Tui transitions to XVs game
Test captaincy handed to ‘trusted’ five-eighth
Olympic Sevens gold medallist Ruby Tui is set to make her Black Ferns XVs debut as an outside back, while last year’s captain Les Elder has been dropped.
Black Ferns coaches Wayne Smith, Wesley Clarke and Whitney Hansen have named 31 players in the squad set to host Australia, Canada and USA next month.
Tui is one of seven debutants named in the first Black Ferns squad of the year, as they prepare to defend their World Cup title on home soil in October and November.
The team will be led by new skipper Ruahei Demant (Te Whanau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Awa).
The uncapped players in the 31-strong squad include four front rowers, Bay of Plenty’s Natalie Delamere and Angel Mulu, Canterbury’s Lucy Anderson and Waikato’s Tanya Kalounivale.
Young loose forwards Kaipo Olsen-Baker (19) and Tafito Lafaele (21) round out the debutants.
Several experienced players including Elder, last year’s vice-captain Eloise Blackwell and Renee Wickliffe have missed selection for the Pacific Four Series.
Head coach and director of rugby Smith said it was important to make sure all players can put their best foot forward when wearing the black jersey.
“These are players that have had a significant impact on the Black Ferns team for a long time,” Smith said. “We want them to be in the best possible condition to be selected for Rugby World Cup.”
Demant’s debut for the Black Ferns in 2018 cemented a resilient return from three serious knee injuries and since then she has gone on to play 15 tests at first and second five-eighths.
“Lu (Demant) has the trust from this group. She is a clear, specific communicator and we see this as a great opportunity to grow her leadership,” said Smith.
He said the coaching group were impressed with what they saw from the seven debutants during Super Rugby Aupiki.
“These players really showed up in Aupiki. They are young, eager and really deserve the chance to have a crack.”
The Pacific Four Series acts as a qualification pathway for the top tier of WXV, World Rugby’s new global competition featuring the top 16 nations in women’s rugby.
With the World Cup 2021 fast approaching, Smith said the series is also about developing the Black Ferns game.
“We’ve been looking at videos and doing a lot of education around what type of game we want to play.
“There is potentially a bit of an experimental tinge to it but we know we have some catching up to do and now is the time to do it,” said Smith.