Rugby: Meet the Black Ferns hard-nosed sisters

Aldora and Linda Itunu

They seem like a couple of hard-case girls, those Itunu sisters.

But pull on the coveted jersey of the Black Ferns and they will turn into hard-nosed.

Linda is the seasoned loose forward, aged 30 and with 26 caps to her name stretching back to 2003. Aldora is 23 - she turns 24 this weekend - and is one of 12 new caps in a blend of experienced and raw Black Ferns as the side embarks on their preparation for Rugby World Cup 2017 with an intense three-test series in Canada.

The Itunus play club rugby together with the Ponsonby Fillies and the all-conquering Auckland Storm, but there is a seven-year age gap, so they didn't combine at their west Auckland schools of Rangeview Intermediate and Kelston Girls' High School.

How are they going to feel standing there for the anthem before the first game against Canada, if they are both selected?

Bursting with pride, and they won't be the only ones.

"I think there will be a lot of tears. People think I'm a hard person, but I'm a big sook," says Linda.

Aldora is brimming with excitement. She has racked up 10 tries in 18 games for the Storm, at either loosehead or tighthead prop, and last year scored six in the NPC, the second most in the team, including one in the final. She is a veritable handful with ball in hand or when she packs down at scrumtime.

"You wonder why she scores so many tries. She can't be doing enough work! She's got a few issues in that area, but she scored more tries in one season than I have in my whole career," laughs Linda. No problems in keeping younger sister grounded then!

A glance at the record books shows that is true. Itunu has just five tries in 35 games for the Storm.

"Now that I've made the team she's been more motivating. Before that she just let me do my own thing," says Aldora.

Explains Linda: "The worst thing for someone who plays the same sport is to try and tell them what to do. I kind of let her find her own feet."

Aldora interjects; "But she was always encouraging, which kind of kept me in the loop."

Aldora is, naturally, not fussed on what side of the scrum she is called upon to play in Canada, where the Black Ferns will face the hosts, England and the USA.

"I guess going in I didn't have the mentality that I was going to make it straight away because there's lots of competition. When I did get the call I was shocked but excited at the same time.

"It was motivating because I knew what I needed to work on and the standard I needed to get to. Now I've made it I just need to work harder to get that starting spot," she says.

The sisters are not long back from England, where they played a season of club footy, but Aldora has also played for Roma in Italy, so she has broadened her horizons.

Linda, having been around the traps, like's the mix of this new-look Black Ferns. There are Rugby World Cup winners in there, such as captain and hooker Fiao'o Fa'amausili, flanker Justine Lavea, outside back Renee Wickliffe and halfbacks Kendra Cocksedge and Emma Jensen, plus the uncapped talent.

"There's a lot of talent coming through. Step one for me is making the squad, but getting on the pitch is a different story," says Linda.

She is, like her sister, unconcerned about which loose forward position she plays. At last year's Rugby World Cup, she turned out in all three numbered jerseys. That was after switching back from the sevens team, with whom she won a World Cup crown in 2013.

"Life is about challenges. Now and again you have to give yourself a challenge. Sevens was definitely that and I had to learn a lot. I haven't put the sevens boots away just yet, but for now I am focusing on my Black Ferns family and helping the newbies come through.

"We're in that building phase. We're excited to see the newbies come through because there is a lot of raw talent and some new to the sport. It will be great to see them flourish. There is power in that black jersey and once they put it on they'll know what we're talking about."

It has not exactly been the well-oiled preparation the Black Ferns were seeking. They assembled on Auckland's North Shore last Wednesday and flew out last night. One original selection was injured and another had visa issues. But they also had to deal with an incoming new coach at short notice after Greg Smith stepped down voluntarily in the wake of a 14-week ban imposed by the Waikato Rugby Union for verbal abuse of a match official while he was coaching the Fraser Tech premier men's side.

In stepped Blues assistant Glenn Moore to join assistants Wesley Clarke and Reuben Samuels. The timing was imperfect, as Moore was settling into the Black Ferns saddle just as Blues coach John Kirwan was stepping down. That gave rise to the rare situation where Moore was unavailable for media comment, despite there being just one scribe at Friday's training session.

All grist to the mill for media types, but irrelevant to the Black Ferns' solidarity and goals.

"Glenn has come on board and the girls have accepted that. He's a good guy. The other stuff is nothing to do with us," declared Linda.

Now for the rugby, where the Itunus are poised to join the Richards (Anna and Fiona) and the Laveas (Vaniya and Justine) as Black Ferns siblings.