Strong Black Ferns named to face Wallaroos
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Three debutantes for the Black Ferns' team to face Australia in Auckland on Saturday afternoon including Blues forward Amarante Sititi.
Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen has selected 19-year-old Sititi, the sister of All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi as a reserve lock after impressing in Super Rugby Aupiki.
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Matatū loose forward Elinor-Plum King will also make her debut in the O’Reilly Cup clash against the Wallaroos. She has won her place after scoring a hat-trick in last weekend’s warm-up match against the Black Ferns XV, a 62-19 win in Upper Hutt.
The 22-year-old will start at openside flanker alongside established back rowers Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Kaipo Olsen-Baker.
Chiefs outside back Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, 19, could make her debut off the bench.
“Elinor-Plum, Amarante and Shyrah are exciting young athletes with potential that can be a real point of difference for us now and in the future,” coach Hansen said.
“Shyrah is a strong ball carrier and has great offload ability who’s gained a huge amount of experience being around this group, including during the Pacific Four Series which has helped her develop.
“Elinor-Plum is incredibly agile and relentless through the middle, but she’s also becoming a real threat on the edge. She’s worked exceptionally hard over the past three years to put her hand up for this team, and what we saw from her last week showed she’s ready to be part of this environment.
“Amarante is a phenomenal talent with the versatility to play both lock and loose forward as she continues to develop. She’s powerful in collisions and is building a deeper understanding of her role within the team.”
Hansen has also welcomed back prop Santo Taumata and halfback Ariana Bayler, two members of their World Cup-winning squad in 2022.
Neither have played a test since 2022 and 2023 respectively. Both are in reserve with the Chiefs’ Bayler replacing the injured Tara Turner (hamstring).
Taumata has struggled with knee injuries since her last test, the 2022 World Cup final win over England at Eden Park, but has been playing consistently for Matatū this year.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee has also returned at fullback after a stint in sevens for her first test of the season.
The 19-year-old was World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year in 2025 after the Black Ferns reached the semifinals of the World Cup in England.
The Black Ferns have gone with a strong line-up captained by first five-eighth Ruahei Demant for another test with Australia, who they have never lost to in 30 encounters since 1994.
The O’Reilly Cup the trans-Tasman sides contest annually has already been retained after the Black Ferns’ 40-5 victory on the Sunshine Coast in April.
It’s their first fixture to kick off an extended run of tests around the globe. They face South Africa in Johannesburg on September 5 (NZ time), then France, Scotland and world champions England on a European tour.
Their season finishes with a three-test series at home against the French in October.
Black Ferns vs Australia — O’Reilly Cup test
Black Ferns: Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Mererangi Paul, Amy Du Plessis, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Ruahei Demant (capt), Maia Joseph, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Elinor-Plum King, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Georgia Ponsonby, Chryss Viliko. Reserves: Vici-Rose Green, Maddison Robinson, Santo Taumata, Amarante Sititi, Mia Anderson, Ariana Bayler, Hannah King, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’
