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Black Ferns name experimental side for first Wallaroos skirmish
By Sam Smith
After claiming the Pacific Four Series on home soil in June, the Black Ferns are eyeing the defence of the O’Reilly Cup as they build towards the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
NZ will take on Australia in Christchurch on Saturday and coaches Wayne Smith, Wes Clarke and Whitney Hansen have mixed up their selection, making seven changes to the team that ran out in the 50-6 victory over the United States in June.
On the rebound from injury, loose forwards Kennedy Simon and Charmaine McMenamin have been named in the starting line-up for their first Test matches of 2022. Simon will wear the captain's armband alongside first five-eighth Ruahei Demant who led the team during the Pacific Four Series. The Waikato loose forward was previously named Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2021 but missed June's series with a knee injury.
Sevens exponent Theresa Fitzpatrick, who was part of the 2017 World Cup-winning Black Ferns, will make her first appearance since 2019 and will combine with Amy du Plessis in the midfield. Her sevens teammate, Tyla Nathan-Wong, will make her debut off the bench alongside prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu.
Black Ferns Head Coach Wayne Smith said there is real significance in defending the O’Reilly Cup in the city where Laurie O’Reilly had such an influence on the game of rugby.
“My want to get involved with the Black Ferns started as a tribute to Laurie who was a great mate and mentor of mine," Smith said. "He inspired me to be a coach and I feel really fortunate to have had such a great relationship with him.
“Every Test match is special, but the significance of playing for this trophy in Christchurch this weekend is not lost on our team."
Saturday's Test will kick off at 7:05pm NZT from Orangetheory Stadium.
Black Ferns: Renee Holmes, Ruby Tui, Amy du Plessis, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Ruahei Demant, Kendra Cocksedge, Charmaine McMenamin, Kennedy Simon, Alana Bremner, Chelsea Bremner, Joanah Ngan Woo, Tanya Kalounivale, Georgia Ponsonby, Pip Love. Reserves: Luke Connor, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Amy Rule, Tafito Lafaele, Kendra Reynolds, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’I (Sylvia) Brunt, Hazel Tubic.
- with New Zealand Rugby
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Latest Comments
Yes, I’d imagined theres not the opportunity for full pro players to play for their old club like there is still in NZ and Aus. Would still be interested in how close they are to them however. I’d love to know the relevant numbers of who comes into professionalism from a club, say as an adult, versus early means like say pathway programmes (if those two groups can be exclusive of HPPs).
I’m just thinking ahead. You know Ireland is going to come into the same predicament Aus is at where that next group of youngsters waiting to come into programmes get picked off by the French, like the recent kid in Aus, unless there’s something of real value there.
I mean theres room for growth in Ireland for rugby right, or despite sharing numbers with GAA/football does it already draw the best athletes like how rugby manages in NZ (where it lost it’s ‘most popular’ tag but is still the ‘most relevant’ for aspiring athletes)?
Because from that format I see no reason why Irish clubs shouldn’t desire to play in some of these emerging 2nd/3rd level European club competitions. It just seemed like the structure was in place, to climb to the top of a 10 team division. I see they’ve near completed a double round robin worth of games, does that mean theres not much left in their season?
Go to commentswow. Talk about an imagination lol
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