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Black Ferns keep to the status quo in quest for back-to-back wins
By Online Editors
The Black Ferns are taking no chances in their bid to sweep the Wallaroos, naming an unchanged starting team for the return women's rugby Test in Auckland on Saturday.
World champions New Zealand have already defended the Laurie O'Reilly Memorial Trophy after an emphatic 47-10 win in Perth last Saturday, maintaining their perfect 18-match record against Australia.
Yet coach Glenn Moore has called on the same XV to repeat the dose and even wants improvements as he expects to face a sterner challenge from the Australians at Eden Park.
"When we looked at the footage it was really clear we created a lot of opportunities for points which we didn't follow through on," Moore said.
"We're expecting Australia to bring more physicality to the game too and to be more clinical.
"They'll better from that game last week and have improved a lot since last year."
There are three changes to the Black Ferns bench, including a potential debut for outside back Grace Brooker, while there are recalls for lock Jackie Patea-Fereti and hooker Luka Connor.
Like last week, the match will be played before the men's Bledisloe Cup Test.
Black Ferns: Selica Winiata, Renee Wickliffe, Carla Hohepa, Chelsea Alley, Ayesha Leti-l'iga, Ruahei Demant, Kendra Cocksedge, Charmaine McMenamin, Les Elder (c), Pia Tapsell, Charmaine Smith, Eloise Blackwell, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Toka Natua. Reserves: Luka Connor, Leilani Perese, Olivia Ward-Duin, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Kennedy Simon/ Joanah Ngan-Woo, Arihiana Marina-Tauhinu, Krysten Cottrell, Grace Brooker.
- AAP
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Latest Comments
There is a major story unfolding around Gleeson's bar in Booterstown, South Dublin City last night. Beaudy Barrett, DMac and Cody Taylor were there. DMac was supposed to be on the Guinness 0.0 but lets just say it didn't turn out that way.
Hours later, Dmac out cold, head on the table with a long stallagtite of flem and spittle rising and falling with his breathing. There is a video apparently.
The barman barred a staggering Taylor from any more Guinness but Taylor kept pushing past him, pulled a seat up to the Guinness tap and personally pulled himself pints, claiming it was 'celebrity pint pulls mate'.
One of these celebrity pint pulls made a local paper but it's only a matter of time before the real context comes out. Dmac is out of the team for Friday due to breaking 'internal standards', Sititi starting at 10.
Go to commentsNow that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
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