Jorja Miller is not one to waste time.
Joining the Black Ferns at the end of this year’s sevens season, the 21-year-old only made her test debut in May. She has six test caps, and one trial match, to her name. But what she has done across those appearances has seen her leave an imprint on the game.
That was made clear overnight as the dynamic loose forward was nominated for both the breakthrough women’s player of the year, along with Black Ferns teammate Braxton Sorensen-McGee, at the annual World Rugby awards. Miller is also up for women’s 15s player of the year. In the latter category, she sits alongside established veterans of the game in Canadian utility forward Sophie de Goede and English midfielder Megan Jones, who both have more than 20 appearances at test level.
Speaking to the Herald, Miller herself admits she didn’t expect to make quite as big a splash as quickly as she has since joining the XVs programme.
“Coming over, like, I’m really ambitious, so I wanted to make a big impact, but that’s not always possible and I haven’t played 15 in what, four years, so I guess not really,” she says.
“And to be honest, still, I just really want to learn and don’t feel like I’m at my peak yet in this game. So it’s a cool place to be because there’s always growth and learning and stuff, which is exciting, and this group really pushes me there, which makes it a lot easier to keep growing to get better.”
Her impact on the game was also felt last week ahead of the Black Ferns’ loss to Canada, with the decision to keep the details of an injury that ruled her out of the test private, sending some fans, pundits and media into a spin.
Both she and lock Laura Bayfield were kept out of the clash due to injury, with both ailments left undisclosed by the team, though the Herald later reported Miller’s was a hamstring issue.
She says it was a joint decision made by players and management not to explain the nature of the injuries, given they were in the biggest tournament the sport has to offer.
“We had a conversation, but, you know, we’re at a Rugby World Cup and you’ve got to keep your cards close to your chest. I guess for me and the management, it wasn’t about exposing what’s happened to me, and kind of, if I do get ready to go for this weekend, then being able to target that. So, kind of more just, keeping it to ourselves and hopefully I can get back out there, quietly,” she explains.
“It was funny just hearing from people at home, like, ‘oh, you’ve created a media storm, like everyone wants to know.’ But, nah, it was pretty crack up, a lot of speculation and people guessing this and that or whatever they reckon it is. It’s all fun and games.”
Miller could only watch from the stands as her teammates took to the field against Canada, looking to earn their spot in the Rugby World Cup final.
Before the match even began, she was prepared for a tough evening in Bristol. She says Black Ferns attack coach Tony Christie spoke with her before the game and told her it was likely to be the toughest test of her career, and that proved to be the case.
The Black Ferns were unable to match Canada’s accuracy and consistency through 80 minutes and were ultimately relegated to the bronze medal match.
“It’s hard sitting there, not being able to help the girls and serve the team on the field,” she says
“I trusted everybody on that field, but it’s just so different when you’re sitting in the stands and you actually have no control over anything. It was a really weird situation and I hated it, to be honest, but it was what it was.”
It was one of the many lessons for the reigning New Zealand Rugby player of the year over the past few months, though she says most of those have come on the field.
Having not featured in the 15-a-side game since playing for Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup four years ago at 17, she admits there has been plenty for her to pick up.
That does, perhaps, make it all the more impressive as to just how much of an impact she has had.
“For me as a loose forward, I need to be physical, I need to make my tackles and be there for my team on defence. Whether that’s comms, leading line speed, all of that stuff, but then also be able to be the opposite of that, and kind of play freely on the edges.
“Just bringing my strengths into the game from sevens, there’s obviously less space, so you really need to make the most of all your opportunities, so just learning and kind of adjusting to that.”
Miller is hopeful of returning to the field for the side’s last test of the tournament, which will see them play France on Saturday night, continuing to progress in her work with the medical team.
So often referred to by pundits as the match no one wants to be a part of, Miller says the Black Ferns are going into the clash with France embracing the positive side of the contest. For one, it’s another test match against a quality side and – with only five outings before the World Cup – game time is always welcome.
But it is also an opportunity for the side to finish the tournament on the back of a high, should they be able to string a strong performance together.
“Like, if we got sent home after the game, I think would be have been, you know, emotions everywhere and feelings and stuff and not being able to actually close that chapter, so we’re really excited for this opportunity to actually finish this how we want to, in the best way we can,” she says.
“It’s a really cool opportunity. We’re just focusing on really enjoying this last week together as a group and hopefully that produces some good rugby.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.