2022 Black Ferns
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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.
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Great how they have brought in all these experienced coaches and former ABs to help the BFs improve. I think this is all on Smith, who's doing everything he can to turn the BFs into a champions team. Whether it will be enough to win the RWC, I don't know, but at least he's giving them the best possible ammunition to fire.
Edit: Maybe they should do the same with the ABs after the women's RWC. -
There's one tiny little flaw in the plan (which I'm sure they are aware of)
When NZRU put their money where their mouth was finally a list had to be drawn up of who was going to be paid as a pro rugby player and who wasn't. Kind of a pre-selection before the trialling that has been going on.
This has been a little self-fulfilling in that the players that got paid have been able to apply themselves more and have the best fitness and skills levels. Meanwhile the odd other players has shown more potential or ability but is falling behind in comparison with conditioning.
I think a handful more contracts have been dished out but selection wise for the RWC there is a bit of an uneven playing field.
On the other side of the coin there are a few contracted players earning salaries that have now been put aside.
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Black Ferns add Eden Park Test to Rugby World Cup build up
Fresh off victory in the O’Reilly Cup Series, New Zealand Rugby has today confirmed one final Test for the Black Ferns in their Rugby World Cup preparations, hosting Japan at Eden Park on 24 September.
Black Ferns v Japan
Saturday 24 September, kick off 4.30pm
Eden Park
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Smith should select the best available 23 for that last pre-RWC test.
I realise it's difficult for a new coach, who didn't know the players and probably hadn't seen too many of them play before he started his job, to select a squad, but there have been enough (probably too many) trials. Not enough time for combos to gel. The women's RWC is shorter than the men's.
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@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:
World Cup jersey. No Altrad!
WR regulations that you can't have any sponsors except the jersey manufacturer. You can bet all their training gear will be covered in Altrad and Ineos logos.
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