Black Ferns ready for new 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 they lifted the Rugby World Cup in Belfast almost a year ago when they beat England in the final.
‘‘Regardless of a contract we are professional,’’ said Winiata.
‘‘It is time to move on and I think 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.’’
They will play the Wallaroos for the Laurie O’Reilly Memorial Trophy in Sydney just before 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 will round out the test season by playing the USA in Chicago 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 fantastic 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.’’
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.
At a glance
Black Ferns squad 2018:
❚ Forwards: Eloise Blackwell, Les Elder (nee Ketu), Fiao’o Faamausili (c), Aldora Itunu, Linda Itunu, Pip Love, Charmaine McMenamin, Aleisha Nelson, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Marcelle Parkes, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Leilani Perese, Aroha Savage, Charmaine Smith, Cristo Tofa.
❚ Backs: Chelsea Alley, Kendra Cocksedge, Krysten Cottrell, Kiritapu Demant, Ruahei Demant, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Alena Saili, Kristina Sue, Monica Tagoa’i, Stacey Waaka, Renee Wickliffe, Selica Winiata.
Black Ferns 2018 schedule:
❚ Bay of Plenty and Auckland, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga, August 11
❚ Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, August 18 ❚ Australia, Eden Park, Auckland, August 25 ❚ USA, Soldier Field, Chicago, November 4
❚ France, Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon, November 9
❚ France, Grenoble, France, November 17