Black Ferns 2024
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Five new players in the contracted group. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu looks to be one omission.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/talent-aplenty-in-2024-contracted-black-ferns-group/
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Biggest Shock:
Krysten Cottrell (Blues) was the best first five in Aupiki yet misses out. Yes she may be a bit old but she was in form and the highest point scorer for the competition. Itunu is old too but she got the nod. Yet we have King (potential but not there yet) and Demant (she’s really a second-five & isn’t a goal kicker).Really happy for:
Kahlia Awa (Blues) - brilliant for the Blues
Aldora Itunu (Blues) - ditto
Maama Vaipulu (Blues) - another blues player who knocked the door down
Iritana Hohaia (Poua) - done well in a losing Poua team
Layla Sa’e (Poua) - ditto
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matatu)Career revival:
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matatu) - after being dropped in 2022 her form deserves selection this year
Patricia Maliepo (Blues) - great for Blues; returns for first time since 2021
Alora Itunu (Blues) - it’s been years!Big sackings / end of career for:
AMT (Chiefs Manawa) - completely agree, she was rubbish this year
Hazel Tubic (Chiefs Manawa) - shocker in the final
Chelsea Semple (Chiefs Manawa) - absolute shocker in final, time to retire
Rosie Kelly (Matatu) - a bit unlucky, she showed glimpses
Charmaine McMeniman - it’s been a nice career for the old warhorse but it’s probably retirement time nowComing back from injury contingent:
Joanna Ngan-Woo (Poua)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (Chiefs Manawa)
Ayesha Leti-Iiga (Poua)Lucky to be selected:
Ariana Bayler (Chiefs Manawa) - pass is slow, no sniping game, doesn’t box kick, her only ability is to set up her pods and maybe her defence. Can’t believe she made it again.Unlucky to miss out:
Grace Brooker (Matatu)
Victoria Edmonds (Chiefs Manawa)
Mia Anderson (Chiefs Manawa) - she got a half-contractHalf-contract contingent:
Pip Love (Matatu)
Liv McGoverne (Matatu)
Mia Anderson (Chiefs Manawa)Negotiations ongoing:
Krystal Murray -
The circumstances for some players (fulltime jobs, children, injuries) would mean they were never a realistic chance of selection.
They must really rate Awhina Tangen-Wainohu as she hasn't played for over a year. Kaipo Olsen-Baker had a long-term injury as well didn't she? I wonder who the starting 6 will be? Alana Bremner might not be guaranteed to start.
With Demant at 1st 5 there is little chance for other players in that position. More options in the midfield.
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Demant is a running first-five so is a bit predictable in that respect. She’s definitely not a goal kicker so if she’s on, it means Renee Holmes has to start as the only recognised kicker in the team. Problem is Holmes’ kicking at international level is absolutely abysmal.
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@Auckman said in Black Ferns 2024:
Demant is a running first-five so is a bit predictable in that respect. She’s definitely not a goal kicker so if she’s on, it means Renee Holmes has to start as the only recognised kicker in the team. Problem is Holmes’ kicking at international level is absolutely abysmal.
A bit weak in the tackle too IIRC
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Bunting answers questions:
Summary: (My comments in italics)
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Only 13 new contracts on offer. Does this mean the rest are on multi year contracts? Must be until the next World Cup.
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22% of the squad are props. It reflects the key strategic focus for this World Cup cycle. Good. The BFs have been dominated in the forwards by both France & England for many years now; going back to at least 2018.
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He has been talking to many of the BF7s who have signalled their intention to return to Aupiki next year to be in the running for the World Cup.
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However, he acknowledges that many of those who miss out on BF contracts next year will very likely be snapped up by the new NRLW Warriors women’s team. The two seasons don’t actually overlap so there remains opportunities for players to play both every year (for now). Aupiki is at the start of the year & NRLW is in the second half of the year
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Aupiki needs to be expanded to provide more first class rugby experience for the next generation of front rowers as it’s a key strategic development area for the NZR 15s programme. At the moment, Aupiki coaches are favouring the old incumbents with years of experience as there’s not enough game time to develop the youngsters in the short season. Aupiki definitely needs to expand. The English pro season goes on for 20 weeks! It’s a big reason why they are way ahead of every other team and it pisses me off that the poms are so far ahead as I don’t like their style of play
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Arihana Marino-Tauhinu’s dropping gives an opportunity for new leaders to be developed (question asked if dropping her exposes a big leadership gap in the BFs)
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Joanah Ngan-Woo (who has barely played since the World Cup final) is finally confirmed by Bunting that she is returning from injury. Finally someone asked him the bloody question after all this time! I’ve been wanting to know this for the past year!
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I just remembered Niall Williams-Guthrie. She was brilliant for the blues this season. It’s a shame the contract system is tailored towards younger up and coming players and towards developing front rowers because she still has a lot to offer despite her age.
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The Pacific Four Series squad has been announced. The big selection shock seems to be the omission of Chelsea Bremner. Three new players.
Unavailable for selection: Ayesha Leti-I'iga (knee), Awhina Tangen Wainohu (neck), Joanah Ngan-Woo (ankle), Santo Taumata (knee), Sophie Fisher (neck).
https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-pacific-four-series-squad-named/
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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.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/three-debutants-named-in-black-ferns-team-to-tackle-usa
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.
