Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
New Zealand has named a formidable lineup for the highly anticipated match against Canada, to be played at the neutral venue of Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin on Wednesday. World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year nominee Faio’o Fa’amausili captains the side that also includes Olympic 7s star Portia Woodman on the right wing. The Black Ferns enter the match ranked no1 in the world and are fresh from a 25-20 win over England on Sunday. They have now won nine tests in a row, with their last defeat coming against Ireland in the pool stages of the 2014 World Cup.
Experienced halfback combination Kendra Cocksedge and Kelly Brazier are once again tasked to direct a backline loaded with threats including quicksilver fullback Selica Winiata. The forward pack has a relatively youthful but combative look to it. Aleisha Nelson anchors the scrum with Charmaine Smith, who debuted against Canada a year ago, selected on the blindside flank.
The Black Ferns defeated Canada by a score of 40-22 in last year’s Women’s Super Series, and twice during the build-up to the 2014 World Cup.
Kickoff is set for 1pm local time, 8am Eastern. The match will be streamed live on YouTube by Irish Rugby.
NEW ZEALAND BLACK FERNS
1 Toka Natua, 2 Fiao’o Fa’amausili (capt.), 3 Aleisha Nelson, 4 Eloise Blackwell, 5 Charlene Gubb, 6 Charmaine Smith, 7 Charmaine McMenamin, 8 Aroha Savage, 9 Kendra Cocksedge, 10 Kelly Brazier, 11 Renee Wickliffe, 12 Chelsea Alley, 13 Carla Hohepa, 14 Portia Woodman, 15 Selica Winiata
16 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 17 Aldora Itunu, 18 Aotearoa Mata’u, 19 Sharnita Woodman, 20 Angie Sisifa, 21 Kristina Sue, 22 Janna Vaughan, 23 Hazel Tubic
