Rookie Black Fern ready for next World Cup bid

World Cup winner Kendra Cocksedge isn't planning on taking a break to enjoy the latest Black Ferns success.

The 22-year-old halfback barely had time to take in the congratulations from her parents at Auckland Airport yesterday before she was boarding a plane home to Christchurch where she plans to offer as much help as she can to those affected by Saturday's earthquake.

"I've checked with my flatmates and they're all fine, so I'll be doing what I can to help others," she said.

Cocksedge made four appearances during the IRB Women's World Cup, three off the bench against France, Australia and South Africa, while she started in New Zealand's emphatic 41-8 victory over Wales. Her points tally for the tournament was two – she slotted a conversion against Wales.

The former New Plymouth Girls' High School student is in her fourth year at Canterbury University where she is getting close to finishing a degree in sports management.

Cocksedge, along with the rest of the Black Ferns squad, enjoyed a fairly low-key welcome at Auckland after Monday's 13-10 win over England in the World Cup final.

It was the fourth successive World Cup victory for the national side but Cocksedge's first.

"We just had one night to celebrate and then it was up, on the bus and then we flew out," she said.

The former representative cricketer said the final was a nerve-racking affair at Twickenham's Stoop ground where the home fans were right behind the England side.

"I was pretty much telling the coach not to put me on because I was so nervous," she said.

Making the Black Ferns victory all the more sweeter was the fact they did it while having three players sin-binned during the 80 minutes.

"Oh my gosh, I'm pretty sure England must have been paying her or something," Cocksedge joked. "Oh no, don't put that one in."

On a personal note, Cocksedge said she was pleased with her own form, especially her passing off the deck in the Wales game where she freed her outside backs well.

She now has ambitions to play in the next World Cup and might even have a crack at playing sevens in a bid to compete at the Olympics in 2016. New Zealand has placed a bid to host the next World Cup in 2014.

Taranaki's other connection in the side, captain Melissa Ruscoe, also arrived in Auckland yesterday.

- © Fairfax NZ News