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Pacific Four Series: Form XV of the tournament
By Adam Julian
New Zealand and Canada were each unbeaten in the Pacific Four Series. The Black Ferns took the title on points difference.
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This 2025 form XV acknowledges outstanding performers in the series and features some positional switches to achieve a better collective balance.
15. Braxton Sorenson-McGee (Black Ferns)
A dream start for the 18-year-old scoring two tries on debut and topping the metres run count in a 38-12 win against Australia in Newcastle. She scored the first try in the 27-27 draw against Canada and cut the USA open several times. Looks set for a long career.
14. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Black Ferns)
A staggering seven tries in the Black Ferns 79-14 slaughter of the USA saw Woodman-Wickliffe pass Vanessa Coutts as the Black Ferns all-time leading try scorer with 45 in 26 Tests. Coutts had 43 in 16.
Woodman-Wickliffe retired last year, citing a desire to “lounge on the couch,” “eat McDonald’s,” and “pop out babies.”
However, she was a powerhouse in the Blues Super Rugby Aupiki triumph this year and remains a commanding presence in the international arena. Bring on the World Cup.
13. Sylvia Brunt (Black Ferns)
Scored a try in the 38-12 win against Australia but saved her best for Canada, scoring in the 83rd-minute after 21 phases that secured the Black Ferns a draw, aiding 11 carries for 67 metres gained and five defenders beaten.
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She made 13 tackles and created a try for Ayesha Leti-l’iga with a deft grubber. Brunt played second-five eights (inside centre) in this series but is equally comfortable at outside centre.
12. Alex Tessier (Canada)
Canada’s captain played fly-half in the dogged 26-14 win against the USA. She switched back to her customary position of centre for the remaining two matches, scoring a try in the 45-7 thumping of Australia.
A shrewd, tough leader with a saber-like running style and slick distribution. Kicked 17 times, which is a reflection of Canada’s ability to play territory.
11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Black Ferns)
Two tries in the Australia and Canada games, where she was like trying to tackle a rat in a drain pipe. Seeks work with 27 carries across the series, beating 16 defenders. The Oriental Rongotai pocket rocket has scored 19 tries in 26 Tests.
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10. Ruahei Demant (Black Ferns)
Wasn’t always spotless but the Black Ferns look far more assertive and confident with Demant running the cutter. A conversion she kicked, falling over laughing against the USA, suggests the joy is returning after a tricky 2024. Has a superb passing game. Scored 26 points. Her leadership and attitude is a massive part of her skill set.
9. Olivia Apps (Canada)
Despite not starting any matches until the final Test of the series against the Wallaroos, the scrum-half had a huge influence in helping Canada achieve a draw against the Black Ferns with a try and involvement in the build-up to two others. Tough, crafty, skilful.
8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Black Ferns)
The 2024 Black Ferns Player of the Year has picked up where she left off with some huge displays against Australia, 16 tackles and carries, and the USA, 25 carries and 16 tackles.
Strangely, she wasn’t selected to start against Canada. Her impact from the bench was explosive. Topped the competition tackle count with 47.
7. Karen Paquin (Canada)
In her first international series since 2022, she ranked fourth in the tackle count with 44 in three matches. Was busy with ten carries against the Black Ferns and scored a try in the 45-7 slaying of the Wallaroos. A former chemical engineer, she left her job in 2012 to try out for the national sevens team.
6. Ashley Marsters (Australia)
Has played across the forwards in her record-breaking career of 38 Wallaroos caps. Made a huge impact from the bench against the Black Ferns with a try and some jolting tackles that sparked a brief Wallaroos comeback.
Against the USA, she scored two tries and had a dozen tackles and carries in a 27-19 Wallaroos win. Tried hard but was more subdued against Canada, whose back rowers Fabiola Forteza and Gabrielle Senft were outstanding.
5. Laetitia Royer (Canada)
Was named in World Rugby’s Dream Team in 2024. Scored a try against the USA and toiled gamely against the Black Ferns. Her best performance was moving to the back row against Australia, where she had 11 tackles, two linebreaks, and seven lineout catches in the 45-7 crushing. Read her player column ahead of Canada’s Test against Australia.
4. Courtney O’Donnell (Canada)
Herculean display against the Black Ferns, topping the tackle count with 21. Returned to the field after a yellow card against the USA and scored the try that gave Canada a lead they never surrendered. Canada had the best lineout drive in the competition. Australia only won 56% of their lineout ball on Friday night.
3. DaLeaka Menin (Canada)
Was immense in the Black Ferns draw, scoring Canada’s first try and making 14 tackles and 13 carries. Celebrated her 60th Test against Australia with an imperious display at scrum and lineouts. In one maul, Canada pushed the Wallaroos back 30 metres.
2. Georgia Ponsonby (Black Ferns)
The Black Ferns lineout misfired against the Wallaroos, showing marked improvement as the series went on. Ponsonby has racked up 30 Tests and isn’t seriously challenged for her starting berth.
Around the field, she’s highly effective. Had 12 tackles and five carries against Australia, 10 tackles and seven carries against Canada. No other side started the same hooker in all three fixtures of the series.
1. Hope Rogers (USA)
With her 52nd international selection against Canada, Rogers broke the Women’s Eagles all-time career cap record held by Jamie Burke for over a decade. The 32-year-old recently proudly stated her ambition to be the best loosehead in the world.
Her next Test against Australia was also a milestone, scoring three tries as she nearly steered her team to victory. She scored another try against the Black Ferns and was the most effective ball carrier in the rout the Eagles suffered.
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That seems a fair reflection of the tournament as a whole - not just in terms of the individual players but also the balance of positions filled by the different teams. Canada dominate the forwards selection; New Zealand the backs.
From an RWC perspective, England, France and possibly Ireland have enough forward power to challenge Canada and trouble the Black Ferns, with England currently having an edge in terms of the bench forwards they can bring on.
In the backs, France are probably closest to the Ferns in terms of the fluidity of their play, but if England get front foot ball they can be very efficient in finishing and in Jones, Kildunne and Dow have three players who can make a try out of nothing.
With only a couple of warm up matches ahead of the RWC itself, the key one to watch could well be France v England on 9 August. I suspect that John Mitchell’s strategy of getting the Roses used to playing in adversity means he has been encouraging England to take chances in attack, test the limits of the ref and allow a little looseness in defence so that they are presented with problems on the pitch. The pre-RWC training camp is likely to see them tighten up in defence and discipline, and the France test will give the best indication of how they’ve changed their gameplan for the match.
The Ferns have spoken about having as-yet-unseen plays and tactics to unleash at the tournament, but the Roses also have enough of an advantage against most teams to be able to hold some tricks back for the knockout stages.
That’s a very accurate assessment of the article and probably how the w6N played out. Everybody seems to have unseen tactics, BF will always play the BF way, it’s in their DNA. The RR have have a commonly perceived strong pack and dymamic backline, it’s the combinations they continue to work which I am sure they are working on up to the RWC. But, I guess like Mike Tyson once said ‘everyone has a plan until you hit them in the mouth’
Kaipo Olsen-Baker is crazy good. I’d even go as far as saying she’s the Player of the Tournament.