Kiwis, Kiwi Ferns ready for showdowns
- Dave Worsley
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Kiwis are unchanged for their Pacific Championships final against Samoa, while the Kiwi Ferns have injected some extra finesse for their showdown with the Australia's Jillaroos.
Kiwis coach Stacey Jones was happy to name the same players who dispatched Tonga in Auckland on Sunday to take an unbeaten record into the tournament decider.
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The final will have a special edge for the Kiwis, with 35-year-old playmaker Kieran Foran playing the last game of his 17-year professional career, which has comprised 318 first-grade games at five different clubs.
Foran was used at hooker when he helped the Kiwis to win the Pacific title with a record 30-0 win over the Kangaroos in Hamilton two years ago, but was ruled out of last year's campaign with injury.
He will again be teamed up in the halves with in-form half Dylan Brown, named the man of the match in each of the Kiwis' two games in the series, including the 24-18 defeat of Toa Sāmoa.
Meanwhile the Kiwi Ferns has had a boost wit the inclusion of former Sevens internationals Tyla King and Tysha Ikenasio, who were not involved in Sunday's 10-4 loss to Australia.
Head coach Ricky Henry said Lei Tufuga was unavailable for the Pacific Cup final as she followed head assessment protocols.
"We are glad to have another crack at the Jillaroos this week. That last match was a tough battle, but I was proud of how the team performed. We need to get those little things right to keep the pressure on in the final," he said.
The unbeaten Jillaroos will start favourites against a New Zealand side who opened their campaign with a tense 22-20 win over Fetu Samoa.
Kiwis::
Keano Kini, Jamayne Isaako, Matthew Timoko, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Casey McLean, Dylan Brown, Kieran Foran, James Fisher Harris (captain), Phoenix Crossland, Moses Leota, Briton Nikora, Isaiah Papali'i, Joseph Tapine. Interchange: Te Maire Martin, Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark, Xavier Willison, Scott Sorenson, Zach Dockar-Clay, Josiah Karapani.
Kiwi Ferns:
Apii Nicholls, Tysha Ikenasio, Mele Hufunga, Abigail Roache, Shanice Parker, Ashleigh Quinlan, Raecene McGregor, Tiana Davison, Brooke Anderson, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, Annessa Biddle, Otesa Pule, Georgia Hale. Interchange: Tyla King, Shaniece Monschau, Alexis Tauaneai, Ivana Lauitiiti, Shakira Baker.