The Black Ferns should be experts at that. They have won the Women’s Rugby World Cup a record six times - lifting the trophy every time they have made the final - and are the most successful team in history.
They have lived in the hearts of New Zealand fans after their hard-fought 2022 victory over England in front of a sold-out Eden Park.
Now they have to replicate that in England’s backyard - and that is no easy feat.
Plenty has changed since November 12, 2022. New players, new coach - Allan Bunting replaced Wayne Smith after he stepped down following the World Cup - and a new era of women’s rugby.
The Black Ferns have been through some tough tests in recent years, and have not beaten England in their two encounters since the final.
But they have also become resilient, unleashed new talent and made good strides in that time.
They are well led by cocaptains Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Tukuafu and have welcomed back experienced campaigners in Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano and Stacey Waaka.
Dunedin-born Kelly Brazier is lacing up for her fourth World Cup, and Woodman-Wickliffe, Setefano and Waaka are not far off, playing at their third.
‘‘They bring experience. We have a few players who haven’t just won one, but two and three World Cups,’’ Joseph said. ‘‘So I think the experience they bring is huge and that’s definitely, for me - someone who’s debuting - a confidence, which is something you can’t really buy.
‘‘That’s really important to us.’’ The Black Ferns landed in England last Thursday, and already Joseph recognised the step up in intensity. ‘‘It’s the buzz around a World Cup,’’ Joseph said.
‘‘The World Cup ceremony was really cool to be a part of, seeing what the media and all the English public have brought to the World Cup. The amount of support around it as well.’’
Joseph is part of an exciting crop of players at their first Rugby World Cup, including Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Layla Sae, Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Katelyn Vahaakolo.
They are all proven game-changers, and 18-year-old Sorensen-McGee is one of the most exciting young talents to come out of New Zealand in recent years.
Together, blended with the experienced spine, they play an exciting brand of rugby and one they will need to utilise to exploit their northern hemisphere opponents out wide.
That all begins on Monday, when the Black Ferns play their World Cup opener.
They have been drawn in pool C, alongside Japan, Ireland and Spain, and they will meet the latter first up at 4.30am on Monday.
It will be a different test playing a relatively unknown team, but one that centre Amy du Plessis, who cut her teeth at Southland Girls’ High School, is excited about.
‘‘We haven’t played Spain in a really long time, so I think it’ll be awesome to come up against a new team and finally get out there and be able to showcase our skills,’’ du Plessis said.
Halfback Risi Pouri-Lane spent time with Spain during the opening ceremony and knew they would throw everything at the Black Ferns.
‘‘I think one key word that comes to mind immediately is passion. Passion and heart,’’ Pouri-Lane said.
‘‘Their coach and their captain spoke and for them, it's more than rugby. It's more than a World Cup.
‘‘They're looking to inspire another generation of young girls and boys back home in Spain and show them what's possible.’’
Pouri-Lane, who has been a regular with the Black Fern sevens, returned to 15s rugby for the World Cup and said the switch was overwhelming at first.
But being part of another World Cup that has seen unprecedented demand before it has even kicked off - more than 375,000 tickets have been sold - was amazing, she said.
‘‘You look at the the sales that have happened for this opening match, England against the United States (Saturday morning NZ time) - I think it was 40,000 tickets already sold.
‘‘I just saw a post that said that the final at Twickenham (capacity 82,000) is sold out. That to me is just crazy. It goes to show how far and how much the women's game is growing.
‘‘It's just such an overwhelming experience to be able to be here and to see all the support that's going into women's rugby and know that I'm a part of it.’’
- Additional reporting RNZ
Rugby World Cup
The pools
Pool A: England, Australia, United States, Samoa
Pool B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji
Pool C: New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, Japan
Pool D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil
Black Ferns Rugby World Cup draw
v Spain, York, August 25, 4.30am
v Japan, Exeter, September 1, 1am
v Ireland, Brighton, September 8, 1.45am
Playoff schedule
Quarterfinals, Bristol, Exeter, September 14-15
Semifinals, Bristol, September 20-21
Bronze final, London, September 27 Final, London, September 28
Black Ferns Rugby World Cup squad
Props: Kate Henwood, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Chryss Viliko, Tanya Kalounivale, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Amy Rule.
Hookers: Atlanta Lolohea, Vici-Rose Green, Georgia Ponsonby.
Locks: Maia Roos, Alana Bremner, Chelsea Bremner, Laura Bayfield.
Loose forwards: Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Layla Sae, Kennedy Tukuafu.
Halfbacks: Maia Joseph, Iritana Hohaia, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane.
First fives: Ruahei Demant, Kelly Brazier.
Midfielders: Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Theresa Setefano, Stacey Waaka.
Outside backs: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Renee Holmes, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Ayesha Leti-I’iga.
