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Black Ferns name familiar lineup to play England in WXV1 blockbuster
The Black Ferns have gone with consistency ahead of their Rugby World Cup final rematch against England. Selectors have made just one change to their starting side ahead of a blockbuster WXV1 clash against the Red Roses in Auckland this weekend.
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Loose forward Alana Bremner will start at blindside flanker while two-Test Black Fern Layla Sae shifts to the bench in the No. 19 jumper.
The rest of the New Zealand side remains unchanged following their emphatic 70-7 demolition of Wales at Forsyth Barr Stadium last Saturday.
“We are exceptionally proud of our wahine and their work ethic across this campaign. Last weekend as coaches it was fulfilling seeing our team adjust the way we wanted to play, and our wahine unleashed what we know is us,” Director of Rugby Allan Bunting said in a statement.
“We have a group of talented wahine who can go another level. Selection is always tough, continuity this week is important around our selection. Everyone is doing an amazing job at preparing the team that will take the field.
“We know England will be an awesome challenge for our group at this stage of our journey. England women’s rugby is in its sixth year of being professional and it shows how they play together as a whole and thrive off their set piece. We are looking forward to this contest and a great opportunity to test our depth.”
Prop Kate Henwood will pack down alongside experienced duo Georgia Ponsonby and Amy Rule in a formidable front row, while locks Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Chelsea Bremner round out the tight five.
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Along with Alana Bremner in the No. 6 jersey, co-captain Kennedy Simon and backrower Liana Mikaele-Tu’u make up the loose forward trio.
Head-to-Head
Last 4 Meetings
Wins
3
Draws
0
Wins
1
Average Points scored
41
18
First try wins
75%
Home team wins
100%
Halfback Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu will link up with world-class fly-half Ruahei Demant in the halves. Outside of the playmaking pair, Sulvia Brunt and Amy du Plessis will take their places in the midfield.
Four-Test wing Mererangi Paul, New Zealand rugby icon Ruby Tui, and fullback Renee Holmes are the starting outside backs.
The Black Ferns beat England in last year’s Rugby World Cup decider at Eden Park. This is the first time they’ve played each other since.
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“Across WXV1, whether it has been in Wellington, Dunedin or Auckland we have felt the support and hospitality from all we have had the privilege of meeting,” Bunting added.
“To play at home in front of our whanau and fans is very special. We look forward to seeing our Black Ferns Fans out in force again this weekend.”
Black Ferns team to take on England
- Kate Henwood (3)
- Georgia Ponsonby (19)
- Amy Rule (18)
- Maiakawanakaulani Roos (20)
- Chelsea Bremner (17)
- Alana Bremner (18)
- Kennedy Simon (19) (Co-Captain)
- Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (17)
- Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (18)
- Ruahei Demant (32) (Co-Captain)
- Mererangi Paul (4)
- Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt (12)
- Amy du Plessis (13)
- Ruby Tui (12)
- Renee Holmes (15)
Replacements:
16. Luka Connor (19)
17. Krystal Murray (13)
18. Sophie Fisher (1)
19. Layla Sae (2)
20. Lucy Jenkins (5)
21. Iritana Hohaia (5)
22. Patricia Maliepo (6)
23. Katelyn Vahaakolo (5)
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
6 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
6 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
6 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
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