Just being back in Black Ferns huge triumph for McMenamin
WELLINGTON: The twotest series against Australia starting tonight is the last chance for the Black Ferns to settle on their top side before the World Cup defence in New Zealand later this year.
The players will be desperate to perform and secure their place in the World Cup squad but, for one returning star, just being in the mix is a huge victory.
Loose forward Charmaine McMenamin is back in the Black Ferns after recovering from a rare spinal injury which she feared might force her to quit the sport.
‘‘I had a back injury last year. I found out that I had bone spurs on my spinal cord. There was a period there where I didn’t know if I could play again.’’
Those bone spurs caused the 31yearold to momentarily lose feeling in her legs and she was told she might have to give away the game she loves.
‘‘Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Your passion getting ripped away from you, that’s tough.’’
She spent four months in limbo before having a spinal fusion operation.
‘‘It wasn’t until October [2021] that I found out that the surgeon could operate and that if all went well, I’d be able to play again and do what I love.’’
However, the good news was tempered by the length and difficulty of her recovery.
‘‘I think I underestimated it. I didn’t realise I’d be bedridden for days. I struggled to walk at first. I couldn’t even walk so that was a big thing.
‘‘Then going from walking to running and finding out that now my lung capacity is shot because it [the surgery] was around my rib cage. All these other factors would come flying in.’’
McMenamin, from Rangitukia, was the Black Ferns’ player of the year in 2019 and played a starring role in their 2017 World Cup victory.
However it was not getting back to those heights that motivated the Auckland loosie.
‘‘I wanted to just be back playing. It didn’t matter whether it was club or whatever, it didn’t matter to me because I just love rugby. I think the big thing was that my sister started playing back home. So, all I wanted to do was play with her.’’
Olympic gold medallist sevens player Tyla NathanWong is set to make her Black Ferns debut from the bench tonight, realising a longheld ambition.
She was 15 when she was first involved with the New Zealand women, playing a trial for the 2010 World Cup team.
‘‘I played, but I couldn’t be selected because I wasn’t old enough,’’ he said. ‘‘So, to potentially make my debut would be a childhood dream come true.’’
Fresh from winning sevens bronze at the Commonwealth Games, NathanWong, who plays halfback and fullback, is confident her sevens skills will come in handy. — RNZ
Clinton, today, 2.30pm
Otago Country: Doug Smith, Robin Fesilafai, Rube Peina, Chase Owen (captain), Clayton Buchanan, Thomas Johnson, James Valentine, Ben Scorgie, Liam Turnbull, Max Pennell, Dean Sinnamon, Lachie Chambers, Ethan Hippolite, Jackson Clark, Ben Millar. Reserves: Josh Turnbull, Pricee Imlach, Lachie Gunson, Damian Wilson, Conrad Williams, Jared Edwards, Ollie Stirling, Rhys Harrold, Mark McKenzie.
Otago Development: Caleb Leef, Dylan Hook, John Tapueluelu, Brayden Laing, Oscar SchmidtUili, Obeys Samate, Kieran McClea, Hame Toma, Leroy Ferguson, Heath MacEwan, Aron Einarsson, Harry Taylor (captain), Tevita Pole, Brady Robertson, Sonny Mulipola. Reserves: Jake McEwan, Shane Fikken, Oscar CowleyAndrea, Jackson Dempster, Taylor Dale, Jordaw Dwight, Tofa Solia, Jinho Mun, Mackenzie Haugh.