2022 Black Ferns

[Stargazer]

Black Ferns "Pacific Four Series" squad announcement live (from 10.30am, Wed):

https://fb.watch/cNpLP2C9ow/

[Stargazer]

No Les Elder in the squad. Ruahei Demant is the new captain.

Ruby Tui in the sqaud for the first time.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:

No Les Elder in the squad. Ruahei Demant is the new captain.

Smith and co aren't off to a good start then. I don't see Demant as the best option to start at 1st 5 or 2nd 5.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae I was thinking exactly the same thing. Maybe she's a good leader?

[Stargazer]

Also interesting to hear that Wayne Smith et al didn't apply for any position in the BF set-up. They offered their assistance without being asked and that's how they got their roles.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:

@Bovidae I was thinking exactly the same thing. Maybe she's a good leader?

Is she related to Reed Prinsep?

[Bovidae]

Demant was the Blues captain wasn't she? She is a qualified lawyer, and speaks well, but I would have preferred someone who is guaranteed to start. She isn't IMO.

That said, where do they now play her because I don't think she is a recognised goal kicker, as Cocksedge won't play the full 80 mins.

[Yeetyaah]

A bit gutted not to see Harono Te Iringa in there after her dominant performances for Manawa. Black Ferns lacked physicality last year and she can bring that physicality.

[Stargazer]

It's now also clear why Ruby Tui isn't in the BF7s squad. She (understandably) had to chose between playing XVs and the RWC, and playing 7s and the RWC Sevens and Commonwealth Sevens. She chose XVs,

[Stargazer]

Waiting for the media release. Here's the image:

[Bovidae]

Eloise Blackwell is another big omission. No Hazel Tubic either.

Those unavailable because of injury are Charmaine McMenamin, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Grace Brooker, Kelsie Wills and Kennedy Simon.

[Stargazer]

Media release: https://www.allblacks.com/news/31-strong-black-ferns-squad-named-for-home-june-test-series/

The Black Ferns team is (Age/Super Club/Province/Test caps);

Hookers
Luka Connor (25, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, 4)
Natalie Delamere (25, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, new cap)
Georgia Ponsonby (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 2)

Props
Lucy Anderson (30, Matatū, Canterbury, new cap)
Tanya Kalounivale (23, Chiefs, Waikato, new cap)
Pip Love (32, Matatū, Canterbury, 15)
Angel Mulu (22, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, new cap)
Krystal Murray (28, Blues, Northland, 1)
Leilani Perese (29, Counties Manukau, 11)
Amy Rule (21, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)

Locks
Chelsea Bremner (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 0)
Joanah Ngan Woo (26, Hurricanes, Wellington, 5)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (20, Blues, Auckland, 3)

Loose Forwards
Alana Bremner (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)
Tafito Lafaele (21, Blues, Auckland, new cap)
Liana Mikaele Tu'u (20, Blues, Auckland, 4)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (19, Hurricanes, Manawatu, new cap)
Kendra Reynolds (29, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 1)

Halfbacks
Ariana Bayler (25, Chiefs, Waikato, 4)
Kendra Cocksedge (33, Matatū, Canterbury, 57)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 6)

Inside Backs
Ruahei Demant (27, Blues, Auckland, 15) – captain
Amy du Plessis (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 0)
Carla Hohepa (36, Chiefs, Waikato, 28)
Patricia Maliepo (19, Blues, Auckland, 3)
Chelsea Semple (29, Chiefs, Waikato, 26)

Outside Backs
Renee Holmes (22, Matatū, Waikato, 1)
Ayesha Leti-I'iga (23, Hurricanes, Wellington, 12)
Cheyelle Robins-Reti (25, Hurricanes, Waikato, 3)
Grace Steinmetz (24, Matatū, Canterbury, 0)
Ruby Tui (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, new cap)

---

Broadcast

All matches of the Pacific Four Series will be broadcast live on Spark Sport

Not happy about that!

---

Schedule

Black Ferns vs Australia, Monday 6 June, 2.45PM, Tauranga Domain, TAURANGA

Black Ferns vs Canada, Sunday 12 June, 2.45PM, Trusts Arena, Waitakere AUCKLAND

Blacks Ferns vs USA, Saturday 18 June, 4.00PM, Semenoff Stadium, WHANGAREI

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae said in 2022 Black Ferns:

Eloise Blackwell is another big omission. No Hazel Tubic either.

Those unavailable because of injury are Charmaine McMenamin, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Grace Brooker, Kelsie Wills and Kennedy Simon.

Tubic, especially, really surprises me. She's probably the best goal kicker we have.

Obviously, there may be good reasons other than injury that may prevent players from being named: pregnancy, their regular day jobs are just two examples. Some players may be able to quit their regular jobs for a pro rugby contract for 2022, but -IIRC - Tubic is a farmer and that may not be so easy. There's way too much uncertainty as to what the plans are for professional women's rugby after the World Cup.

[Bovidae]

This explains some of the challenges the women face.

Joanah Ngan-Woo, Luka Connor and Tanya Kalounivale have all recently left behind their day jobs and signed professional contracts for the remainder of 2022.

[booboo]

@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:

It's now also clear why Ruby Tui isn't in the BF7s squad. She (understandably) had to chose between playing XVs and the RWC, and playing 7s and the RWC Sevens and Commonwealth Sevens. She chose XVs,

She tweeted as much over the weekend.

[Crucial]

Tui wanted to focus on XVs as her experience isn’t as high as some others.
It was said yesterday that the team are still open to the likes of Woodman and Fluhler.
It is a congested calendar and each will manage things differently

[Bovidae]

Woodman and Fluhler are starters in the best XV IMO. I would also have Hirini at 7 to provide some extra size.

[Crucial]

“Clarke said other sevens converts would be in the mix later this year, such as Brazier, Portia Woodman and Stacey Fluhler, who are with the Black Ferns sevens after their return to the World Series. That trio all played for the 15s team on last year’s tour.”

[Stargazer]

@Crucial I hope Brazier will be in the team. She's a better 10 than Demant and Maliepo combined.

[Bovidae]

The Black Ferns have been forced to make three changes to their Pacific Four Series squad, with Renee Wickliffe, Hazel Tubic and potential debutant Kelsey Teneti announced to be joining the team.
Concussion has sidelined first five-eighths Patricia Maliepo and while it was hoped both Grace Steinmetz and Carla Hohepa would be fit for the series their respective foot injuries see them withdrawn from the squad.

Wickliffe and Tubic are no strangers to the black jersey, both are World Cup winners and earlier this year were members of the Chiefs Manawa team that won the inaugural Sky Super Rugby Aupiki competition. 19-year-old Kelsey Teneti is the eighth potential debutant to be included into the Black Ferns squad. Contracted to the Black Ferns Sevens in Tauranga, Teneti has been a key member of the Waikato Farah Palmer Cup team in recent years. Teneti will be joined by fellow teenager, Sylvia Brunt who has been called in as a travelling reserve to complete the 32-player squad. The 18-year-old Aucklander has shown huge promise playing in the Farah Palmer Cup and at Black Ferns camps so will gain valuable experience being embedded in the squad for the Pacific Four Series.

Tubic's inclusion is a positive. A meteoric rise for Teneti.