Black Ferns director of rugby Wayne Smith has rolled the dice on a new midfield combination for his team’s first World Cup match on Saturday against Australia.
Amy du Plessis, usually a centre, starts at second-five for the first time and links with Stacey Fluhler in the midfield.
Loose forwards Charmaine McMenamin and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u swap positions from the recent Test against Japan, playing blindside flanker and No.8 respectively.
“We have a lot of players that have the ability to fill starting positions, so we need to give opportunities and see who takes them,” Smith said.
“We’ve wanted to look at Amy at second-five for a while and Stacey comes into centre where she is world class.
“Liana and Charmaine are an exciting combo, Liana is an explosive athlete who is really good in the lineout so wanted to see her at eight,” said Smith.
On what to expect from his side this weekend, Smith said the Black Ferns will be focusing their energy on what they can control in front of what will be a big crowd on the opening day of the first women's World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere.
In 22 Tests, Australia have never beaten the Black Ferns, the defending World Cup champions.
“I’ve talked a lot about wanting to reflect the DNA of our country; we always play attacking rugby,” Smith said. “That’s what I want us to show on the field and if we do, it’ll be exciting.
“This weekend is a real opportunity for us, with a big crowd there, to show what we can do.”
A record-breaking crowd of more than 30,000 is expected at Eden Park for what is a triple-header which starts at 2.15pm with South Africa playing France and continues at 4.45pm with Fiji playing tournament favourites England.
“We don’t want the pressure of the crowd to change anything for our team,” Smith said. “We have to be free, play with joy, go out there and love what we are doing.”
Saturday will be the third time the Black Ferns have played Australia at a Rugby World Cup, with previous encounters in 2002 (a 36-3 win) and 2010 (a 32-5 win). The teams have met three times in 2022, with matches already in Tauranga, Christchurch and Adelaide.
Alana Bremner, Tanya Kalounivale, Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Kennedy Simon are unavailable due to injury.
Seventeen Black Ferns will be making their Rugby World Cup debut.
Black Ferns team to play Australia in their World Cup pool game at Eden Park on Saturday, kick-off 7.15pm is:
1. Phillipa Love
2. Luka Connor
3. Amy Rule
4. Joanah Ngan-Woo
5. Chelsea Bremner
6. Charmaine McMenamin
7. Sarah Hirini
8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
9. Kendra Cocksedge
10. Ruahei Demant - captain
11. Portia Woodman
12. Amy du Plessis
13. Stacey Fluhler
14. Ruby Tui
15. Renee Holmes
Reserves:
16. Georgia Ponsonby
17. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu
18. Santo Taumata
19. Maiakawanakaulani Roos
20. Kendra Reynolds
21. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu
22. Hazel Tubic
23. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i Sylvia Brunt
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