Black Ferns named for World Cup opener
- Dave Worsley
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Black Ferns have, brought in four players from injury and loaded the bench with firepower for their first game of the Rugby World Cup against Spain on Monday morning.
There are mass changes to the match-day 23 that defeated Australia in Wellington in the Black Ferns' last game before the tournament.
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The 11 changes include halfback Maia Joseph, centre Amy du Plessis and outside backs Ayesha Leti-I'iga and Braxton Sorensen McGee returning from injury. Kaipo Olsen-Baker also returns to the action off the bench.
Black Ferns stalwart Kelly Brazier kickstarts her fourth World Cup campaign in the first five-eighth jersey alongside Joseph. It has been close to four years since Brazier has started for the Black Ferns.
Theresa Setefano will mark her 20th Test in the midfield alongside Du Plessis, while Leti-I'iga and Sorensen-McGee look to bring plenty of pace on the wings. Renee Holmes completes the back line at fullback.
In the front row, Vici-Rose Green anchors the scrum alongside props Awhina Tangen-Wainohu and Amy Rule. Alana Bremner picks up co-captaincy duties in absence of Kennedy Tukuafu and runs out for her 30th Test match beside her sister Chelsea Bremner in the locks.
Layla Sae and Jorja Miller will start in the loose forwards, while Liana Mikaele-Tu'u also celebrates her 30th Test milestone in the No. 8 jersey.
An experienced bench sees Georgia Ponsonby, Chryss Viliko, Tanya Kalounivale, and Olsen-Baker named as forwards cover alongside recent debutant Laura Bayfield.
Playmakers Ruahei Demant and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, and winger Portia Woodman-Wickliffe are the remaining reinforcements.
The last time the Black Ferns met Spain was in 1998 where they won 46-3 in a Rugby World Cup pool match in Amsterdam.
Black Ferns : 1. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 2. Vici-Rose Green, 3. Amy Rule, 4. Alana Bremner (cc), 5. Chelsea Bremner, 6. Layla Sae, 7. Jorja Miller 8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 9. Maia Joseph, 10. Kelly Brazier, 11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 12. Theresa Setefano, 13. Amy du Plessis, 14. Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 15. Renee Holmes.
Bench: 16. Georgia Ponsonby, 17. Chryss Viliko, 18. Tanya Kalounivale, 19. Laura Bayfield, 20. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 21. Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, 22. Ruahei Demant (cc), 23. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
