Spirit star Moata’ane named in Black Ferns
OTAGO midfielder Kilisitina Moata’ane definitely made the right decision when she turned her back on the 13aside game earlier this year.
Moata’ane (20) was named yesterday in the Black Ferns team to tour the United States and France next month.
The hardrunning midfielder was one of three new caps named in the Black Ferns team which will be captained by the experienced Fiao’o Faamausili, with backs Kendra Cocksedge and Selica Winiata named as vicecaptains.
Moata’ane has missed the bulk of the Otago Spirit season because of an ankle injury, but has played in the last couple of games and helped herself to two tries in the semifinal win last Saturday against Hawke’s Bay.
Moata’ane has been on the radar of the national side for a while, and had attended Black Ferns camps in recent years, although injury held her back.
She could not be contacted yesterday.
She was named as a nationally contracted player earlier this year, but at the time she told the Otago Daily Times the pull of rugby had won out after a flirtation with rugby league.
She went to Australia to play rugby league for her native Tonga at the start of this year, and made such an impression she was approached by league officials about playing in the newly created women’s professional competition.
Moata’ane admitted she spent
a while weighing up the offer, but after talking to her family decided to head back to Dunedin and continue to play the 15aside game.
The former Kavanagh College pupil took up the game as a youngster, making her debut for the Otago Spirit while she was still at school. She plays for the Pirates club.
Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore said the three new, young
backs picked — Ayesha LetiI’iga of Wellington and Natahlia Moors of Auckland along with Moata’ane — all enjoyed stellar Farah Palmer Cup seasons.
Moore said the trio possessed everything a coach wanted in a back: explosive speed, tenacity and great footwork.
‘‘They’ve all stood out in the FPC and all three players deserve their selection. This trio will add a lot of firepower to our backline and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can achieve in the Black Ferns environment,’’ Moore said.
LetiI’iga has scored a combined total of 52 tries for her club and province this year, including 11 tries in this year’s Farah Palmer Cup.
Moata’ane had impressed selectors with her determination to comeback from injury after being in national development squads in 2017 and 2018.
The Black Ferns will play the United States on November 4 and will then travel to France to take on the French team, which has made huge improvements of late.
After playing in the two tests against Australia in August, Southland winger Alena Saili has made herself unavailable, to concentrate on sevens.