25 March - Christchurch - New Zealand Captain Sophie Devine pre-match press conference
A quick update on our injured players. So we have Lea Tahuhu, So Lea has been ruled out of tomorrow's fixture. She hasn't recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in Auckland. So again, she won't be playing tomorrow. The other one the lady in front of you Sophie Devine - she is the White Ferns captain. Soph, trained today. She came through training alright, so she'll continue to be monitored over the next 24 hours, but hopeful of taking the field tomorrow against Pakistan.
Reporter: Just a word on Lea, obviously this is her home ground and its potentially a 100% capacity. How good is she and how gutted are you for her for missing out?
Sophie: Look it's always tough to miss out when you get the opportunity to play at home. She actually spoke to me yesterday. She doesn't have a great track record actually playing games for the New Zealand side here at Hagley. She pulled up lame I think a couple of years ago with another hamstring injury. So, I think she's only ever completed two out of four games. So maybe it's a good sign that she's sitting this one out but we'll certainly miss her experience. I thought she's been fantastic with the ball this competition and you know, we'll certainly miss her leading that pace attack, but she'll be supporting from the sidelines. She's certainly really hopeful that we get a full crowd and to support the white fins.
Reporter: And looking at the match. I know it's not mathematically impossible for you to qualify. Is that still how you're viewing it? Or are you perhaps seeing this as a bit of a final swansong in front of all the crowds?
Sophie: Oh look, I think we've got to be realistic about it. I don't know the exact numbers but we do know that this is likely our final game here and it's how we want to play it - Bob mentioned at training earlier today that tomorrow will be our final, it's obviously not the final that we thought we would be playing in. But we've still got so much passion and pride that we want to make sure that we go out tomorrow and really put on a performance that we're certainly proud of but also all our friends and family and the rest in New Zealand are hopefully really proud of as well.
Reporter: Lastly, for me, obviously one more game to go but how do you reflect on the tournament so far for your side and perhaps more widely what it's been like to have the World Cup in New Zealand?
Sophie: Yeah, look, it's a really hard one to reflect on at the moment. Obviously, still pretty raw and we've obviously got a game tomorrow that a lot of our energy - all our energy in fact is focused on that but for me so far. I think the tournament's been fantastic. I think honestly, this has probably been one of the most competitive, high scoring competitions that I've been involved in. I've been around for a while and I think the way that teams have batted in particular has been outstanding. I think a lot of credit has to go to the ground staff though and what's been prepared here in New Zealand, which obviously I'm very proud of, and I just think it's been fantastic to see scores of 250 plus, obviously 300 of the start of the tournament with Australia and England. I think it shows the growth of the woman's game and when we get put on great cricket wickets, you get fantastic results.
So, look, I'm extremely proud of, obviously my team and all the other teams here but also the work that's gone on behind this tournament because jeez, it's been a long run. So, I'm very thankful and grateful for everyone that's done their part to make this tournament possible.
Reporter: How’s the back and what’s the progress over the last few days?
Sophie: It's made some really good improvement obviously got through training today, which was, I guess a big test for me. It's something I've experienced before sort of the back stiffness soreness, so we know that that responds really well to treatment and today was just a really key path for me to make sure that I've got, I guess, confidence in it and making sure that I'm 100% Because if I'm not I'm not going to put myself out there. So you look obviously we'll see how the next 24 hours go but feeling good.
Reporter: How tough was it knowing that tomorrow probably in all likelihood it’s the White Ferns’ last game in this tournament. I mean, you guys came in probably hoping to make the semi-finals or final at Hagley. And here you are against Pakistan or by your swansong, how devastating and tough is it for the group?
Sophie: Oh look, it's certainly as you say, it's not where we thought we'd be, but we have to deal with what we've got. And we've got to look back and think that we're so close. Absolutely. We'd love to have been on the other side of it. And we've played good cricket in patches but again we haven't been able to come out on top, so for us tomorrow's our real focus. We want to make sure that we go out and we finish strongly
Reporter: When you sort of look back on it what do you feel has let the team down the most not getting to the semifinals, like what’s hurt you the most you feel?
Sophie: I think in all honesty, we haven't scored enough runs. I think there's been a number of games where if we'd have scored 20-30 more runs, I think, you know, the result would have been a little bit more, maybe easy to come by. So, I think we've – and that will happen naturally after the tournament's finished and wrapped up again. I say tomorrow's our big focus for all those reflections and reviews will happen, but certainly run scoring has been an issue for us.
Reporter: Yeah, there'll be a lot sort of, you know, the White Ferns tournament once this tournament is over, but what do you feel you need more from New Zealand cricket? I guess for the White Ferns in the future. I mean, I know the White Ferns don't have the resources Australia and England do, but what needs to happen in the future do you feel for this team to take the next step forward?
Sophie: Firstly, I think New Zealand cricket has been really supportive of us. I think we've made massive growth particularly since when I first started, we've seen the contracts improve, domestic contracts are now part of it. We've seen resources, we've had camps this summer and I think that needs to continue. I think again, everyone's going to say they want more money but for me it's not about the money. It's about the resource, the structure, the staff, the systems that go in place behind it. So I certainly think that we're moving in the right direction, which is a real positive. We're never going to have the same amount of money and resources as Australia in England, so we need to stop comparing ourselves to them. We've got some really awesome positives that work for us. We’re obviously a small country, we can move around the country very quickly, and I guess unite our skill. So they're all things that I think New Zealand cricket have done really well and we look forward to working together with them in the future.
Reporter: Do you think the first Under 19 Women's Cricket World Cup, that's going to be a huge step forward for these younger players and Johnston just getting the taste of international cricket coming through the white fins, is that going to be a huge step?
Sophie: Massive, absolutely massive. I think we've seen it in the men's game the impact that's had of exposing young talent to playing in different conditions. I think it's something that's really exciting and I certainly know from my own personal experience going over and touring is something so unique and so awesome about cricket, so I think it's going to be huge for the woman's game. Certainly, here in New Zealand Cricket, we’re obviously got Sarah McGlashan leading that program, which is fantastic to see. She's obviously a huge talent in that coaching space. I'm really looking forward to seeing how that group moves forward.
Reporter: There's been no mention of retirements in the last few days on some of the experienced players - Katie Martin, mentioned this last time-
Sophie: No look, I think again, the focus has been on playing Pakistan on set day. So that's certainly where all our energy's been on. You know, again, it's out of our control and if people do decide to stick away, not just in our team, but other teams as well. I think we do - we want to focus on the game at hand.
Reporter: I guess just in terms of losing someone of Tahuhu’s caliber ahead of the Pakistan Match, Who do you look to in terms of, I guess, a player to stand up and I guess it's also must be a great opportunity for other girls to be able to fill this spot as well.
Sophie: Oh, absolutely. Devastating that Leah won't be here with us tomorrow at her home ground but I think as you say it's a great opportunity for someone else to step into her role and I think when I look back on this tournament people have at different stages I think Hanna Rowe has been outstanding. I look at our spinners with Frankie Mackay and Mellie Kerr they've been really good. So for tomorrow it's about everyone chipping in, I think that's a really important thing about this group is when someone goes down we need to rally around them and make sure that we're I guess filling their boats as well. So look, it's a really exciting opportunity for whoever comes into the side.
Reporter: And how big of a boost for morale in the camp did you guys have when you heard the news that you will have quite a big - hopefully a big fan intake tomorrow?
Sophie: Oh, it's massive. You know, we've certainly been so proud to play in front of I think the crowds that we had in Hamilton and Wellington in particular were outstanding and now we’re only 20% - and we certainly, I guess thrive off that and we love the opportunity to play in front of live crowds. They obviously have been a bit limited the last couple of years and I think hopefully the rest of New Zealand gets in behind us and they come along tomorrow and support the girls but also for the finals and the Semis - I really encourage all New Zealanders to get out there. This has been such a fantastic showcase of the women's game, so I'd really encourage as many people to get out and get in behind the woman's game.
Reporter: Really disappointed obviously that you guys didn't get through to where you're hoping to but I suppose tomorrow's also opportunity for Georgia and Rosemary Mia and your friend Jonas to have another run. Has there been a change in the side a little giving them some opportunities or are you just going to go on with the strongest side?
Sophie: That’s certainly come into consideration and I guess the team hasn't been finalized yet. So yeah, I think it's really important to still remember this is a World Cup game that it's a really important match for us and if those players are able to get selected, that’s awesome opportunity for us but we also know that the girls have done a really good job so far. So, if they do get the opportunity, I'm super excited for them. We obviously saw Fran at the start of the tournament and Georgia being potent, sort of they've trained really well and they've given themselves every opportunity to be available for selection. So, like I think we'll see how people pull up tomorrow and look forward to the final live in and that gets to take the park.