Happy as a Rule

Fairfax

TOUGH WATCH: Amiria Rule was emotional when the Black Ferns won their fourth rugby World Cup in England.

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Sitting at home in Christchurch, Amiria Rule was emotional when the Black Ferns won their fourth rugby World Cup in England.

It would have been Rule's third World Cup. But she missed it because of knee surgery.

"I have been unable to bring myself to watch any of the games, it would have been just too tough," Rule, 27, said yesterday.

"Instead, I have been reading about their games and following the results that way. I have been really proud of the team, especially when you consider how limited their preparations have been."

The Black Ferns' victory was all the more special because their build-up was limited by the absence of a national provincial competition and warm-up matches.

A utility back who earned the first of her 20 test caps in 2000, Rule said the selectors decided it was too much of a risk to take her to England for the tournament – even though she believed she would have been all right.

"I only had the reconstruction less than five months ago and because the tournament was so far away, it was a risk if something went wrong and it would take a week to bring someone in," she said.

"They just wanted continuity and consistency in their team and not having to muck it up halfway through the tournament."

Rule was, however, fit enough to represent Canterbury in a competition organised by several provinces after the NZRU canned their NPC.

"The knee has been good, I am really, really pleased by it," she said.

Canterbury beat Otago in the opening round but last weekend's match against Wellington was scratched because of the earthquake.

- © Fairfax NZ News