Saturday 18 June 2022 - kick-off 4.00pm - Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei

That's a real mixed up compared to the last two teams. This series was aimed as giving everyone an opportunity and the coaches have certainly done that. They haven't even backstopped the bench.
Some very good players may be released to play club this weekend.

@Crucial Yeah, a lot of green players in the starting XV. But the USA are the weakest opponent (well they should be, not sure how they beat Oz), so this is the game to do that.

Here's the link for the livestream on World Rugby's YouTube. Remember to use a VPN if you're in NZ (and probably Oz, Canada and USA, too).

So will Bayler and Steinmetz be the only 2 players who haven't played? Bayler was bracketed on the bench for the Canada game, but I have no idea if she did play.

@Bovidae Bayler didn't play v Canada. Marino-Tauhinu did. I can only assume that Bayler and Steinmetz are sick or injured. I vaguely remember the commentators saying something about Steinmetz but I can remember what.

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

@Crucial Yeah, a lot of green players in the starting XV. But the USA are the weakest opponent (well they should be, not sure how they beat Oz), so this is the game to do that.

It was a pretty physical game and the US played the conditions better - played down the right end for more of the game and kept the ball in tight. Oz tried to play expansive, which they are usually good at, but made far too many errors. It was a massive win for the US, probably their biggest one ever.

Steinmetz was withdrawn from the squad with a foot injury.
Wickliffe and Tubic came into the squad for Steinmetz and Hohepa. Brunt was also a travelling reserve at the start of things

Les Elder, Charmaine McMenamin, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Grace Brooker, Kelsie Wills, Kennedy Simon were all listed as 'unavailable' when this squad was selected so an initial 31 players has become 33 plus a possible 6 more to be whittled down to 30.

Some of the new additions have really stuck their hands up so this series has to be graded a success if only for that.
Kalounivale, Mulu, Lafaele, Olsen-Baker and Tui all likely to force their way into the 30 IMO.

Will be good for the FPC to have all these players in there firing and bringing the level up as well. Women's rugby is growing fast and player identification is expanding. This is all pre holding a RWC as well!
BOP Vocanix announced 50 plus players in their wider training squad a couple of weeks ago!

We had a powhiri yesterday at the marae for the Eagles, a real nice bunch. I've watched them training at the sports complex, and they look pretty sharp, but I'm no expert. They have some real speedsters, not sure if they are playing or reserves.

They've provided more information on the team announcement:

Unavailable for selection: Ruby Tui (sevens), Ariana Bayler (injury), Kaipo Olsen-Baker (injury)

Weather has turned, gonna be shit around kick off.

Holy moly, what a try. Great start from the BFs!

USA's defence is like Swiss cheese. Marino-Tauhinu scores after a great break from Ngan-Woo.

12 - 3 to NZ after 7 minutes.

Ayesha Leti-I’iga is on fire. Another try. The USA is definitely the weakest opponent the BFs play in this tournament, even with this weaker line-up.

The yanks may be weak but I’m enjoying watching a Wayne Smith team coming together.
21-3 after 24minutes

The time spent together in this camp and the freedom they are playing with is reaping rewards. The level of play is a notch above what we saw in Aupiki

@Stargazer some nice interplay, props running onto the ball and getting over-the-advantage line, some nice offloads

How do you northerners put up with that rubbish weather!

Smash and grab for that last try.

Renee Holmes is having a great game.

Leilani Perese definitely shouldn't play against the stronger teams.

Perese again. Ughh.

Sylvia Brunt's first test try. Well done!

Weather is pretty shit. It's amazing how little kicking there is in both games, considering the conditions

@Crucial said in Black Ferns v USA:

The yanks may be weak but I’m enjoying watching a Wayne Smith team coming together.
21-3 after 24minutes

Literally bumped into him in the concourse, life goal highlight lol

BF's scrum in the first half was up and down (more down than up) but the BF's are getting monstered at scrum in the 2nd half. It's like they've subbed on Lomax and Numia

Perese needs to be pulled before she loses all confidence.

Number 8 has feet for hands though she's been good at the back of a back-peddling scrum.

Who needs a scrum?

@Toddy said in Black Ferns v USA:

Number 8 has feet for hands though she's been good at the back of a back-peddling scrum.

That’s LMT. MMT’s little sis.

Another ex Hastings kid for @Nepia to claim.

Hat-trick!

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

Hat-trick!

Hungus!

At least this time it worked

Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu and Hazel Tupic should be the starting halves in the big games.

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu and Hazel Tupic should be the starting halves in the big games.

Not going to happen with the captaincy selection and the wraps they have been giving her. Best might be for Tubic to play 12 but swap into first receiver often

Good thing is that we probably have our 8,9,10,12

@Crucial Demant can play at 12.

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

@Crucial Demant can play at 12.

Bit small against the big teams for 12 I think.

@Crucial They've moved her there in the previous games as soon as Tubic came on. There's no reason why they can't do that from the start.

Murray will get a card. The question is the colour.

Edit: yellow. First contact chest, slipping up to head.

@Stargazer said in Black Ferns v USA:

Murray will get a card. The question is the colour.

I couldn’t even see head contact.. not until after the tackle impact