Black Ferns 2024
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Clearly a development team with project players all over the show. Still, I really don’t understand the halfback selections. Why does Maia Joseph from the last-placed Matatu get the jump ahead of Kahlia Awa who has been touted as the next big thing? She literally turned the final when she came on for the Blues. Yet she misses out altogether. This appears to suggest Joseph is the second ranked halfback in the country when she bloody well is not. This would’ve been a perfect tournament to develop Awa.
It’s also a big call to drop C Bremner. They’ve taken Vaipulu for development purposes (fine) and Maia Roos picks herself as she was outstanding in the Aupiki season so it was a straight drag race between Charmaine Smith and Bremner. They must’ve made Bremner pay the price for a lacklustre Matatu season.
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@Bovidae jesus h christ I'm getting my Bremners mixed up haha Yeah Alana is the one at Matatu of course. Yeah she's good for the lineouts but a bit weak in contact and around the field. Funnily enough, Roos was playing at 6 for the Aupiki season. Certainly something to think about trying for the BFs. Certainly room for Chelsea Bremner in that kind of set-up.
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Canada beat the USA 50-7 last weekend in the first WR Pacific Four Series game, so it looks like the USA will be the weakest team.
The USA will play a Chiefs Manawa Development XV before the Chiefs-Force game. It will be a mix of gameplay and scenarios over two halves.
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Unavailable: Renee Holmes.
Three debutants named in Black Ferns team to tackle USA
The Black Ferns coaching group have named their match-day squad of 23.
KEY FACTS
- This will be the 15th Test between the Black Ferns and USA.
- The Black Ferns last played USA was in Ottawa, Canada in 2023, the Black Ferns won 39 – 17.
- Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu will become a dual international (Rugby and Volleyball) when she takes the field.
- Maia Joseph will become a dual international (Rugby and Touch Rugby), when she takes the field.
- Charmaine Smith is in-line to play her 30th Test for the Black Ferns.
- Amy Rule is in-line to play her 20th Test for the Black Ferns.
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Strong team for the first hit out but clearly two experiments going on here with Vaipulu at lock and Joseph at halfback. Three experiments if you count King coming off the bench at first-five.
Goalkicking won't be an issue in this match as they're expected to march through the US (although they struggled last year for the first half) but no recognised goalkicker is a big concern for me with the WXV1 and the big test at Twickenham later this year. They already struggle in this department with Renee Holmes. Without Holmes, Demant appears to be the next in line among the starters. Maliepo on the bench has kicked in the past but hasn't all year for the Blues because Cottrell was the kicker and highest pointscorer in Aupiki. Did Cottrell get picked? Nope. Maybe Hannah King can kick when she gets on. Actually, I'd have King kick ahead of Maliepo and Demant.
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USA fumble the ball 30cm from the line.
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Wow, that's some tired and woeful tackling there. Layla Sae running over/ through three Americans from 40m out to score.
