Pride locks Levave and Ngan-Woo both playing well

Above: The two Wellington Pride locks, Sanita Levave (left) and Joanah Ngan-Woo, lining up against Manawatu a fortnight ago. Photo credit: David Brownlie 

The Wellington Pride are hunting their fourth straight win this Friday evening when they take on the Farah Palmer Cup competition leaders and unbeaten Counties Manukau Heat side in Pukekohe. The match is the curtain raiser to the Steelers – Wellington Lions match, with the inaugural Jonah Lomu Memorial Trophy on the line.

Both Wellington Pride locks, Sanita Levave and Joanah Ngan-Woo have been in good form so far this season. We caught up with both of them this week.

What’s it going to take to beat Counties Manukau on Friday?

Sanita: Counties Manukau are a very powerful and dominant team all round who have been playing very well. We know they will come at us all guns blazing and it’s definitely going to be the most physical game so far. So as a team, playing ‘our’ game and working to our systems will be our main focus.

Joanah: Counties for some reason are my favourite team to play against as I think they play rugby the way it is supposed to be played and we need to be ready for anything. They are one of the most physical teams and definitely have a strong ball running forward pack and I think it will be interesting how we counter this. 

You beat them twice last year at home including on the hooter in the semi-final, so will you be expecting them to dig deeper this time?

Sanita: Most definitely and without a doubt Counties won’t go out without a fight. We know from last year the physicality this Heat team will bring so we will need to counteract that both in our forwards as well as our backs.

Joanah: I definitely think they are wanting redemption on Friday, and Georgia will have a target on her back which she'll love [scored winning try in last year’s semi-final]. At the end of the day it will come down to who digs deep and wants it more.

You’ve been in a few tight matches so far this year, so how has the Pride pulled through and won the close ones?

Sanita: Working collectively as a unit together from numbers 1-22. Trying to build a family environment plays a big part of how we are both on and off the field whether its trainings or games- we wouldn’t be playing if we didn’t love the game so it’s also as simple as having fun. No team is going to stand back and give anyone an easy win so during the half-time huddles is an opportunity to regroup and refocus on the task ahead.

Joanah: The culture in the Wellington Pride I believe has been drastically improved since Ports became the coach this year. We have really upped the ante with trainings intensity and recovery. Our team is now more of a family and a sisterhood. The environment is a place of growth where players can learn off experienced players as well as coaches rather than it being everyone against each other for a position. This is the key I think to our team being able to pull through against Waikato as well as Otago, we constantly endeavour to pick each other up and work hard for each other.

As forwards, how good is it to see the backs playing well and scoring tries?

Sanita: Our backline is young but elusive. The combination of speed and power they have is exciting. From the likes of Vaine our swifty utility back, to our fearless young Ayesha who always knows how to finish, to the return of the “Mac”, our backs are definitely a force to be reckoned with – all with ball in hand are quite lethal. Our backs always get the fun part of scoring all the tries!

Joanah: As a forward it is a massive relief to see the backs scoring glamorous tries, One player goes over the line but it's a team effort of 15 to put her there. Ayesha's tries against Otago last week was a result of her never ending handwork and determination and as a forward we try to provide as much front-foot ball for the backs in order for them to do what they do.

There’s good growth in your game at the moment, more players and more opportunities – how has that improved the standard in women’s rugby?

Sanita: I think the standard of women’s rugby will only get better and seems to be evolving more so now than in recent years especially with the likes of having more interest in younger girls even starting with primary school rippa tournaments to school girl’s rugby and 7’s tournaments. Its promising to see all the young talent coming through, the sport is always evolving so no doubt within the next few years hopefully we see that the game will continue to grow.

Joanah: There is immense growth in our game with more players and opportunities and this has really improved the standard in women's rugby especially this year having a Pride Development team. In my first year at Ories we came last, the next year we made the final and the following year we won. That's some amazing growth and development. At national level there are more international players coming to NZ to experience what we have here and also some opportunities for us overseas.

How and when did you start playing rugby?

Sanita: I started playing back when I was 6th form [Year 12] at St Mary’s College. I am an only girl with four older brothers [including former Hurricane Faifili], so I pretty much just played to prove a point that girls could do anything boys can. Rugby had just been introduced that year at the time St Mary’s and Wellington Girls’ College were combined, they always struggled to make numbers, got asked to fill in and never turned back. 

Joanah: I started playing rugby at St Catherine’s in Year 9 and I was so scared I cried before my first training and I didn't want to go – Fa'asua Makisi, Lizzie Goulden, and a few past Pride players were seniors in the St Catherine’s team and they were all really good to us younger girls. I was so small then that the rugby top looked like a dress on me and I played winger, or mostly bench warmer. I started playing at Ories when I was 16, and the rest is history.

You’re currently playing lock for the Pride – what other positions have you played?

Sanita: When I started out playing rugby, for our school team I played No. 8 (I think because I was the biggest one in the team) then into Wellington Secondary Schools my first year of playing I got thrown into lock and never left.

Joanah: This past club season I have been playing No. 8 and I was a utility lock/loosie last year for the Pride. But I am a true lock at heart, however growing up I was a winger [see above] due to being very small.

Who calls the lineouts, and who leads the forwards?

Sanita: Jax [Jackie Patea] our captain fantastic is our lineout master. Our tighties work very hard as a unit and we take the lead from our captain Jax. She stirs us into the right direction and we follow.

Joanah: Jax calls the lineouts and on the field it is a joint effort of running the tight forwards as everyone (hopefully) already knows their roles and lines. Acacia our halfback directs all the forwards on the field and is a strong directive voice on the field that we look for.

What does playing club rugby mean for you? You’ll be keen to come back next year for your club and take this year’s champions Wainuiomata?

Sanita: Club rugby is the best time of the season because its home! I always love playing club because you get to try out new things, learn new skills and develop as a player - at the same time as helping your own team grow. There’s always so much raw and hidden talent in club teams that you don’t get to see elsewhere. The real grassroots rugby starts at club rugby. Will definitely be back next year to play, Wainuiomata will definitely be back in full force for a double header next year. Should be a good year.

Joanah: While it is always a privilege to play for Wellington Pride, playing club rugby and helping new players means a lot to me, some people have so much potential it is crazy. This was the first year of being captain for the Ories women's team and it has been a massive experience for me as a player. Playing club is very important to me as it is the place where I realised my passion for rugby also the environment at Ories is very similar to that of Pride, Ories for me is a tight knit family on and off the field. Definitely would be keen next year to redeem ourselves against Wainuiomata.

Do you have memorable rugby moment or highlight?

Sanita: Memorable moment (rugby related): Receiving a phone call from coach Grant Hansen asking “How would you like to play in a black jersey” – especially after a few years of trying. Highlight: Just recently being acknowledged by my home club Norths who have a bus stop in Porirua of pictures with women from the club who have represented at national level. It took that for it to hit home that I had played there. Recognition from own club – priceless.

Joanah: Most memorable rugby moment was winning the Victoria Tavern Trophy with Ories in 2014, as well as being in the NPC final last year was a huge moment for me and especially for the Pride having not made the final for many years. Another memorable experience was playing in the NZ tertiary 7s team this year in Wales.

Off the field, what do you do for work or study?

Sanita: Currently studying for a Bachelor of Nursing.

Joanah: In my third year of my Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Policy and Education, hoping to graduate at the end of the year. Also have part time jobs at ResearchNZ, and as a student ambassador at Uni.