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Inspirational Black Ferns prop a late scratch from final Test of 2026
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Just two months after she ended a four-year absence from Test duty due to an unfortunate string of injuries, Santo Taumata has been ruled out of the Black Ferns’ final Test of the year.
The tighthead prop has re-aggravated a neck injury, prompting a change on the Kiwi bench for the third Test of their WXV Global Series run-in with France, with Ngano Tavake entering the matchday 23 in the No.18 jersey. The 25-year-old Test rookie debuted for New Zealand against Scotland last month.
Taumata was out of the international arena for 1,379 days before she took the field against Australia, the side she debuted against in 2022, during the O’Reilly Cup back in August.
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Since returning to the team, the Matatu forward, still just 23 years of age, has held her place and gone on to face South Africa, England and France.
Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen, who recruited Taumata to Matatu ahead of the 2026 season before being appointed as Allan Bunting’s successor in the national team, said the prop’s return was an inspirational moment.
Reflecting first on the remarkable start to Tamuata’s career, Hansen said: “She was 19, a baby back then, and it was spectacular that she went into that World Cup as the second-best tighthead that we had in New Zealand at that time.
“Between then and now, she had suffered some really significant injuries. It’s so hard to come back from that. You’re often on your own in those spaces. Just to come back from injury in general, the discipline that takes, not just in the physicality, but holistically.
“She has just worked so hard to be where she is today and continues to do that. She’s up at 6am doing extra bike [sessions]. She is conscious of every single choice she makes and is an amazing role model to everyone else who is serving the jersey.”
The New Zealand side are chasing the 10th win of their 11-game season in Christchurch on Saturday evening, having suffered only one loss thus far in Hansen’s first year at the helm.
Updated Black Ferns team to play France
- Chryss Viliko (28)
- Georgia Ponsonby (47)
- Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (13)
- Maiakawanakaulani Roos (48)
- Laura Bayfield (14)
- Mia Anderson (7)
- Elinor-Plum King (6)
- Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (45)
- Maia Joseph (26)
- Ruahei Demant (58) – captain
- Ayesha Leti-I’iga (38)
- Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (39)
- Amy Du Plessis (31)
- Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a (5)
- Braxton Sorensen-McGee (16)
Reserves
16. Vici-Rose Green (11)
17. Maddison Robinson (9)
18. Ngano Tavake (1)
19. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (17)
20. Amarante Sititi (4)
21. Ariana Bayler (9)
22. Hannah King (20)
23. Mererangi Paul (23)
Unavailable due to injury: Atlanta Lolohea (ankle), Tara Turner (concussion), Kaipo Olsen-Baker (ankle), Santo Taumata (neck).
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