Black Ferns team to face France in bronze game
- Dave Worsley
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
Black Ferns team to face France i the bronze match at the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham this Saturday has been confirmed with Jorja Miller returning to the side.
Miller and winger Braxton Sorensen-McGee have been named to start following their recent award nominations as World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year and Women’s 15s Player of the Year.
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Lock Laura Bayfield also returns and earns a starting spot, while Katelyn Vahaakolo has been named in the 23, and will be celebrating her 20th Test milestone.
In the starting XV, the front row consists of props Chryss Viliko, Tanya Kalounivale and hooker Georgia Ponsonby, while Bayfield starts at lock alongside Maiakawanakaulani Roos. The loose forward trio will see Liana Mikaele-Tu’u retain her spot in flanker joined by Miller and Kaipo Olsen-Baker in the no.8 jersey.
The backline combinations remain unchanged with Risaleaana Pouri-Lane and captain Ruahei Demant starting in the halves. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt and Stacey Waaka combine in the midfield with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Sorensen-McGee playing on the wings. Renee Holmes rounds out the starting XV at fullback.
Vici-Rose Green and Awhina Tangen-Wainohu re-join the 23 alongside Amy Rule, Alana Bremner, Layla Sae, Maia Joseph, Theresa Setefano and Vahaakolo.
Director of Performance Allan Bunting said the team are focused on the game ahead.
“We’ve been gifted another opportunity to turn things around for our nation and I know the team will do everything they can to finish this campaign strong. The team have connected well this week, and we are determined to put out a performance that we’re proud of,” Bunting said.
The Black Ferns beat Franc 25-24 in the semifinals of the last World Cup in New Zealand.
Black Ferns team:
1. Chryss Viliko, 2.Georgia Ponsonby, 3.Tanya Kalounivale, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos,
5.Laura Bayfield, 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7.Jorja Miller, 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9 Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, 10 Ruahei Demant – captain, 11 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, 12 Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, 13 Stacey Waaka, 14 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 15 Renee Holmes.
Bench: 16 Vici-Rose Green, 17 Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18 Amy Rule, 19 Alana Bremner,
20 Layla Sae, 21 Maia Joseph, 22 Theresa Setefano, 23 Katelyn Vahaakolo.
