NSW Waratahs vice-captain and Cowra Eagles gun Inge Visser has soaked up every moment of the inaugural Super W competition, knowing her career is nearing an end.
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Visser, 34, admits her decorated rugby career is in its twilight but she’ll be doing all she can to help the Tahs create history in Friday’s Super W decider against the Queensland Reds at Allianz Stadium.
The Tahs enjoyed an 18-0 win over the Reds in round one but Visser, through her experience, knows a lot can change in 80 minutes.
One thing is for sure, the Tahs won’t be overawed by the occasion.
“It’s a bigger stadium and a bigger crowd but footy is footy,” Visser said.
“They’ve improved. For us to get the title and win the first ever Super W in history would be huge, we really want to win it. We’re going to go our hardest, the girls are very keen.”
The lock forward has been one of the Tahs’ best throughout the seven-week competition.
Having played World Series 7s for the Netherlands and with 15 years of rugby under her belt, her experience has been hugely valuable.
“I got the vice-captaincy because of my experience. I can connect well with the younger girls in the team. And my calmness, it’s about having that bit of experience,” Visser said.
“I’ve been trying to everything I can do. For me I’m getting near the end of my career so I’m just really enjoying it. You always want to be on top in the game but I’ve just really been enjoying it. Every game now could be the last.”
Visser said it’s been an emotional week for the Tahs as their campaign comes to end. She said the players shed a tear in their final session on Wednesday in preparation for the decider.
“There were some tears at our final training session so it means a lot,” she said.
“It’s been a short couple of weeks but I feel like I’ve played a whole season. I’m looking forward to going back to club rugby and playing a few games in Cowra when I’m there and having a beer after the match.”
She said the entire concept is fantastic for women’s rugby in Australia and she’s received waves of support from Cowra.
“It’s been so great to have so much support from Cowra,” she said.
Friday afternoon’s Super W final kicks off at 4.45pm, at Allianz Stadium.
- NSW WARATAHS: 1 Emily Robinson, 2 Tasmin Sheppard, 3 Evelyn Horomia, 4 Ana-Lise Sio, 5 Inge Visser, 6 Grace Hamilton, 7 Ariana Kaiwai, 8 Laura Devereux, 9 Cobie-Jane Morgan, 10 Chloe Leaupepe, 11 Atasi Lafai, 12 Kennedy Cherrington, 13 Crystal Maguire, 14 Shanice Parker, 15 Ash Hewson ©; Bench: 16 Sarah Laman, 17 Melissa Fatu, 18 Nancy Vaiaku, 19 Fi Jones, 20 Natalie Maclarn, 21 Katrina Barker, 22 Illiseva Batibasaga, 23 Josephine Falesita
- QUEENSLAND REDS: 1 Liz Patu, 2 Cheyenne Campbell, 3 Wynona Baice, 4 Kiri Lingman, 5 Jasmin Kemp, 6 Kirby Sefo ©, 7 Lavinia Gould, 8 Alexandra Hargreaves, 9 Asaka Ono, 10 Zahara Te Mara, 11 Ivania Wong, 12 Nareta Masters, 13 Alysia Lefau-Fakasoliea, 14 Lori Cramer, 15 Sam Treherne; Bench: 16 Toa Filimoehala, 17 Hana Ngaha, 18 Vuanimasei Rasolea, 19 Shannon Mato, 20 Ashlee Knight, 21 Lucy Lockhart, 22 Ana Afuie, 23 Sarah Riordan
