Black Ferns team named for final pool match against USA
The Black Ferns team that will play to keep their Women’s Rugby World Cup semifinal hopes alive for their third and final pool match against USA early Sunday morning (NZT), has been named.
Black Ferns Coach Brian Evans said they resisted making too many changes for such a big match.
Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox comes back into the starting front row with Aleisha Nelson to come off the bench. Evans has tweaked his second row and loose forward combinations with Rawinia Everitt moving from the blindside to the second row, Linda Itunu moving to the blindside while Justine Lavea will start at the openside flanker.
Claire Richardson gets her first start for the tournament putting power runner Honey Hireme on the bench, while Renee Wickliffe shifts to the opposite wing.
“We have selected the team we believe is the best for this game recognising that the bench players have been making some excellent contributions. Justine (Lavea) adds some accuracy while Claire (Richardson) is world class and put in a good performance off the bench so they warrant selection to starting 15,” Evans said.
Disappointed after their 14-17 loss to Ireland, Evans said the team’s next task was clear.
“It’s pretty clear now what we have to do. We have to win the next game, it’s as simple as that. And that’s a good thing – it couldn’t be any clearer for us. We’re alive in the competition, we’re still a chance so the players have re-grouped really well today. They know what they need to do now and that’s to go out and win the game and I think for themselves, to play really, really well.
“I think for the players want to play well now, they know they have let themselves are down a little bit. As much as the Irish played well, there were things that we didn’t do particularly well, so really we want to see some real passion and resilience and a top performance from them,” Evans said.
| The team is: | ||||
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Reserves |
Ruth Mckay Fiao’o Fa’amausili, captain Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox Eloise Blackwell Rawinia Everitt Linda Itunu Justine Lavea Casey Robertson Emma Jensen Kelly Brazier Renee Wickliffe Amiria Rule Huriana Manuel Claire Richardson Selica Winiata Kathleen Wilton |
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Women’s Rugby World Cup 1 – 17 August match schedule & broadcast details
Pool Play
Friday 1 August, 1pm (11pm NZT)
NZ 79 v Kazakhstan 5
Tuesday 5 August, 6pm
NZ 14 v Ireland 17
Saturday 9 August, 6pm
NZ v USA
13 August
Semifinals
17 August
Final