When Black Ferns become rivals: Aupiki final pits friendship against glory

This Saturday, under the roof of Te Kaha Stadium, the Super Rugby Aupiki final will deliver something rare: a match where 30 Black Ferns take the field, but only one team leaves with the trophy. For the first time, Matatū host the decider, facing a Blues side chasing a third consecutive title. And for 80 minutes, the bonds of the black jersey will be set aside.

“When we wear the black jersey, we know we serve the Fern,” said Blues and Black Ferns first-five Ruahei Demant. “But when we’re back in our regions, representing our hometowns, where we grew up, there’s no mercy on the field. There’s no holding back, there’s no handbrakes. We’re all-in.”

How did Matatū earn the home final?

Matatū have fought hard to secure hosting rights for the first time, a milestone for the South Island side. Winger Winnie Palamo said the team feels the stars are aligning. “We’ve worked so hard for this moment the past few weeks, we’ve had a really good season, and I hope that we can finish it off with a win.”

Palamo acknowledged the Blues’ star power but insisted her team is undaunted. “They’re a physical side, and they’ve got lots of big names in their team. But we’re not going to shy away from that. We love a good challenge, and I think our girls, as soon as that whistle blows, we’re just going to give it back to them.”

Can the Blues make it three in a row?

The Blues, led by coach Willie Walker, are chasing a historic third straight title. But Walker is cautious about using words like “dynasty.” “To be there for the third year, it’s very humbling and we’re just really excited. We’ve earned the opportunity to play another final this year.”

Demant admitted the season hasn’t been perfect. “We haven’t had a picture perfect season. That’s probably why this final is a bit sweeter than the other two, because we’ve had to earn it, we’ve had to grind for it, we’ve had to be resilient.”

What does this final mean for Black Ferns selection?

Walker sees the match as a de facto Black Ferns trial. “Across the park, you can count one to 15, one to 23, there are some pretty cool battles. So that in itself puts a little bit more pressure on the players and people around. But that’s the exciting part of it. We want our girls to be able to perform at this top level, and so the pressure that comes from finals is only going to help them grow.”

How have the teams fared this season?

The ledger is even: Matatū won in Pukekohe in round three, while the Blues took revenge in Christchurch last weekend. Palamo said her team learned from those losses. “Obviously, the last two games didn’t really go our way, and I think what we can take away from that is a few learnings. This week we’ve really nailed what we needed to to prepare for Saturday, and we’re just ready to go out there and just play our best footy.”

With a guaranteed dry track under the roof, Walker plans to play attacking rugby. “Hopefully plans don’t go out the window. We give our girls the licence to be able to play the pictures that are presented to them and we just hope that they make good decisions and then we get the result off the back of that.”

What’s at stake for women’s rugby in Aotearoa?

This final is more than a trophy. It’s a showcase of the depth and talent in New Zealand women’s rugby, with 30 Black Ferns on the field. Demant knows last week’s win counts for little. “Finals footy is different. They’re going to bring everything, but so are we.”

For Palamo and Matatū, the opportunity to win at home is a dream. For the Blues, it’s about cementing a legacy. Either way, the Aupiki final promises to be a celebration of the sport’s growth, resilience, and the fierce competition that makes New Zealand rugby special.