Black Ferns back youth as star ruled out of Boks double-header

Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen has named her matchday 23 for a historic double-header at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, but she has been unable to name her star No.8, Kaipo Olsen-Baker.

With the 2024 Black Ferns Player of the Year unavailable due to a shoulder injury, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u has stepped into the No.8 jersey, allowing Mia Anderson to come into the starting loose trio on the blindside flank. Test rookie Elinor-Plum King retains her place on the openside flank after a stellar debut against the Wallaroos.

A front row of Chryss Viliko, co-captain Georgia Ponsonby and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu has been backed to tackle the South African scrum, with help from the second-row pairing of Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu.

In the backline, Maia Joseph will link up with Hannah King in the halves, with co-captain Ruahei Demant on the bench. Sylvia Brunt and Amy Du Plessis will line up in the midfield, hoping to find space for the dangerous outside back trio of Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Mererangi Paul and Braxton Sorensen-McGee.

Atlanta Lolohea, Maddison Robinson and Santo Taumata will look to add more power from the bench, with back-up from Laura Bayfield and Amarante Sititi. Tara Turner and Justine McGregor join Demant as backline reserves.

Team Form

Last 5 Games

22 - 29

12 - 55

19 - 26

34 - 21

46 - 17

66 - 19

5 - 40

14 - 36

15 - 48

42 - 26

3

Wins

5

2

Streak

5

26

Tries Scored

35

27

Points Difference

153

2/5

First Try

2/5

2/5

First Points

2/5

1/5

Race To 10 Points

4/5

Black Ferns team to play South Africa

1. Chryss Viliko (23)
2. Georgia Ponsonby (41) – co-captain
3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (7)
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (42)
5. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (11)
6. Mia Anderson (4)
7. Elinor-Plum King (1)
8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (39)
9. Maia Joseph (20)
10. Hannah King (14)
11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga (34)
12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (33)
13. Amy Du Plessis (26)
14. Mererangi Paul (18)
15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee (10)

Reserves

16. Atlanta Lolohea (11)
17. Maddison Robinson (4)
18. Santo Taumata (8)
19. Laura Bayfield (9)
20. Amarante Sititi (1)
21. Tara Turner (3)
22. Ruahei Demant (55) – co-captain
23. Justine McGregor (3)

Unavailable due to injury: Kaipo Olsen-Baker (shoulder)