It’s a huge pity that this rivalry has proved so one-sided; so one-sided that the competition, set up in 1994, fell into abeyance for nearly ten years.

With the latest result, Wallaroos 0 New Zealand 50, the disparities continue, the Wallaroos remain winless after 29 years.

To the great credit of Queenslanders they achieved a new record attendance, 7,005.

The Wallaroos had few answers to the power of the Ferns’ pack. Only rarely could they get the upper hand on contact; too many tackles failed to halt the visitors’ advance. The Black Ferns side was young and inexperienced enough not to think about past results. They were delighted with themselves.

The match doubled as a WXV1 qualifier. Of the four nations competing in the Pacific Four series, the Ferns and the Maple Leafs are all too likely to pull through. It comes to the crunch between the Eagles and the Wallaroos to gain the all-important third place.

This section of the WXV1 qualification schedule is taking its time to complete. Still months to go.

The longer-term consequences for Australia are troublesome; in 2029 the World Cup will come visiting. By then Rugby Australia needs to have put its full weight behind the Wallaroos 15s squad. Till now the Sevens squad have received all the hand-outs.

What’s in a name?

That brings me to a curious point:

Several national sides carry a familiar nickname: Azzurre, Bleues, Eagles, Maple Leafs, Red Roses, Sakura, Springboks and Black Ferns.

I place the Ferns last simply to draw attention to the exclusive use of that term in New Zealand Rugby circles.

A commentator will never call them New Zealand or Aotearoa. You could suggest all sorts or reasons for that avoidance, going back deep into the nation’s history.

At the other extreme, the Red Roses had an official baptismal ceremony just a few years ago. New Zealand commentators proved unable or unwilling to grant England their new name when the Black Ferns came visiting in 2021. There it was ‘the England Roses’ for preference. It does show a certain discourtesy to the opposition. When another England v New Zealand match is announced, it’s always couched as Black Ferns v England. Curious.

Other leading nations haven’t settled on a second name. We may call the Irish ‘The Girls in Green’, but the Welsh and the Scots don’t bother – at least not in the English tongue. Do they have their own version in the native Celtic languages?

When it come to other European languages, confusion arises all too easily. How many times have we seen the French team referred to as ‘Les Bleus’? (Including the RFU website? Yes!) If they happen to beat the Ferns four times in a row – as they did – then New Zealand fans can console themselves with the thought that ‘Les Bleus’ ought to be able to beat a women’s team every time they come face to face.

The extra ‘e’ makes a heap of difference, Les Bleues.

The Italians can suffer a different set-back. Fewer people are familiar with their language, so how exactly is ‘Azzurre’ to be pronounced? I wouldn’t dare offer an answer.

Result:

Australia 0 New Zealand 50

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SAR)

The team is;

1. Pip Love (17)
2. Georgia Ponsonby (5)
3. Tanya Kalounivale (2)
4. Joanah Ngan Woo (8)
5. Chelsea Bremner (3)
6. Alana Bremner (6)
7. Kennedy Simon (8) – co-captain
8. Charmaine McMenamin (25)
9. Kendra Cocksedge (60)
10. Ruahei Demant (18) – co-captain
11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga (15)
12. Theresa Fitzpatrick (11)
13. Amy du Plessis (2)
14. Ruby Tui (2)
15. Renee Holmes (3)
16. Luka Connor (6)
17. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu – debut
18. Amy Rule (5)
19. Tafito Lafaele (2)
20. Kendra Reynolds (3)
21. Tyla Nathan-Wong – debut
22. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’I (Sylvia) Brunt (2)
23. Hazel Tubic (14)

Not available for selection due to injury: Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali

After claiming the Pacific Four Series on home soil in June, the Black Ferns are eyeing the defence of the O’Reilly Cup as they build towards Rugby World Cup.

Loose forwards Kennedy Simon and Charmaine McMenamin are named in the starting line-up, both returning from injury for their first Test match in 2022. Simon will wear the captain’s armband alongside Ruahei Demant who led the team during the Pacific Four Series. The Waikato loose forward was named Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2021 but missed June’s series with a knee injury.

Sevens exponent Theresa Fitzpatrick, who was part of the 2017 World Cup winning Black Ferns, plays her first Test since 2019 and will combine with Amy du Plessis in the midfield. Her sevens teammate, Tyla Nathan-Wong, is one of two debutants named on the bench.

Nathan-Wong is an internationally decorated sevens player, but will make her Black Ferns XVs debut off the pine on Saturday, while prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu is also in line to make her debut.

Black Ferns Head Coach Wayne Smith said there is real significance in defending the O’Reilly Cup in the city where Laurie O’Reilly had such an influence on the game of rugby.

“My want to get involved with the Black Ferns started as a tribute to Laurie who was a great mate and mentor of mine; he inspired me to be a coach and I feel really fortunate to have had such a great relationship with him.

“Every Test match is special, but the significance of playing for this trophy in Christchurch this weekend is not lost on our team,” said Smith.

With thanks to New Zealand Rugby

• Ruahei Demant to lead the team alongside co-Captain Kennedy Simon
• Theresa Fitzpatrick and debutant Tyla Nathan-Wong to join squad fresh from Commonwealth Games.
• 19-Test Black Fern Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali and 2019 Black Fern Player of the Year Charmaine McMenamin return to the squad.

As the Black Ferns continue to build to the Rugby World Cup 2021, played in 2022, Director of Rugby Wayne Smith as named a 33-player squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Australia.

The Black Ferns Squad is (in brackets; age, Super Club, Province, Test Caps);

Hookers
Luka Connor (25, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, 6)
Natalie Delamere (25, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 1)
Georgia Ponsonby (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 5)

Props
Tanya Kalounivale (23, Chiefs, Waikato, 2)
Pip Love (32, Matatū, Canterbury, 17)
Krystal Murray (29, Blues, Northland, 3)
Amy Rule (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 5)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (24, Chiefs, Waikato, new cap)
Santo Taumata (19, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, new cap)

Locks
Chelsea Bremner (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)
Joanah Ngan Woo (26, Hurricanes, Wellington, 8)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (21, Blues, Auckland, 6)

Loose Forwards
Alana Bremner (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 6)
Tafito Lafaele (21, Blues, Auckland, 2)
Charmaine McMenamin (32, Blues, Auckland, 25)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (19, Hurricanes, Manawatu, 2)
Kendra Reynolds (29, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 3)
Kennedy Simon (25, Chiefs, Waikato, 8)

Halfbacks
Ariana Bayler (25, Chiefs, Waikato, 4)
Kendra Cocksedge (34, Matatū, Canterbury, 60)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 8)

Inside Backs
Sylvia Brunt (18, Auckland, 2)
Ruahei Demant (27, Blues, Auckland, 18)
Amy du Plessis (23, Matatū, Canterbury, 2)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (27, Blues, Auckland, 11)
Chelsea Semple (29, Chiefs, Waikato, 28)
Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (30, Otago, 19)
Hazel Tubic (31, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 14)

Outside Backs
Renee Holmes (22, Matatū, Waikato, 3)
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (23, Hurricanes, Wellington, 15)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (28, Blues, Northland, new cap)
Grace Steinmetz (24, Matatū, Canterbury, 0)
Ruby Tui (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 2)

Unavailable due to injury: Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Grace Brooker, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson

Auckland inside back Ruahei Demant led the team to Pacific Four Series victory in June and will be joined in a co-captaincy role for this series with Waikato loose forward Kennedy Simon.

Simon was the 2021 Black Ferns Player of the Year and missed the most recent series with a knee injury but will add plenty of fire power to the O’Reilly Cup squad.

Director of Rugby Wayne Smith said the standard of play in the Farah Palmer Cup will set a strong platform for players coming into this series.

“The beauty of the FPC at the moment is there is huge attacking intent, players are in better condition and as a result we are seeing fast, open and exciting games.

“The trial we held early last month also added real depth to our game. It did end up a bit one-sided but regardless of the result there were players from both sides who showed up and we saw humility, honest endeavour and drive, which are attributes we are looking for,” said Smith.

The return of World Cup winners Charmaine McMenamin and Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali adds experience and depth to the Black Ferns squad.

“Charmaine brings a huge work rate and a wise head, and it’s been her form in FPC that clinched her selection. She has recovered from what could have been a career-ending injury, so we’re excited to have her in the team.

“Vic isn’t your ordinary player – she is mercurial. She’s returning after a long layoff and has done incredibly well to get to this point, so having her back in the mix is great.”

Smith remarked there was also several quality players that hadn’t made the 33-player squad.

“Selection is always difficult. The game is the fastest it’s ever been at the moment and while there are some experienced players who have missed out, they are working extremely hard to adapt to our game and we certainly aren’t writing them off.”

The two-match Test series holds special importance to Smith, named after his former coaching mentor and friend Laurie O’Reilly.

“Laurie inspired me to be a coach and I feel really fortunate to have had such a great relationship with him.

“These are test matches and they are called that for a reason – they test our ability to play under pressure against other world class players. These are incredibly important games from a historic perspective, an emotional one and as a selection tool for the World Cup,” said Smith.

Broadcast
O’Reilly Cup matches will be broadcast live on Sky.

Tickets
Tickets to the Christchurch Test on sale here.

Schedule (times in NZT)
Black Ferns vs Australia, Saturday 20 August, 7.05PM, Orangetheory Stadium, CHRISTCHURCH

Black Ferns vs Australia, Saturday 27 August, 2.45pm, Adelaide Oval, ADELAIDE

With thanks to New Zealand Rugby