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Black Ferns team named for Rugby World Cup opener
The Black Ferns team to play in their opening match of Rugby World Cup 2021, in front of a record-breaking crowd, has been named.
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The match is the third in a triple-header opening day at Eden Park, kicking off at 7.15pm on Saturday evening.
The long wait to kick off for Rugby World Cup is almost over for the Black Ferns, with the team preparing to play in front of the biggest crowd ever seen for a women’s sporting match in New Zealand.
“We don’t want the pressure of the crowd to change anything for our team. We have to be free, play with joy, go out there and love what we are doing,” said Director of Coaching Wayne Smith.
With build up going smoothly, Smith said the coaching group are not set on what their best team looks like at the moment and have made a few tweaks to the match-day 23 for this weekend.
Amy du Plessis will start at second five-eighths for the first time and links with Stacey Fluhler in the midfield, while loose forwards Charmaine McMenamin and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u swap positions from the Test against Japan, playing blindside flanker and number 8 respectively.
“We have a lot of players that have the ability to fill starting positions, so we need to give opportunities and see who takes them. We’ve wanted to look at Amy at second five for a while and Stacey comes into centre where she is world class.
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“Liana and Charmaine are an exciting combo, Liana is an explosive athlete who is really good in the line out so wanted to see her at eight,” said Smith.
On what to expect from his side this weekend, Smith said the Australian team will present a challenge and that the Black Ferns will be focusing their energy on what they can control.
“I’ve talked a lot about wanting to reflect the DNA of our country; we always play attacking rugby. That’s what I want us to show on the field and if we do, it’ll be exciting.
“This weekend is a real opportunity for us, with a big crowd there, to show what we can do.”
Saturday will be the third time the Black Ferns have played Australia at a Rugby World Cup, with previous encounters in 2002 (a 36-3 win) and 2010 (a 32-5 win). The teams have met three times in 2022, with matches already in Tauranga, Christchurch and Adelaide.
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17 Black Ferns will be making their Rugby World Cup debut.
Black Ferns team to face Australia:
1. Phillipa Love (20 caps)
2. Luka Connor (9)
3. Amy Rule (7)
4. Joanah Ngan-Woo (11)
5. Chelsea Bremner (6)
6. Charmaine McMenamin (28)
7. Sarah Hirini (11)
8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (7)
9. Kendra Cocksedge (62)
10. Ruahei Demant (21) – captain
11. Portia Woodman (20)
12. Amy du Plessis (4)
13. Stacey Fluhler (21)
14. Ruby Tui (5)
15. Renee Holmes (5)
16. Georgia Ponsonby (7)
17. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (2)
18. Santo Taumata (2)
19. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (8)
20. Kendra Reynolds (6)
21. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (10)
22. Hazel Tubic (17)
23. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (4)
Unavailable due to injury: Alana Bremner, Tanya Kalounivale, Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Kennedy Simon.
-Press Release/NZR
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments