Last Black Ferns get game time against USA

Black Ferns director of rugby Wayne Smith has made good on his promise to give every squad member an opportunity in the Pacific Four Series.

Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu.
Photo: Photosport

Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu will start at halfback.

Bay of Plenty hooker Natalie Delamare makes her debut in the number two jersey for Saturday’s final game of the series against USA in Whangarei, just two months on from scoring a hattrick in the Super W Final for the Waratahs.

Delamare is joined by 31-year-old occupational therapist, Lucy Anderson, is set to make her long awaited debut off the bench, having first trialled for the Black Ferns as a midfielder in 2013.

“To have genuine competition for spots has got to be good,” Smith said.

“We have 11 debutants and they’ve all played really well when they’ve had their opportunity. For Nat and Lucy, it will rely on the rest of the team how good their debut is, they can’t go out and really shine unless the others go out and shine; I’m pretty sure they will.”

Counties Manukau pair Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu and Leilani Perese get their first starts of the series.

Marino-Tauhinu will don the number 9 jersey, having played her previous seven Tests behind Kendra Cocksedge, who will play her 60th Test off the bench.

Perese is one of the most capped forwards in the current squad, but all her previous appearances have come from the bench.

After a solid debut performance last weekend, teenager Sylvia Brunt is promoted into the starting line up in the number 12 jersey, while Chelsea Semple returns from illness onto the bench.

Smith said the preparation this week has been focused on continuing to grow the Black Ferns style of play.

“We need to focus on getting our stuff right. Everyone can see the sort of game we are trying to play and its starting to come together.”

Off the back of a gutsy win against Australia last week, Smith expects another strong performance from USA.

“Clearly USA will be a good challenge for us, and we will need to be spot on to meet that challenge. We need to make sure we are getting all the detail right and can’t let winning become the enemy.”

The Black Ferns match-day 23 for the Pacific Four Series against USA

1. Phillipa Love (16)

2. Natalie Delamare – debut

3. Leilani Perese (11)

4. Joanah Ngan Woo (7)

5. Chelsea Bremner (2)

6. Alana Bremner (5)

7. Kendra Reynolds (2)

8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (5)

9. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (7)

10. Ruahei Demant (17)

11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga (14)

12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt (1)

13. Amy du Plessis (1)

14. Renee Wickliffe (44)

15. Renee Holmes (2)

16. Georgia Ponsonby (4)

17. Krystal Murray (2)

18. Lucy Anderson – debut

19. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (5)

20. Tafito Lafaele (2)

21. Kendra Cocksedge (59)

22. Chelsea Semple (27)

23. Hazel Tubic (13)

Unavailable for selection: Ruby Tui (sevens), Ariana Bayler (injury), Kaipo Olsen-Baker (injury)