Black Ferns Named To Face Australia In Hamilton

New Zealand Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting has named his side to face Australia in the second O'Reilly Cup match at 4.35pm in Hamilton on Saturday.

Bunting has named three debutants on his reserves bench, Auckland prop Chryss Viliko, Manawatu loose forward Layla Sae and Canterbury winger Martha Mataele. He also has Northland lock Charmaine Smith returning to the side after initially retiring in 2019 with a neck injury, and Auckland utility Patricia Maliepo starting at fullback after she missed last years Rugby World Cup win with concussion.

The Black Ferns will also play further internationals in the inaugural WXV 1 series against France on 21st October at Sky Stadium in Wellington, Wales on 28th October at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, and England on 4th November at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 

1-Krystal Murray, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5-Charmaine Smith, 6-Alana Bremner, 7-Kennedy Simon (cc), 8-Liana Mikaele Tu'u, 9-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10-Ruahei Demant (cc), 11-Katelyn Vahaakolo, 12-Sylvia Brunt, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Mererangi Paul, 15. Patricia Maliepo

Reserves: 

16-Luka Connor, 17-Chryss Viliko, 18-Tanya Kalounivale, 19-Lucy Jenkins, 20-Layla Sae, 21-Iritana Hohaia, 22-Rosie Kelly, 23-Martha Mataele

Australia Wallaroos: 

1. Bree-Anna Cheatham, 2. Adiana Talakai, 3. Eva Karpani, 4. Sera Naiqama, 5. Michaela Leonard (C), 6. Kaitlan Leaney, 7. Emily Chancellor, 8. Ashley Marsters, 9. Layne Morgan, 10. Carys Dallinger, 11. Ivania Wong, 12. Trilleen Pomare, 13. Georgina Friedrichs, 14. Maya Stewart, 15. Lori Cramer

Reserves: 

16. Tania Naden, 17. Emily Robinson, 18. Bridie O’Gorman, 19. Leilani Nathan, 20. Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 21. Jasmin Huriwai, 22. Cecilia Smith, 23. Faitala Moleka

Black Ferns Win Opening Rugby World Cup Match

The All Black Ferns have won their opening match of the Women's Rugby World Cup over Australia 41-17 in Auckland on Saturday night.

The Black Ferns got off to a slow start, dropping the ball from the opening kick-off, and conceding early penalties. They trailed 17-0 after 28 minutes after two tries to wing Bienne Terita and a further to Ivania Wong, but by half time had pulled it back to 17-12 after tries to lock Joanah Ngan-Woo and Portia Woodman.

The second half saw the Black Ferns level the match with Woodman's second try in the 47th minutes, but then Australia suffered a double blow. Winger Ivania Wong was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on, and captain Shannon Parry also off soon after a shoulder to head contact in a tackle. Black Ferns replacement prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohulock then scored with Woodman following with her hat-trick and Ruby Tui also getting a double.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 41 

Tries: Portia Woodman 3, Ruby Tui 2, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Conversions: Renee Holmes 2, Kendra Cocksedge

Australia Wallaroos: 17 

Tries: Bienne Terita 2, Ivania Wong, Conversion: Arabella McKenzie

Black Ferns Win Second Match Against Australia

The New Zealand Black Ferns have beaten the Australian Wallaroo's in Adelaide 22-14. It was a different match to the last start 52-5 win in Christchurch, with the Australians scoring the first try, and their defense forcing multiple errors from the Black Ferns. Playing into the wind in the first half, the Black Ferns kept in in close with the forwards, but struggled with the combative nature from the Australians, and it was on defense that the they went down to 14 players when Chelsea Semple left the field after a head clash in a tackle saw her sin-binned. The Black Ferns recovered to lead 10-7 at half time, but half much to work on before the Rugby World Cup.

The Black Ferns have confirmed they will play a pre-tournament test against Japan at Eden Park on September, in what will be a double header with the All Black v Australia match.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 22 

Tries: Luka Connor, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kendra Reynolds, Conversions: Ruahei Demant 2, Penalty: Demant

Australia: 14 

Tries: Bienne Terita 2, Conversions: Arabella McKenzie 2

Black Ferns Win Over Australia

The New Zealand Black Ferns have beaten the Australian Wallaroos 52-5 in the opening game of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup series at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium on Saturday night.

The Black Ferns led 26-0 after 31 minutes, and at halftime after early handling errors were righted with forward oriented play before getting the ball wide. The second half was a continuation, although errors again crept into their game. The return match is next Saturday at Adelaide Oval, with the countdown to the Rugby World Cup only seven weeks away.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 52 

Tries: Ruahei Demant 2, Ayesha Leti-I’iga 2, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Amy du Plessis, Kendra Cocksedge, Luka Conno, Conversions: Cocksedge 3, Renee Holmes 3 

Australia: 5 

Try: Piper Duck

Black Ferns Win Pacific Four Series

The Black Ferns have beaten the USA Eagles 50-6 in Whangarei on Saturday to win the Pacific Four Series. In a match played in wet conditions, the Black Ferns scored eight tries, with wing Ayesha Leti-I’iga scoring a hat-trick.  

In the earlier match Canada had beaten the Australian Wallaroo's 22-10

New Zealand Black Ferns: 50 

Tries: Ayesha Leti-I’iga 3, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Renee Holmes, Sylvia Brunt, Kendra Reynolds, Renee Wickliffe, Conversions: Hazel Tubic 3, Ruahei Demant, Renee Holmes 

USA Eagles: 6

Penalties: Megan Foster 2