Black Ferns ready to face South Africa in Soweto
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Black Ferns regular captain Ruahei Demant will come off the bench in one of two changes for Saturday's clash against South Africa in Soweto.
Demant will be replaced by first five-eighth Hannah King, 22 for her sixth cap in the No.10 jersey in her 15th appearance for New Zealand.
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The Black Ferns have one injury change after their game against the Wallaroos last monthas No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker is out with a shoulder issue
The last time the Black Ferns played South Africa was at last year's Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Exeter, when Olsen-Baker was named player of the match on return from injury in a 46-17 win.
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u replaces Olsen-Baker and Mia Anderson comes into the starting side at blindside flanker to cover for Mikaele-Tu'u who started there against the Wallaroos.
Coach Whitney Hansen has included four players on the bench who were not selected in their last game.
Atlanta Lolohea, Laura Bayfield, Tara Turner and Justine McGregor can all potentially add to their international caps at FNB Stadium.
With Demant on the bench, prop Georgia Ponsonby takes on the co-captaincy duties.
Hansen said South Africa was "one of the teams to watch" in women's rugby and she was expecting a physical battle.
"They'll definitely match us in that and I think they provide a real challenge for us in that space."
After analysing the opposition Hansen said there was no trend that they could see.
"So I guess it's like you're expecting the unexpected, there'll be a few specials, there's some really creative, innovative stuff that they do in their game around trying to create mauling and sort of playing to some of their strengths around that physicality.
"You look back to our performance against them in the World Cup and for that whole first half of that game, they were only made to make 16 tackles and for us it was sort of close to 150. So with ball in hand, they're a dangerous team and that's going to be tough competition for us on the weekend."
Black Ferns: Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Mererangi Paul, Amy Du Plessis, Sylvia Brunt, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Hannah King, Maia Joseph, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Elinor-Plum King, Mia Anderson, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Georgia Ponsonby (co-capt), Chryss Viliko. Reserves: Atlanta Lolohea, Maddison Robinson, Santo Taumata, Laura Bayfield, Amarante Sititi, Tara Turner, Ruahei Demant (co-capt), Justine McGregor.
