Maia Roos is an indispensable a part of New Zealand rugby.
The Black Ferns lock has performed 41 of the previous 44 Checks, received a Rugby World Cup in 2022, and on July 14, 2023, turned the youngest Black Ferns Take a look at captain at 21 years, 11 months, and 17 days. She changed Dame Farah Palmer because the document holder, main New Zealand to a 39-17 victory towards the USA in Ottawa.
The gregarious 24-year-old has performed in all 29 of the Blues’ Tremendous Rugby Aupiki matches and helped Auckland win their first Farah Palmer Cup Premiership in eight years in 2023.
Her formidable conviction will likely be required on Saturday when she leads the Blues of their try and win an unprecedented third consecutive Tremendous Rugby Aupiki title towards high round-robin qualifiers Matatū – earlier than a bumper crowd on the newly minted Te Kaha/One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.
She has additionally re-signed with New Zealand rugby till 2029.
“It was a no brainer. Different provides? What different provides? There weren’t any,” Roos laughed.
“Rugby retains me grounded and supplies me function. I’ve been fortunate with accidents and success. My finest buddies are right here. These connections with my buddies are my Why, and the subsequent World Cup is a giant objective.
“It was so good after we beat Canada in April. The motivation after they beat us within the World Cup semi in 2025 was excessive. It was a detailed recreation, delayed by a wild storm, however at no level did I feel we had been going to lose. The brand new teaching workers have introduced a brand new recreation plan and readability about the place we need to go. It’s so thrilling.”
The Blues’ street to this weekend’s decider has been bumpy. After wins towards Hurricanes Poua (42-7) and Chiefs Manawa (27-26), they misplaced consecutive matches for the primary time since 2023 towards Matatū (21-27) and Poua (30-45).
A 42-26 win towards winless Manawa steadied the ship in spherical 5. However when Poua stormed to their document fourth consecutive win, the Blues needed to topple Matatū at Ngā Puna Wai, Christchurch final Saturday to ensure a spot within the ultimate.
In Roos’ one hundredth first-class match (changing into simply the twenty ninth girl to attain that feat since official data started in 1999) Matatū dominated possession and territory for lengthy durations however lacked the killer intuition.
Matatū’s Binky Muamua made a clear break that went unconverted. Captain Grace Brooker knocked on over the strive line, whereas Amarante Sititi made an important intercept within the first half when the Blues had been stretched.
The Blues received the match with a shocking length-of-the-field strive from a defensive scrum to Katelyn Vahaakolo when narrowly forward 26-24 within the 66th minute.
“That strive was superior. My head was within the scrum. I regarded up, they had been 40 metres gone already,” Roos acclaimed.
“I’m pleased with this crew and their willingness to dig deep for one another. We’ve had our backs to the wall, however the forwards have carried out their function. It’s superb when our backs unleash.
“Matatū is an aesthetic crew. They’ve received 4 video games too. They’re troublesome to cease after they get a roll on. Our self-discipline must be on level. If we now have to go to that darkish place, I do know we will.”
Within the 2025 ultimate at Eden Park, the Blues had been down by a dozen whereas conceding eight successive penalties towards Matatū. With tries to Ruahei Demant, Chryss Viliko, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, and a 70m stunner to Braxton Sorensen-McGee, they rallied to win 26-19.
Within the 2024 ultimate, additionally at Eden Park, towards Chiefs Manawa, they had been down 5-18 with quarter-hour remaining and prevailed 24-18.
The Blues boast the most effective assault in 2026, scoring 200 factors and 32 tries in six video games. Matatū have the most effective defence, conceding solely 157 factors in six video games, three fewer than the Blues. Matatū have scored 198 factors and 30 tries.
The Blues have 16 present or former capped Black Ferns of their match-day squad, in addition to that quantity coming back from the 2025 ultimate. Matatū has 14 Black Ferns and 10 returnees from the 2025 decider.
Moreover, the Blues’ set-piece has been on level. Roos has claimed extra lineouts than any participant with 25, and the Blues have received 85 p.c of their lineout possession and 49 out of 51 of their very own scrums, the most effective of any crew within the competitors.
Roos expanded her experience in scrum and lineouts throughout a stint with Trailfinders Girls in England’s world-leading Premiership Girls’s Rugby (PWR). She ranked second for many lineout steals regardless of coming house early through the minimal 16-game season to compete in Aupiki. She additionally grew as a frontrunner, studying to mediate conversations after which provide you with easy options fairly than speaking on a regular basis.
“England was the primary time I’d lived away from house. That publicity to a brand new tradition and elegance of rugby was superior. It was chilly and darkish, however it helped me develop as a participant and an individual,” Roos mentioned.
“The emphasis they placed on set-piece over there was superior for a lock. Liana [Mikaele-Tu’u] was one of many high lineout forwards there, which wasn’t one thing she’d carried out in New Zealand earlier than. I undoubtedly realized some issues I didn’t know. Barney Maddison was an awesome coach. He’s a lock, too.”
On Saturday, Roos will joust towards Black Ferns teammate Laura Bayfield, who ranks second in lineout catches with 22 and third in tackles with 83.
“I a lot choose taking part in alongside Maia than I do marking her,” Bayfield mentioned. “It is going to be an awesome problem. She’s a really intelligent, bodily and relentless participant.
“With the Blues, you may’t afford to lose focus, even for a second. Higher self-discipline and focus have been our focus this week. Our recreation drivers should step up and take accountability.”
Respect was mutual from Roos. “Laura is bodily, quick, good and relentless. She’s a kind of gamers that goes all day.”
The Blues lead Matatū 6-4 in ten earlier video games.
The Tremendous Rugby Aupiki ultimate between the Blues and Matatū at Te Kaha/One New Zealand Stadium kicks off at 4:20 pm and will likely be dwell on Sky Sport.
