32 - 18

18 - 49

35 - 10

27 - 22

34 - 24

47 - 32

30 - 33

19 - 22

14 - 0

29 - 20

11 - 10

20 - 15

29 - 10

24 - 54

21 - 17

56 - 25

21 - 27

24 - 7

20 - 17

LIVE

55'

LIVE

42'

LIVE

40'

LIVE

40'

Today

15:05

Tomorrow

10:00

Tomorrow

10:00

Tomorrow

15:05

New Zealand Women's

Black Ferns name experimental side for first Wallaroos skirmish

By Sam Smith

18 Aug 2022

Charmaine McMenamin. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

After claiming the Pacific Four Series on home soil in June, the Black Ferns are eyeing the defence of the O’Reilly Cup as they build towards the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

NZ will take on Australia in Christchurch on Saturday and coaches Wayne Smith, Wes Clarke and Whitney Hansen have mixed up their selection, making seven changes to the team that ran out in the 50-6 victory over the United States in June.

On the rebound from injury, loose forwards Kennedy Simon and Charmaine McMenamin have been named in the starting line-up for their first Test matches of 2022. Simon will wear the captain’s armband alongside first five-eighth Ruahei Demant who led the team during the Pacific Four Series. The Waikato loose forward was previously named Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2021 but missed June’s series with a knee injury.

Sevens exponent Theresa Fitzpatrick, who was part of the 2017 World Cup-winning Black Ferns, will make her first appearance since 2019 and will combine with Amy du Plessis in the midfield. Her sevens teammate, Tyla Nathan-Wong, will make her debut off the bench alongside prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu.

Black Ferns Head Coach Wayne Smith said there is real significance in defending the O’Reilly Cup in the city where Laurie O’Reilly had such an influence on the game of rugby.

“My want to get involved with the Black Ferns started as a tribute to Laurie who was a great mate and mentor of mine,” Smith said. “He inspired me to be a coach and I feel really fortunate to have had such a great relationship with him.

“Every Test match is special, but the significance of playing for this trophy in Christchurch this weekend is not lost on our team.”

Saturday’s Test will kick off at 7:05pm NZT from Orangetheory Stadium.

Black Ferns: Renee Holmes, Ruby Tui, Amy du Plessis, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Ruahei Demant, Kendra Cocksedge, Charmaine McMenamin, Kennedy Simon, Alana Bremner, Chelsea Bremner, Joanah Ngan Woo, Tanya Kalounivale, Georgia Ponsonby, Pip Love. Reserves: Luke Connor, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Amy Rule, Tafito Lafaele, Kendra Reynolds, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’I (Sylvia) Brunt, Hazel Tubic.

– with New Zealand Rugby

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

Lesser known names must step up if the franchise is to fulfil its aim of winning the URC and Champions Cup this season.

LONG READ

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Enforced rotation, poor results, and logistical and political issues have raised questions over the viability of South African Champions Cup involvements.

LONG READ

Return of 30-something brigade provides welcome tonic for Wales

The enduring class of Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams and Josh Adams on their returns gives Wales hope after a wretched year.

Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 3 minutes ago

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

Nor 1652 - 1981 if you wanted to get really into this train of thought.

Round about the time England was cruising around the world raping and pillaging. Like “Heroes”.

6 Go to comments

AC 1 hour ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

No I know. Like I mentioned, many would be opposed, most of all France. France's domestic rugby rivals their domestic football, that's how healthy it is.

4 Go to comments

AC 1 hour ago

Harlequins 'riddled with errors' and physically 'weren’t at the races'

It was, perhaps the worst performance I've ever seen from Quins. Also a very un-Quins performance because usually, when they lose, it's because they gave up too many tries even though they scored enough. Haven't been blanked in 10 years. Didn't even let Gloucester get that many, they just simple could not get the ball across the line, couldn't hold on to it really at all.

1 Go to comments

HU 1 hour ago

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

a long long time ago, when I was writing articles myself (as a way to earn some money during my university studies) there was some editing involved .... if I had put up crap like "better than a British Lion" I would have got called into the editor-in-chief's office and been reminded about taking the profession seriously ....

7 Go to comments

HU 1 hour ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

no way France would join .... why would they, the Top14 is perhaps the healthiest competition in (professional) club rugby and even the D2 seems to be up and running ..... I can't see any selling point to be convincing ....

4 Go to comments

ED 2 hours ago

Bristol vs Leicester | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

This teamsheet is different to bears site and planet rugby.

1 Go to comments

Barry 3 hours ago

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

Always has elevated the profile of African rugby?

They didn't do much for the games profile from 1981 - 1992. Not in a positive sense at least.

6 Go to comments

Bull Shark 3 hours ago

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

What does “better than a British Lion” mean?

As good as a springbok?

7 Go to comments

Hellhound 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

On this I agree with you. There were many great teams and many different eras of rugby with very different rule sets. It's actually impossible to declare one team or player as the best ever. However, this is definitely the best SA team SA has ever had. All the accolades speaks for itself.

129 Go to comments

Hellhound 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

All you can do is hate on SA. Jealousy makes you nasty and it's never a good look. Those who actually knows rugby is all talking about the depth and standards of the SA players. They don't wear blinders like you. The NH had many years to build the depth and players for multiple competition the SA teams didn't. There will be growing pains. Not least travel issues. The NH teams barely have to travel to play an opponent opposed to the SA teams. That is just one issue. There is many more issues, hence the "growing pains". The CC isn't yet a priority and this is what most people have a problem with. Saying SA is disrespecting that competition which isn't true. SA don't have the funds yet to go big and get the players needed for 3 competitions. It all costs a lot of money. It's over using players and get them injured or prioritising what they can deliver with what are available. To qualify for CC, they need to perform well in the URC, so that is where the main priorities is currently. In time that will change with sponsors coming in fast. They are at a distinct disadvantage currently compared to the rest. Be happy about that, because they already are the best international team. You would have hated it if they kept winning the club competitions like the URC and CC every year too. Don't be such a sourmouth loser. See the complete picture and judge accordingly. There is many factors you aren't even aware of at play that you completely ignore just to sound relevant. Instead of being an positive influence and spread the game and help it grow, we have to read nonsense like this from haters. Just grow up and stop hating on the game. Go watch soccer or something that loves people like you.

129 Go to comments

Barry 4 hours ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

The RFU won't go for it especially now they've enhanced hybrid contracts and some control over their international players.

4 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Exactly. They haven't learnt. Their regions and U20s are also whipping boys which is the bigger concern. Nothing coming through.

They maxed out the credit cards to keep their golden generation of players at home. It's now destroyed the game at every level in Wales.

10 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Nor can the same coach turn it around. That's been proven across the last year. It will be years before they are even competitive again. It's a 5 year + job. No way Gatland will be around for that.

Italy's nadir was around ten years ago and even they were better equipped with their regions, U20s and senior squad and management. Wales have further to fall.

10 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

If they're happy at losing 12 on the bounce, get a regional coach who would be as bad but cost about a sixth in salary.

10 Go to comments

dw 8 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I'm no expert but I've never seen nz or even aus as doing much for those nations? Both have benefited from their countries players playing for us! I see most of the top nations looking after themselves and maybe it's a world rugby issue?

129 Go to comments

richard davies 8 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

At 600k a year I would think there will be quite a Que. win lose or draw you can blame the small stature of the players and the WRU