“Hold on, I’m just watching a re-run of the All Blacks semi-final. That was a walloping, wasn’t it? Portia Woodman is outstanding, a real specimen. She wouldn’t look out of place in the Bledisloe this weekend!” I’m speaking to Rob Jones, Head of PE at Feilding High School, two hours North of Wellington, on New Zealand’s North Island. After 13 years spent 12,000 miles away from home in the small village of Creigiau, where he grew up playing rugby at Pontyclun RFC, Jones’ vowels are a mix of South Walian and North Island but there’s no mistaking the pride in his voice when talking about two former pupils, Sarah Goss and Amy Cokayne, who are set to go toe-to-toe in the Women’s World Cup final on Saturday evening. Jones, a rugby-mad Welshman, ended up on the other side of the world after being diagnosed with testicular cancer while teaching in the Scilly Isles, which led to him taking a decision that would change his life. “I decided I wanted to see the world. My friends who had been travelling recommended New Zealand, so I sent off 28 job applications and the only people to get back to me were Feilding High School. I headed over there without a clue what to expect. That was in 2004!” Feilding High school has a long-list of former All Blacks including World Cup winners Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith, while scorer of the first try in the Lions Series Codie Taylor, is another notable alumni. None however, has impressed Jones more than Goss, the fearless Black Ferns openside who came through a few years ahead of England’s rumbustious, and equally impressive hooker, Amy Cokayne. Speaking of Goss, Jones said she started rugby, as a way keeping fit for hockey in her early teens. “In Year 9, she rocked up an asked if she could play rugby for a bit of extra fitness, so I started her on the wing, so she could pick up the game and within years, she was playing at 10 for the school.” What stood out most to her coach was her relentless work ethic. “Sarah’s a farm-girl and one of the hardest workers you’ll ever meet. She has a great skill-set and while she may not have the wheels of Portia Woodman, she’s integral to the Black Ferns.” As for Cokayne, three years Goss’ junior, she came to Jones’ attention at a similar age, when her father Ian, was posted in New Zealand with the RAF. Her talent and mental resolve soon became apparent. “Amy had played a lot more rugby than Sarah. She comes from a big military family and had trials with Aston Villa – she’s a brilliant goalkeeper. Sport courses through her veins and she was the North Island record javelin holder. As a player, she’s very physical, very dominant and totally fearless. She’s bit like Jamie George in a way. She has really good skills and a real a turn of pace. I’d love to … Continue reading How two former school mates are facing each other for Women’s World Cup glory