The Black Ferns will front for their first test in 26 months with nine debutants and returning sevens star Stacey Fluhler against world No 1 England in Exeter on Monday (NZ time).
Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore was relieved to, finally, be in a position to pick his 23 for the world champions’ first test since beating Australia in Auckland in August 2019.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shredded their schedule since last March, postponing the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand for 12 months until next year, and it has been a long wait for such a symbolic match.
The Sandy Park clash between two of the game’s traditional rivals will be the 100th test for the Black Ferns. Their first was at the inaugural women’s Rugby World Cup in Wales in 1991.
Black Ferns captain Les Elder returns at openside flanker, after having her first baby last year, alongside debutants Alana Bremner and Dhys Faleafaga in the loose forwards.
Lock Kelsie Wills and fullback Renee Holmes are the others starting for their test debut for a side missing only two players with injury for the first of four tests on their tour of England and France.
Moore said the squad’s other two sevens converts, Portia Woodman and Kelly Brazier, were unavailable with minor niggles that should be fine for next weekend’s second test against England in Northampton.
Fluhler returns to the fold at centre after winning gold with the Black Ferns sevens at the Tokyo Olympics in July. Her last 15s appearance was in last year’s Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) final with Waikato exactly one year ago.
“Stacey is a quality player who has regularly played 15s. She typically transitions back quite quickly,” Moore said via Zoom on Saturday (NZ time).
“She has trained particularly well, and we’re looking forward to seeing her go this weekend.”
The other five players poised for debuts off the bench are hooker Grace Houpapa-Barrett, prop Krystal Murray, loose forward Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, halfback Ariana Bayler and first five-eighth Patricia Maliepo.
Moore said the nine debutants were ready to rise to the occasion of the first test in more than two years against an English side who have played 14 in that time, climbing above New Zealand to top of the world rankings, too.
England captain Sarah Hunter will play her 127th test at No 8, boasting almost as much experience as New Zealand’s forward pack combined (136 tests), and Fluhler will clash with a familiar face in British sevens ace Holly Aitchison, who is making her test debut at centre for the Six Nations champions.
“They’re a quality side and have played considerably more tests than we have since we last met,” Moore said of England.
“We expect them to be physical up front and know they’ll have a good kicking game. We know they have speed on the outside. They’ve grown a lot since we last played.”
The Black Ferns beat England 28-13 in their last meeting in San Diego in July 2019 and won 41-32 against them in a thrilling 2017 World Cup final in Belfast.
Ruahei Demant said the milestone of playing their 100th test was significant, with veteran halfback Kendra Cocksedge playing more than half of those (53).
“We have players who have played close to or more than half of those games and have been part of that legacy,” the 11-test first-five said.
“A lot of us come from clubs or provinces with a really strong, proud history of Black Ferns.
“Being a part of that living legacy and being able to don the jersey for the 100th test match, it makes you want to put your best foot forward.”
England vs Black Ferns
Venue: Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 3:30am, Monday (NZ time)
TAB odds: England $1.68, Black Ferns $2.10
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
England: Ellie Kildunne, Lydia Thompson, Holly Aitchison, Amber Reid, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison, Claudia MacDonald; Sarah Hunter (c), Marlie Packer, Zoe Aldcroft, Abbie Ward, Poppy Cleall, Sarah Bern, Lark Davies, Hannah Botterman. Reserves: Amy Cokayne, Victoria Cornborough, Maud Muir, Harriet Millar-Mills, Alex Matthews, Leanne Infante, Helena Rowland, Lagi Tuima.
