2022 Black Ferns
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@Stargazer said in 2022 Black Ferns:
@Bovidae After this weekend of sevens, I'm not convinced they should include any sevens players. Hirini may be an exception, but I'm not sure it's a good idea.
Not even Woodman? Fluhler?
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The selection of the props and loose forwards will be most important if the BFs want to compete with England and France at the pointy end of the RWC. Hopefully Simon is fit, and Smith selects the younger and more mobile props.
There are plenty of exciting backs available. @Crucial Those are the only BF7s backs I would be interested in.
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Black Ferns squad for Rugby World Cup (Te kapa Mamaku ki te Ipu Whutupōro ā-Ao)
Hookers (Kaitīkape): Luka Connor, Natalie Delamere, Georgia Ponsonby
Props (Pou): Tanya Kalounivale, Phillipa Love, Krystal Murray, Amy Rule, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Santo Taumata
Locks (Kaiwhītiki): Chelsea Bremner, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Maiakawanakaulani Roos
Loose forwards (Pou o mua): Alana Bremner, Sarah Hirini, Charmaine McMenamin, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Kendra Reynolds, Kennedy Simon
Halfbacks (Kairau): Ariana Bayler, Kendra Cocksedge, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu
First five-eighths (Topatahi): Ruahei Demant, Hazel Tubic
Midfielders (Kaunuku): Logo I Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Theresa Fitzpatrick
Outside backs (Pou o muri): Stacey Fluhler, Renee Holmes, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Ruby Tui, Renee Wickliffe, Portia WoodmanUnavailable due to injury (Tē wātea, nā te wharanga: Grace Brooker, Kaipo Oslen-Baker, Aleisha Pearl-Nelson.
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A bit more info, and to put it into persepective: Loose forward and English Captain Sarah Hunter as almost as many caps as our entire Forwards Squad.
Black Ferns squad
(Age, Super Rugby team, province and test caps)Hookers
Luka Connor (26, Bay of Plenty, Chiefs,
Natalie Delamere (25, Bay of Plenty, Matatū, 2)
Georgia Ponsonby (22, Canterbury, Matatū, 6)Props
Tanya Kalounivale (23, Waikato, Chiefs, 4)
Phillipa Love (32, Canterbury, Matatū, 19)
Krystal Murray (29, Northland, Blues, 4)
Amy Rule (22, Canterbury, Matatū, 6)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (24, Waikato, Chiefs, 1)
Santo Taumata (19, Bay of Plenty, Chiefs, 1)Locks
Chelsea Bremner (27, Canterbury, Matatū, 5)
Joanah Ngan-Woo (26, Wellington, Hurricanes, 10)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (21, Auckland, Blues, 7)Loose Forwards
Alana Bremner (25, Canterbury, Matatū,
Sarah Hirini (29, Manawatū, Hurricanes, 10)
Charmaine McMenamin (32, Auckland, Blues, 27)
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (20, Auckland, Blues, 6)
Kendra Reynolds (29, Bay of Plenty, Matatū, 5)
Kennedy Simon (25, Waikato, Chiefs, 10)Halfbacks
Ariana Bayler (25, Waikato, Chiefs, 5)
Kendra Cocksedge (34, Canterbury, Matatū, 61)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (30, Counties Manukau, Chiefs, 9)First Five-Eighths
Ruahei Demant (27, Auckland, Blues, 20)
Hazel Tubic (31, Counties Manukau, Chiefs, 16)Midfielders
Logo I Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (18, Auckland, 4)
Amy du Plessis (23, Canterbury, Matatū, 3)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (27, Auckland, Blues, 12)Outside Backs
Stacey Fluhler (26, Waikato, Chiefs, 20)
Renee Holmes (22, Waikato, Matatū, 4)
Ayesha Leti-I'iga (23, Wellington, Hurricanes, 17)
Ruby Tui (30, Counties Manukau, Chiefs, 4)
Renee Wickliffe (35, Bay of Plenty, Chiefs, 44)
Portia Woodman (31, Northland, Chiefs, 18)Unavailable due to injury: Grace Brooker, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Aleisha Pearl Nelson
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Squad as expected, thought they might go with Lafaele over Wickliffe to have some further cover at lock but Wickliffe give lots of utility value especially for easy pool games.
Gutted for Olsen-Baker, she would have started at 8. Semple the biggest omission but also not surprising at all, hopefully her SkySport contract doesn't stop her working with SparkSport at the tournament. -
@trooa Semple would have offered something different in the midfield, as she can be direct and get you over the advantage line. The players selected are more runners and steppers, which might not be as effective against England or France with slower ball. We'll see.
The interest now will be which of the sevens players force their way into the team to play Aust in the opener.
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@Bovidae Brunt is a similar physical ball runner in the midfield? Far less experienced but probably more explosive which might have got her over the line with the tactics Smith is implementing.
Fitzpatrick is the only definite starter for me, rest are fighting for bench spots without injuries.
Italy beat France 26-19 on the weekend so not just England & France we have to worry about. -
With the BFs not having played England and France since the new coaching set-up was brought in, it's hard to know how good this squad is. That's also due to all the changes that were made in the line-up in all the games they've played this year. I hardly know some of the players, because they're so new. Twelve players with 5 caps or less. If I had to guess, I think they can beat France on a good day. England? Who knows. They're definitely the team to beat.
Due to so many FPC games overlapping with NPC games, I haven't seen far enough FPC games, so can't really say who's lucky to be there or who's unlucky not to be named.
I rate Chelsea Semple, so it's disappointing she's not there. I'm not a Ruawei Demant fan (at 10) and would have loved to see Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali in the squad. It's also a pity Grace Brooker has been injured all year. Would have added so much more than a player like Renee Wickliffe, who's well past her best.
Wishing the team lots of luck; I can't wait for the World Cup to begin. It's a pity all games are played up north, which will make it impossible for me to attend any games, but I will be glued to my screen, even with Spark Sport screening it.
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@trooa I wouldn't be surprised to see Fluhler at centre. I did predict Hirini would be in the squad, and she could still play openside if Simon is at no.8. I'm not sure what Smith's preferred loose forward trio and midfield is, as some of the players in this squad weren't involved in the Aust tests.
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@Bovidae Yeah she's definitely a shot but Du Plessis has been in exceptional form this year. Her footwork pre-contact is amazing & I'd say she is quicker than Stacey. Keen to see what her defensive decision making is like against higher quality teams though.
Hiriini can definitely force her way in, she was so good over the ball for the Poua. I think the loose trio that played Aussie in the first test deserves first shot at it but that's dependent on Simon. She has a torn calf & they'll be pretty risk averse you'd assume with zero risk of missing the quarters. -
Wayne Smith: Avalanche uncovers gold mine
Rugby's professor Wayne Smith tells Jim Kayes where he's worried for the Black Ferns in their Rugby World Cup defence and why coaching them is one of the best things he's done.
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Hansen rules out tilt at top Black Ferns job after Smith departure
Assistant coach says she would like to remain involved with new world champions but selection may be out of her hands.
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It appears they are sticking with the Director of rugby role.
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@Bovidae said in 2022 Black Ferns:
It appears they are sticking with the Director of rugby role.
I found that funny as well. I wonder if that is the 'new' direction they are going to go with the Men's team as well. Director of Rugby but sets strategies, leads the coaches etc.
