31 Oct 2020

Waikato chase maiden title as Canterbury go for four straight

9:37 am on 31 October 2020

Dominance will continue or history will be made in rugby's Farah Palmer Cup final on Saturday.

Chelsea Alley playing for Waikato.

Chelsea Alley playing for Waikato. Photo: © Copyright Andrew Cornaga 2020 / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd

Canterbury and Waikato meet in Christchurch to decide the winner of this year's national provincial women's championship.

Last weekend's semifinal win over Manawatu took Waikato women within one win of a big milestone.

Upset the three-time defending champions in the title decider, and they'll be crowned national champions for the first time.

Waikato loose forward Kennedy Simon said the visitors were embracing their big chance.

"Our theme is legacy and we stripped it right back and talked to [former player] Regina Schick, who gave us a bit of insight about the history of the team.

"This weekend is going to be not only a testament to us but to those women and the pathway they paved for us to get to this moment."

Waikato were also one win from the title in 2014, when their one and only final appearance ended in defeat to Auckland.

Simon said the team was openly talking about making history, but conceded beating Canterbury on their home patch was no easy feat.

"We always walk towards challenges.

"There's no denying that they're the best of the best at the moment and we're coming to give them a good performance but we know they're going to bring it back.

"They're going to defend their title with lots of pride and that's a challenge that we're ready to take."

Having lifted the trophy the past three years running, Canterbury vice captain Grace Brooker said they were well aware Waikato came south with plenty of motivation.

"We know there's a big target on our backs but we don't see ourselves up there.

"Every year it's not about protecting the trophy it's about earning it back so that's what we're focusing on."

Helping them do that was a coaching and management team which included a heavy female presence.

Grace Brooker of Canterbury scores a try

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Brooker said it was a factor which had had a big impact on their continued success.

"We know it's more than just a game. We're trying to grow it for future generations and trying to get as many females involved as possible.

"It's been a really key part of our environment and culture but the lads [on our coaching staff] as well. They've been doing an awesome job and keeping us all together and keeping us motivated."

Motivation for many players had also been supplemented by further chances to impress ahead of next year's World Cup on Kiwi soil.

The Farah Palmer Cup is followed by a Possibles vs Probables clash next weekend, before a Black Ferns side is selected for two matches against a New Zealand Barbarians team.

Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore said he and the selection panel would definitely be keeping a close eye on the final.

"One thing we are seeing is in the last few weeks a number of these combinations of these players improving.

"It's going to be interesting to see how the two best teams in the competition go against each other. Just how some of those players adapt to a little bit more pressure will be interesting for us."

And, having been part of a more competitive North pool, Waikato's Kennedy Simon hoped they'll be more resilient than a Canterbury side who dominated the weaker South pool.

"Going into this weekend that'll help us a lot.

"Physically and mentally we were tested, and arguably, our comp was a little bit harder."