Black Ferns ready for fresh challenge
It’s time to move on from their World Cup triumph and the talk about being on the New Zealand Rugby payroll. The Black Ferns have fresh challenges.
Coach Glenn Moore has announced his 28-strong squad to play Australia for the first time under the inaugural player contracts system, and vice-captain Selica Winiata says the successes of 2017 are history now.
The Black Ferns, who are now on New Zealand Rugby contracts, will play five tests this year – two of which will be doubleheaders with the All Blacks and Wallabies in Sydney and Auckland.
The Sydney match on August 18 will be the first test match for the side since it lifted the World Cup in Belfast almost a year ago when the Ferns beat England in the final.
‘‘Regardless of a contract we are professional,’’ said Winiata.
‘‘It is time to move on and that is the great thing about this Black Ferns team. There are so many accolades that have driven the team to success, but it is a new year and a new team and it is time to make sure that we put in the hard yards to get the performance we are after.’’
The Black Ferns will play the Wallaroos for the Laurie O’reilly Memorial Trophy in Sydney just ahead of the Bledisloe Cup match between the All Blacks and Wallabies. They will do the same at Eden Park a week later.
The Black Ferns round out the test season by playing the USA at Chicago’s Soldier Field before flying to Europe to play reigning Women’s Six Nations champions, France, in Toulon and Grenoble in November.
In May NZR announced an historic agreement with the women’s team to place 28 players on part-time player contracts. Winiata said it was a step in the right direction for a team that had always gone out to win.
‘‘There’s definitely been a lot of positive steps forward for the Black Ferns, but now it’s time to get together, gel well and make sure we do everything we can to win those test matches.
‘‘We are not going to make any excuses for how the team has changed since the World Cup. We have got our own expectations. All we want to do is go out there, play well as a team, so if we can do that and tick all those boxes.’’
Winiata, along with the rest of the team, was called individually by Moore on Monday night ahead of the announcement yesterday.
‘‘It’s always a nervous time and you are never guaranteed a spot. I feel sorry for the coaches because it may also be a day they sort of dread. While they are giving good news to those who made it, they are also giving news to those that didn’t.
‘‘I feel for those who haven’t made it this time round.’’
Fiao’o Faamausili will again captain the side while Winiata and halfback Kendra Cocksedge will share vice-captaincy duties.
The Black Ferns will warm up for the Wallaroos series with a game of three halves against Bay of Plenty and Auckland on August 11 at Tauranga Domain.
They will play each side for 40 minutes.