Pacific Four, Round Three
When the Black Ferns term this a ‘must-win’ game, they don’t mean it’s high time they downed the Eagles’ colours. No, they intend winning the Pac-4 trophy that Canada claimed last year.
Black Ferns
Allan Bunting is able to experiment again. He has named four uncapped players, including two more switching across from the 7s squad, Jorja Miller and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane. Both are named as starters, Miller at 7, Pouri-Lane at 9.
These choices are a challenge for the players. Newcomers to No 9 find all sorts of nasty obstacles getting in their way, and No 7 – the Kiwi position above all others – will test Miller’s adaptability no end.
The other two changes are at prop, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, who starts, and Vici-Rose Green, on the bench. Sceptics might wonder if Bunting is still hunting for props who can dominate any scrum the world can throw at them. Kate Henwood, starting again at loose-head, is now 36.
For the rest, Bunting mixes and matches. The introduction of Pouri-Lane means Maia Joseph is benched and Iritana Hohaia disappears from view. With Braxton Sorensen-McGee making her third consecutive appearance at the back, neither Renee Holmes nor any other full-back gets a chance to show her paces.
Theresa Setefano, once better known as Fitzpatrick, returns to form the same centre partnership with Stacey Waaka as appeared in the last RWC final.
Eagles
I sense Sione Fukofuka is still getting to grips with the squad. In a match he can hardly hope to win, he introduces players he wants to see more of under testing conditions. So Paige Stathopoulos takes over from Kathryn Treder as hooker, and more crucially Sariah Ibarra comes in at 10. Mackenzie Hawkins isn’t benched; she simply moves out to No 12, where a disciplinary committee forced a gap.
19-year-old Ibarra has an interesting background. Though born and bred in California, she started playing rugby at the age of 9, because she found herself in New Zealand. From there she ascended the steps to the full Eagles Fifteen, being capped last year against Japan. A good performance will not only do her own chances a heap of good; they will widen her team’s future prospects.
For the rest, Fukofuka confines himself to minor alterations. Nicole Heavirland gets another chance from the bench, having spent most of her international career in 7s.
Teams
New Zealand
1. Kate Henwood, 2. Georgia Ponsonby, 3. *Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 4. Alana Bremner, 5. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7. *Jorja Miller, 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9. “Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, 10. Ruahei Demant (co-captain), 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo, 12. Theresa Setefano, 13. Stacey Waaka, 14. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, 15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee,
16. *Vici-Rose Green, 17. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18. Tanya Kalounivale, 19. Chelsea Bremner, 20. Kennedy Tukuafu (co-captain), 21. Maia Joseph, 22. Hannah King, 23. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt
*uncapped
USA
1 Hope Rogers 2. Paige Stathopoulos 3. Keia Kae Sagapolu 4. Hallie Taufoou 5. Erica Jarrell 6. Freda Tafuna 7. Kate Zackary (captain) 8. Rachel Johnson 9. Olivia Ortiz 10. Sariah Ibarra 11. Cheta Emba 12. Mackenzie Hawkins 13. Ilona Maher 14. Emily Henrich 15. Bolou Mataitoga
16. Kathryn Treder 17. Alivia Leaterman 18. Charli Jacoby 19. Rachel Ehrecke 20. Tahlia Brody 21. Cass Bargell 22. Nicole Heavirland 23. Tess Feury
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
USAR has just announced a tie-up with CBS Sports Network. This marks an important step forward for them. It’s a pity that CBS’s first attempt at presenting the team selection can’t quite spell ‘New Zeland’ correctly.
Details:
Date: 24 May
KO: 15.35 (local time)
Venue: North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
