2022 Black Ferns
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A good story about Hazel Tubic. She was playing rugby in Japan before returning in 2020.
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@Bovidae Also interesting to read about the influence of Smith on how the Ferns train and how important professionalisation has been and that trickles further down to NPC. Which kind of makes it harder for Championship teams without Black Ferns to catch up, too, unfortunately.
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@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:
What's the meaning of the team names Rawata and Ngalingali?
Yeah according to the Maori Dictionary, nothing!
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Full time score:
Rawata 59 - 5 NgalingaliIf an equal contest between both teams is what the coaches wanted, they had their selections wrong. Tough job selecting a World Cup squad based on this game, because I'm sure some players of the Ngalingali team would have been able to show more if they had been on the other team, because they'd have better or more ball.
I've not looked at individual players to closely (I was multitasking), but if one thing was clear, it was that Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali was way better than Patricia Maliepo. Hazel Tubic was very good, too.
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@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:
What's the meaning of the team names Rawata and Ngalingali?
"Possibles" in Fijian and Tongan.
The black scrum completely dominated led by Kalounivale. I thought Blackwell looked good on her return. Tubic outstanding. Check out the final touch for Baker's try. I can't see Elder being selected unless she really performs in the FPC.
I could definitely see a significant improvement in the passing, offloading and support since last year.
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Hometown refs will be used when NZ and Australia play each other.
New Zealand v Australia
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday, 20 August, 2022
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Amber McLachlan (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Tyler Miller (RA)
TMO: Lee Jeffrey (NZR)Australia v New Zealand
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Saturday, 27 August, 2022
Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA)
Assistant Referee 1: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tyler Miller (RA)
TMO: Lee Jeffrey (NZR) -
That picture is too small for my deteriorating eyes:
Black Ferns Squad (in brackets; age, Super Club, Province, Test Caps);
Hookers
Luka Connor (25, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, 6)
Natalie Delamere (25, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 1)
Georgia Ponsonby (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 5)
Props
Tanya Kalounivale (23, Chiefs, Waikato, 2)
Pip Love (32, Matatū, Canterbury, 17)
Krystal Murray (29, Blues, Northland, 3)
Amy Rule (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 5)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (24, Chiefs, Waikato, new cap)
Santo Taumata (19, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, new cap)
Locks
Chelsea Bremner (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)
Joanah Ngan Woo (26, Hurricanes, Wellington, 8 )
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (21, Blues, Auckland, 6)
Loose Forwards
Alana Bremner (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 6)
Tafito Lafaele (21, Blues, Auckland, 2)
Charmaine McMenamin (32, Blues, Auckland, 25)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (19, Hurricanes, Manawatu, 2)
Kendra Reynolds (29, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 3)
Kennedy Simon (25, Chiefs, Waikato, 8 )
Halfbacks
Ariana Bayler (25, Chiefs, Waikato, 4)
Kendra Cocksedge (34, Matatū, Canterbury, 60)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 8 )
Inside Backs
Sylvia Brunt (18, Auckland, 2)
Ruahei Demant (27, Blues, Auckland, 18)
Amy du Plessis (23, Matatū, Canterbury, 2)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (27, Blues, Auckland, 11)
Chelsea Semple (29, Chiefs, Waikato, 28)
Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (30, Otago, 19)
Hazel Tubic (31, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 14)
Outside Backs
Renee Holmes (22, Matatū, Waikato, 3)
Ayesha Leti-I'iga (23, Hurricanes, Wellington, 15)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (28, Blues, Northland, new cap)
Grace Steinmetz (24, Matatū, Canterbury, 0)
Ruby Tui (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 2)Broadcast
O’Reilly Cup matches will be broadcast live on Sky.
Schedule (times in NZT)
Black Ferns vs Australia, Saturday 20 August, 7.05PM, Orangetheory Stadium, CHRISTCHURCH
Black Ferns vs Australia, Saturday 27 August, 2.45pm, Adelaide Oval, ADELAIDE
Black Ferns named for O’Reilly Cup Test series
As the Black Ferns continue to build to the Rugby World Cup 2021, played in 2022, Director of Rugby Wayne Smith as named a 33-player squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Australia.
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@Bovidae said in 2022 Black Ferns:
Smith and co still seem to be looking at different options in some positions. I'm surprised to see Angel Mulu dropped for the uncapped Taumata. Honestly, I'd drop Love from that group.
Les Elder is definitely on the outside looking in.
Taumata has been massively dominant in FPC and I guess they want to have a good look in camp to see if that can translate up. There is the makings there of a very strong front row.
All three hookers are strong with Connor being in great form.I'm curious as to where they see Nathan-Wong fitting. Fullback? She certainly has the skillset for the position and offers a kicking option from the back that may be lacking if they go down the path of Tui and Leti-l'iga on the wings.
Midfield is anyones guess with quite a few options and they seem committed to Demant (which I'm not convinced about).
Cocksedge the likely first pick 9 but I really like the speed that Marino-Tauhinu can bring to a game.
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@Crucial said in 2022 Black Ferns:
Taumata has been massively dominant in FPC and I guess they want to have a good look in camp to see if that can translate up. There is the makings there of a very strong front row.
Taumata was in the Chiefs Manawa squad but obviously the junior prop as I don't remember her playing much.
From what I have seen the most dominant front row has been the Chiefs front row (Mulu-Connor-Kalounivale). Good to have more depth though.
I'm curious as to where they see Nathan-Wong fitting. Fullback?
IIRC she played more at fullback for Northland.
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Wayne Smith explains the selections.
"We're still searching far and wide for our best World Cup team" - Wayne Smith
Three new caps and the return of some experienced players headline Wayne Smith's Black Ferns squad named to take on Australia in the O'Reilly Cup Test series this month.
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Getting a bit excited for this new look team vs Aus on the weekend. I see from the article below that TN-W (no not Timmy) is available for the first test only, so kind of expect to see her take part.
Teenage dream close for Tyla Nathan-Wong
Tyler Nathan-Wong (Ngāpuhii) was only 15 years old when she was first involved with the Black Ferns. She played a trial for the 2010 World Cup team only to be told afterwards she'd be ineligible for selection because she was too young.
also
Charmaine McMenamin returns to Black Ferns
When the Black Ferns played their 100th test against England in October 2021 veteran loose forward Charmaine McMenamin (Ngāti Porou) was confined to a hospital bed, doubtful she'd ever play rugby again.
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@Bovidae said in 2022 Black Ferns:
I expect Smith will mix and match the 23s across both games. I wouldn't start Cocksedge in both tests, for example, as you need to look at the other halfbacks if injury strikes.
Marino-Tauhinu looks an exciting prospect at 9. I like the speed she brings.
