward to is to share space with our family and share a moment because that is a special moment. We’re in a semi-final in a rugby World Cup and that might not come again. So for us, that’s a ritual we have as Black Ferns, sharing this moment with our family."