One of the longest-serving players in the women’s game raises a significant national milestone on Saturday.

The 39-year-old Emma Jensen hoists the 100-match mark in NPC rugby when she runs out for the Auckland Storm in Saturday’s Farah Palmer Cup match against Canterbury at Eden Park.

It will be the veteran halfback’s 76th game for the Storm, to go with 24 for Waikato from the NPC’s inception until 2003, after which she made her way up State Highway One to join the perennially strong Storm.

Since then she has won 10 provincial titles, and racked up 49 test caps for the Black Ferns, more than 150 club games for College Rifles and last week raised her 150th first-class game when she ran out for the Storm in their 10-all draw with the Bay of Plenty Volcanix in Whakatane.

Jensen, a teacher at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School, admits she usually runs out last onto the field for the Storm, but may have to reverse that trend tomorrow.

“It’s quite fitting that we are playing Canterbury, because I always loved playing against Canterbury and the challenge with Kendra (Cocksedge) has always been good,” says Jensen.

Cocksedge won’t be opposing her tomorrow, but the No 9s have a long history, and Auckland has won no less than six NPC finals against its old foes.

Jensen cannot recall her first NPC game for Waikato in 1999, at the dawn of the competition, though she did first play for Waikato as far back as 1996, as an 18-year-old, when fixtures were organised on an ad hoc basis.

“There is a gap in standard from when I first started. Everyone has got stronger, fitter and faster, so it makes it better for the game. When I played for Waikato, I never enjoyed playing Auckland, because we always got thumped. Now it’s all closed right up,” she says.

Jensen paid tribute to one of the greats of the women’s game, Anna Richards, who even trumped Jensen for her longevity. The duo formed a successful and enduring halves combination at three levels of the game.

“She was what made me go to Rifles when I came to Auckland, to try and develop the combination between us. Obviously you can’t go wrong with a world-class player like that, because she passes on so much knowledge.”

Jensen, who has previously captained the Storm, admits the young girls at Rifles and the Storm keep her young and motivated, though she is non-committal about next season.

“I love seeing the new talent coming through, and they can come and talk to me any time they like, so I can hand on some of my experience,” says the three-time WRWC winner.

Storm coach JP Fa’amausili spoke highly of one of his leaders: “It’s a massive achievement, given the length of time she has done it in and keeping her body in good nick. There hasn’t always been many games in any given season for her and in one year there was no comp at all (2010). So this is credit to her.”

Auckland Rugby CEO Jarrod Bear also acknowledged Jensen’s contribution: “This is a tremendous achievement to play 100 provincial matches. Auckland Rugby thanks Emma for her great contribution not only to the Auckland Storm but in positively promoting greater female participation in rugby.”

Jensen knows the Storm will need to step up against Canterbury, but look more solid with Black Ferns lock Charlene Gubb promoted to the starting line-up, and Black Ferns skipper Fiao’o Fa’amausili entering the fray off the pine for her 98th Storm cap less than two weeks after winning the World Cup. There is a 6-1 bench split as the Storm deal with some niggling injuries.

“We definitely took some learnings from the Volcanix game. We are a very young team, so we took a lot out of that. Some of the young girls will have learned a lot from that. It’s not club rugby, it’s definitely provincial rugby, and they will have to learn quickly,” says Jensen.

Coach Fa’amausili concurs: “It wasn’t our best start, but we know what we need to do. Defensively we did well, but we had a lot of new girls, so it’s a matter of getting those combos going again in the backline. We are slowly getting some of our experience back, so we can get some more direction.

“Canterbury will defend very well, like their men’s team, so they will be a tough game. We had a good look at their game against Otago.”

Canterbury beat Otago 20-7 in round one action in Christchurch and have former Black Fern Pip Love starting at loosehead prop.

Ruahei Demant returns to the No 10 jersey for the Storm.

The two sides have met 23 times in NPC rugby, with Auckland holding a 22-1 advantage. Canterbury’s sole victory came in 2009.

Kickoff on Saturday at Eden Park No 1 is at 12.05pm. The match will also be televised.

– Campbell Burnes

Auckland Storm squad to play Canterbury:

Hasting Leiataua, Corina Nanai, Mele Hufanga (co-c), Onjeurlina Leiataua, Eleni Leiataua, Ruahei Demant, Emma Jensen, Joanna Fanene, Moana Fineaso Levi, Leanne Thompson, Charlene Gubb, Rebecca Burch, Kalo Cuthers, Karina Stowers (co-c), Tia Taliu Sao

Reserves: Fiao’o Fa’amausili, Vicky Henry, Clementine Varea, Bridie Reeves, Manutalaaho Huni, Jacqui Aiono, Chinatsu Fukuda