James Fisher-Harris, put on report in New Zealand's win over Tonga, said he doesn't have "any real concerns." Stacey Jones said the rod or plate in Kalyn Ponga's arm was "covering nearly his whole arm" and staff didn't know he'd be right until after the second-to-last training.
"It's just 2 proud nations looking eye to eye and no one wants to break." James Fisher-Harris on the standoff with Tonga after the haka. He said they're chasing history in the World Cup final: "We've only done it once, 2008." He agreed it's their best shot in a long time.
James Fisher-Harris & Stacey JonesRole & RotationView on X
Stacey Jones said New Zealand left it to Jeremy Marshall-King to "empty his tank" in the semi-final win over Tonga. Jones said Te Maire Martin was cover for an early halves injury, Keano Kini for the outside backs. James Fisher-Harris said Kini "would not have let us down."
Naufahu Whyte joins Erin Clark and Xavier Willison on New Zealand's bench for Fiji. Stacey Jones said the trio "come on at the right time", building on starters James Fisher-Harris, Joseph Tapine and Moses Leota. He wants that pack to limit Fiji half Kurt Donoghue.