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Black Ferns name nine debutants for long-awaited 100th test
Black Ferns coach Glen Moore has selected nine test debutants for the Black Ferns’ clash with England this weekend, which will mark NZ’s 100th test.
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Captain Les Elder returns for her first match in the black jersey after the birth of her first child last year and is ably supported by vice-captains and veterans Kendra Cocksedge and Eloise Blackwell.
An experienced front row with more than 70 combined caps in Pip Love, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate and Aleisha Pearl Nelson will set a strong platform at the set-piece.
In the second row, former volleyball international Kelsie Wills gets her first test cap, having debuted for the Black Ferns in their domestic series last year, and will link up with Eloise Blackwell.
Black Ferns Sevens player Dhys Faleafaga earns her first cap at number eight alongside fellow debutant Alana Bremner at blindside flanker, with Elder rounding out the loose forward trio.
The Black Ferns begin their end-of-year tour this weekend — and they’ve brought an interesting squad to Europe with them.
I got into some of the selection questions facing head coach Glenn Moore in my latest for @TheXV here:https://t.co/xY2gx07soG
— The Chase Rugby (@thechaserugby) October 29, 2021
Cocksedge and Ruahei Demant combine in the halves while Waikato teammates Stacey Fluhler and Chelsea Alley pair up in the midfield. There is plenty of pace on the wings with both Renee Wickliffe and Ayesha Leti-I’iga returning after missing the 2020 Black Ferns series. Renee Holmes makes her test debut from fullback.
There are five potential debutants off the bench with teenagers Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Patricia Maliepo, the Waikato pair of Grace Houpapa-Barrett and Ariana Bayler and Northland Captain Krystal Murray all named for their first tests.
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Moore said there was a true sense of excitement within the team selected to take part in the 100th test.
“There is already a bit of spark in the group given it’s our first Test in almost two and a half years, add to that the 100th milestone and it makes for a very special occasion.”
“We know every single person who pulls on the Black Ferns jersey has an incredible skill set and it’s awesome to have this opportunity to see where we stand with them."
England v New Zealand preview ??#rugby #blackferns #redroses
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 29, 2021
“There is a great rivalry between these two teams so I’m sure we can expect another great test this weekend.
“We’ve had some really good talent coming through back in New Zealand and the players we have brought into our environment have really stepped up and I think those that debut this weekend will all make an impact on the game.
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“Les is an exceptional leader and is very important to this group. She leads from the front and communicates well under pressure so it is great to have her back.”
The match kicks off at 2:30pm GMT on Sunday afternoon from Exeter.
Black Ferns:
1. Pip Love (11)
2. Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (29)
3. Aleisha Pearl Nelson (35)
4. Eloise Blackwell (43)
5. Kelsie Wills – debut
6. Alana Bremner – debut
7. Les Elder (18) – captain
8. Dhys Faleafaga – debut
9. Kendra Cocksedge (53)
10. Ruahei Demant (11)
11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga (9)
12. Chelsea Alley (24)
13. Stacey Fluhler (16)
14. Renee Wickliffe (41)
15. Renee Holmes – debut
16. Grace Houpapa-Barrett – debut
17. Krystal Murray – debut
18. Aldora Itunu (20)
19. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u – debut
20. Kennedy Simon (4)
21. Ariana Bayler – debut
22. Patricia Maliepo – debut
23. Grace Brooker (1)
– with New Zealand Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments