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Thursday
22:05
WXV 1

Black Ferns make seven changes after opening round defeat

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 21: Ruby Tui of New Zealand celebrate the try of Katelyn Vahaakolo during the WXV1 match between France and New Zealand Black Ferns at Sky Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The Black Ferns have made seven changes to the squad for the second match of WXV 1 against Wales in Dunedin.

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Loosehead prop Kate Henwood, lock Chelsea Bremner, back row Layla Sae and winger Mererangi Paul earn their first start of the tournament. Experienced forwards Krystal Murray and Alana Bremner drop to the bench.

New Zealand played Wales twice at last year’s World Cup recording convincing wins as Wales look to bounce back from an opening weekend defeat to Canada.

This will be the first time since 1997 that the Black Ferns have played in Dunedin.

Balck Ferns:
1. Kate Henwood
2. Georgia Ponsonby
3. Amy Rule
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos
5. Chelsea Bremner
6. Layla Sae
7. Kennedy Simon (Co-Captain)
8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
9. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu
10. Ruahei Demant (Co-Captain)
11. Mererangi Paul
12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt
13. Amy du Plessis
14. Ruby Tui
15. Renee Holmes

Replacements
16. Luka Connor
17. Krystal Murray
18. Tanya Kalounivale
19. Alana Bremner
20. Lucy Jenkins
21. Iritana Hohaia
22. Patricia Maliepo
23. Martha Mataele

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Comments on RugbyPass

S
SK 18 minutes ago
'It's time for Borthwick and Farrell to pin their colours to the mast at 10'

Borthwick is the most conservative head coach in international rugby. Ford oozes conservatism so Borthwick loves him. Both the Smiths are mavericks by comparison. The obvious choice is Finn Smith to lead Englands daring strategy. He embodies solidity but can also fix defences with his running game and varies his play enough to keep everyone guessing. Marcus Smith is way too out there for Borthwick but he has enormous potential and when he is on there isn’t a better game driver in England. Borthwick wants to transform England into a positive go forward team but is torn between that desire and his natural inclination towards conservatism. If anything, this persistence with Ford is more about the coaches internal struggle than the players themselves.

Prendergast is a wonderful talent and shows glimpses of his potential but not regularly enough. He is also wild with the boot and plays frenetically at times often making poor decisions and creating more confusion for himself and his teammates with his muddled play. Crowley is abrasive and direct, he feeds off positive energy and is quite a consistent performer. He also brings others into the game quite well. When things are going badly though he is petulant and prone to ill-discipline. Farrell is trying to find that all round world class 10 to replace Sexton but sees flaws in both players and can’t find the balance he needs with either which is why he is struggling to favour either player.



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44 Go to comments
O
Otagoman II 27 minutes ago
Super Rugby Pacific say Tupou Vaa'i try should have been disallowed

If that is a forward pass then 75% of passes into the line are forward then. The physics are that an object is travelling forward despite the direction it leaves from because of the momentum.

19 Go to comments
P
PB 54 minutes ago
Why Jono Gibbes hopes Josh Jacomb will rue walking away from Chiefs

Let’s hope. Will be interesting to see how the promising young 10’s play in the intense pressure that the likes of Kolisi, PSDT, Kwagga and Wiese apply in tha channel.

Fire 🔥 sure does forge steel, so just maybe.



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14 Go to comments
P
PB 56 minutes ago
South Africa leaves door open for highly rated Josh Neill

What a load of bollocks! Do you whine about everything in life. Losers do that, makes them somehow justify that they didn’t cut it.

5 Go to comments
D
DS 1 hour ago
Edwin Edogbo does not need to prove that he is Irish

More like racism is genetic in some low-class people and needs to be dealt with. In fact, as we've found out in SA thanks in many ways (particularly) to Rassie, sport is excellent in convincing us all that ultimately we're all just human beings and stronger together than hating each other just because of the colour of our skins.

6 Go to comments
R
Ruppansy 1 hour ago
'It's time for Borthwick and Farrell to pin their colours to the mast at 10'

Nick,

Another great article thank you. Rassie has found a way to use SFM, Pollard and Libbock. Sure, SFM with his prodigious talent is the #1 but the others are still key to the squad. Why are Borthwick and Farrell unable to do the same?



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44 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
South Africa leaves door open for highly rated Josh Neill

Drunk posting again

5 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Tana Umaga has faith rewarded in first round of POTY votes

Haha Bradley Slater with 5, mates vote there!

2 Go to comments
S
SC 1 hour ago
Why Jono Gibbes hopes Josh Jacomb will rue walking away from Chiefs

Well Reihana has won a Super Rugby championship guided the Crusaders to three playoff wins in a row, something no Chiefs 10 has done since 2013

14 Go to comments
S
SC 1 hour ago
Super Rugby Pacific say Tupou Vaa'i try should have been disallowed

Where Nareki is positioned is irrelevant.

As Muliaina made clear, the ball leaves Tavatavanawai’s hand forward.



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19 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Tana Umaga has faith rewarded in first round of POTY votes

How long this year before captains just start voting who the coach voted for, or vice versa and we see the same guy voted all the time?

2 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
'It's time for Borthwick and Farrell to pin their colours to the mast at 10'

Looking at the graph you built Marcus should clearly be no1.

44 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
'It's time for Borthwick and Farrell to pin their colours to the mast at 10'

Thats a big but many, where they that bad? Can’t just write it off to overconfidence or the like?

44 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
'It's time for Borthwick and Farrell to pin their colours to the mast at 10'

Yeah he’s the ultimate “give me the ball” fly half!

44 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
'It's time for Borthwick and Farrell to pin their colours to the mast at 10'

For most the NZ situation was pretty satisfactory, Razor would select Dmac and profit. The person who later selected Beauden instead should be sacked. Was that the effect MacDonald had (Dmac lasted three more games in charge), or was it Razor, or is the South African mole still in the All Black camp?

In the end Robinson probably needed to string Razor along as you’d think his lack of confidence would have had to come from blows like that. Other than selection wise, the All Black balance was probably the best out there, with England next behind them, having a definite top dog, with an ‘anywhere’ player used where needed. I’m not sure England have any better prospects than the Smiths available, thats about the only thing missed from Razors campaign, a testing of the new rookie 10. Borthwhick is probably just making a mistake of including Fin in the 23. He should rather start the odd test with his own backline.



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44 Go to comments
S
Spew_81 2 hours ago
Highlanders vs Crusaders takes: Dane Coles 2.0, a late Jamie Joseph juggle

If you take away the three test against the ‘French Development Team in 2025’ the winning percentage drops to 17/27 62.9%.

But agree the All Blacks didn’t look like they were making any progress. Ultimately that’s what cost Robertson the job.



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30 Go to comments
S
Spew_81 2 hours ago
Highlanders vs Crusaders takes: Dane Coles 2.0, a late Jamie Joseph juggle

McKenzie made a lot of progress in 2025. He was attacking the line and making lots of opportunities. He was pushing the last pass a bit etc. and made the odd unforced error.

But McKenzie was miles better than B Barrett, as a playmaking 10. Also as B Barrett has lost of lot of his pace/acceleration he couldn’t win the game by himself anymore.



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30 Go to comments
P
PB 3 hours ago
Aussie Super Rugby takes: Maturing Waratahs, Brumbies defy expectations

Agree with your praise of Molina’s overall game.He looks like being a great pick up for the Force.

I am not sure why I hadn’t seen your articles here,but probably because I spent most of my time on the other site.Visited RugbyPass occasionally,mainly to follow Nick,but will certainly be a regular here now.



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9 Go to comments
D
DC 4 hours ago
South Africa leaves door open for highly rated Josh Neill

The third world is not a place a serious player wants to be for a start. They can’t win matches unless the ref hands it directly to them after all

Too many examples to cute - but the last RWC is a great start. Barnes is the lost important Bok of the padt decade after all



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5 Go to comments
D
DS 4 hours ago
Super Rugby Pacific say Tupou Vaa'i try should have been disallowed

Not by Tasman Ben though, which is not a surprise, having watched his reffing. Anyway its in the book so that’s final.

19 Go to comments
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