Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence.
The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour.
The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done.
“I couldn’t believe it when Bunce (Alan Bunting) called me. I had this huge flashback to when I first became a Black Fern. There was this long silence and then Bunce said, ‘I hope that’s a yes.’ Oh no, it’s definitely a yes,” Itunu replied.
She is not in the match-day squad for the opening test against the USA at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday afternoon, but her return to the national scene is remarkable.
On December 5, 2022, Itunu gave birth to her baby boy Ezekiel, named after the book in the Bible.
With a son, in a single relationship, Itunu dropped her coaching and community work. She remained eager to play provincial rugby and in the first match of the 2023 Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) reached 50 appearances for Auckland.
The Storm lost that match 32-31 to Hawkes Bay. It was their first loss to the Tui since 2007. Recently contracted Black Fern Kahlia Awa scored a try and produced a star turn at halfback.
Things would get better for Auckland. Twice they overpowered a highly fancied Waikato (25-15 & 29-22) earning a place in the Premiership final against Canterbury, who they upset 39-27 in Christchurch.
Captain Eloise Blackwell and young wing Angelica Vahai both scored twice in the match, which saw the home side draw even with less than 20 minutes to go, before another Storm surge overthrew the Canterbury dynasty. Canterbury had won four of the last five finals with Auckland unsuccessful since 2015.
“After baby, I wasn’t sure how I would perform but I’m so much better at recovering now. I spend more time on what my body needs. Better diet, hot and cold showers, stretching, all those one-percenters they talk about.
“Unfortunately, injuries have set me back in my career. I’ve been in the game so long now, it’s taken a toll on my body. I don’t think my knee will ever come right but I’ve learned how to better manage it. I didn’t expect to finish the season feeling so good.”
Itunu has won five FPC Premierships. In April, she added a Super Rugby Aupiki crown to her domestic resumé following a standout campaign for the Blues.
She scored tries in wins against Matatū (27-17), Chiefs Manawa (40-26), and Hurricanes Poua (41-29) and then started the 24-18 final win over Manawa at Eden Park. The Blues rallied from a seemingly forlorn position when down 5-18 in torrential rain to win. Successive tries to Kahlia Awa, Katelyn Vaha’akolo and Liana Mikaele Tu’u did the trick.
“Oh man, it felt like we’d won a World Cup because it was four years in the making, and coming from last in 2023 made it even more special,” Itunu reflected.
“I saw so much potential from the beginning and last year when I wasn’t playing. I’m not sure what went wrong last year but seeing us come together and actually do it after all the hard work was surreal.”
The scrum battle in the final was torrid and this is where Itunu thrives.
“Every scrum is chaos but it’s good, man. Going against current Black Ferns is even better. It’s not a walk in the park.
“Every individual has strengths and weaknesses, identifying what they are and then working to manipulate opponents to your advantage is the challenge.
“In the final, I marked Kate Henwood. I hadn’t gone against her before, but I figured out quickly she’s really strong, of course, she is.”
Itunu flourished under the tutelage of new Blues scrum coach Census Johnston who played 60 Tests for Samoa and won three Top 14 titles in a decorated French career. Itunu credited Johnston for giving her a greater appreciation of the subtleties in scrummaging.
Former Māori All Black Willie Walker and All Black Carlos Spencer (35 Tests, 291 points, 27 wins) ensured the Blues played a style that helped the players express themselves (within reason) with confidence.
Three-time World Cup-winning Black Fern Linda Itunu is Aldora’s big sister and she completed the quartet of coaches.
“It’s cool to see her in that space. She brings a wealth of knowledge and you trust her because she’s walked the walk.
“The best thing about Linda is she knows when to be a sister and when to be a coach. Everyone is equal in the Blues environment. There is no special treatment. She treats me like she treats the others. She’s been my role model for my whole career.”
Itunu debuted for the Black Ferns in 2015 three years after the start of her Auckland career. Curiously, Itunu only made the team after Manawatū prop Sita Kuruyabaki had visa problems with her Fijian passport and had to be replaced. The match was a success with a 40-22 win achieved.
She has vast experience against Pacific 4 opponents Canada, Australia, and the USA.
In the 2017 Rugby World Cup Itunu, memorably scored a hat-trick in pool play against Canada.
“You know what. I was in the right place at the right time. I was literally just the finisher. Everybody forgot my hat-trick when Toka Natua got hers in the final.”
She’s played in five victories and scored two tries against Australia. A smashing tackle she made on Grace Hamilton after a 31-11 win in Sydney in 2018 went viral.
The Black Ferns’ immediate priority is quelling the USA in Hamilton. USA should be the easiest of the three Pac4 fixtures. They have already played and were thrashed 50-7 by Canada on April 29. Canadian captain Sophie de Goede led from the front again by scoring two tries and 18 points and Claire Gallagher also bagged a brace in an impressive showing at half-back alongside livewire number 9 Olivia Apps.
The Black Ferns have beaten the USA 13 times in 14 internationals, outscoring the Eagles 645-95 in total. Their only defeat was 7-0 in 1991.
Itunu played in the 45-12 win against the Americans in the 2017 Rugby World Cup semifinal where Portia Woodman scored four tries, including the Sky Sport Fans’ try of the Year when New Zealand was just ahead 8-7 after 20 minutes.
“I remember being really tired after 10 minutes. I was hissing, running around like a headless chicken. Oh my gosh, how do I settle down? All the girls were enjoying it so much.
“Portia’s try happened off a scrum. We were flowing. Portia got the ball left fend, right fend, you can see me right behind her; nah actually I just got back up after the scrum 65m away.”
A year later, Itunu scored the first try after two minutes in a 67-6 win at Soldier Field in Chicago, home of the Chicago Bears NFL franchise.
“Walking into that stadium was one of the craziest experiences in my life. So that’s what it feels like to play in front of that many people? Rugby isn’t their number one sport, but the potential of women’s rugby is massive.”
