Black Ferns: Renee Holmes, Ruby Tui, Stacey Fluhler, Amy du Plessis, Portia Woodman, Ruahei Demant (c), Kendra Cocksedge, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Sarah Hirini, Charmaine McMenamin, Chelsea Bremner, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Amy Rule, Luka Connor, Phillipa Love

Reserves: Georgia Ponsonby, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Santo Taumata, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Kendra Reynolds, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Hazel Tubic, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt

Four Black Ferns remain unavailable as they recover from injuries – winger Ayesha Leti-l’iga, loose forwards Alana Bremner and Kennedy Simon and prop Tanya Kalounivale.

The team most were predicting based on the injury unavailabilities. The only surprise is that Mikaele-Tu’u and McMenamin have swapped positions.

If you like pictures:

Smith has said he won't know his best team until later but I am guessing this one is pretty close.
I really like that backline, especially the midfield. Fitzpatrick probably the better bench option but good to see Brunt get a chance.
Roos also a possible starter later but I guess the coaches know how combos are working and there are a couple of forwards to come back as well.
Awesome to see Taumata's rapid rise. I said she could be the surprise of the tournament for the BFs and maybe the selectors agree.

Three, if not all, of those players listed as injured would be starters in the best XV. Smith is going to rotate players for the pool matches.

@Bovidae said in Ferns v Oz World cup:

Three, if not all, of those players listed as injured would be starters in the best XV. Smith is going to rotate players for the pool matches.

To be honest I do wonder if Leti-l’iga has a bit of flat track bully about her. Not on purpose but by experience. At her usual levels she would easily finish any breaks/chances she gets but at this level she gets put into decision making positions and doesn't quite know what to do.
Devastating runner in the right circumstances but I suspect that in the big games the speed/acceleration and experience of Woodman may pay better dividends.

I don't know whether there is an option for both. They both favour the left don't they?
Also I tend to find that the right wing can be a dry position in the womens game with opportunities few and far between. It's a generalization but the ball moves faster right to left

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Ferns v Oz World cup:

Four Black Ferns remain unavailable as they recover from injuries – winger Ayesha Leti-l’iga

Disappointing for Ayesha as she deserves to be in the starting 15 if healthy. I'd definitely have her in the starting side over Ruby Tui. She just brings so much to the game, a mini Jonah who has great pace but her balance and the ability to change direction on a dime for such a solid body is just awesome. I'm a big fan if you can't tell.

Watching the game last week against Japan live at Eden Park was awesome. The Black Ferns were just clicking and the game Japanese did what they could. Biggest cheers on the ground were for the two tried by Japan.

Also, can see why Stacey Fluhler is starting. She came off the bench against Japan but everything she did was gold. Her offloads and passing set up several tries as her pace and vision from the 7's really were evident.

Whilst England might be the favourites, I think our girls can give them a hell of a run for their money!

On the optimistic side, this is Englands recent results

Last five results (most recent first): Beat Wales 73-7, beat USA 52-14, beat France 24-12, beat Ireland 69-0, beat Wales 58-5

I would think that our scores would be comparable at least against Wales, Ireland and USA. In fact our recent against the US was 50-6.
Biggest question there is obviously how we would go against France and the 'pro' forwards but I can see us getting over that .

Ferns by 50.

@NTA said in Ferns v Oz World cup:

Ferns by 50.

I think your side has a bit more pride than allowing that. Win by 35-40 I can see.

@Crucial said in Ferns v Oz World cup:

@Bovidae said in Ferns v Oz World cup:

Three, if not all, of those players listed as injured would be starters in the best XV. Smith is going to rotate players for the pool matches.

To be honest I do wonder if Leti-l’iga has a bit of flat track bully about her.

She is the one of the four I am 50/50 about. Bremner has been the first-choice no.6 for a while now, Kalounivale is the best TH prop, and Simon is a CC and will start at 7 once fit. Hirini off the bench would be great to provide toughness and leadership at the end.

@Bovidae said in Ferns v Oz World cup:

The team most were predicting based on the injury unavailabilities. The only surprise is that Mikaele-Tu’u and McMenamin have swapped positions.

If you like pictures:

View image

I reckon Mikaele-Tu’u is a gun. Still very young but from what I’ve seen she does give us a genuine ball running option in the loose and off the back of the scrum.

Just realised how much I've missed Smithy & Ted

Could be one for the podcasts thread but this BBC interview with Ruby Tui is excellent.

Edit: From about 30 minutes she talks quite a bit about the RWC, the changes, the captains etc. Well worth listening for insight and background.

On TCGW last night they said there are only 1800 tickets left for this game. What a buzz for the team to run out to see that crowd and feel that atmosphere.

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Ferns v Oz World cup:

On TCGW last night they said there are only 1800 tickets left for this game. What a buzz for the team to run out to see that crowd and feel that atmosphere.

It's a smaller capacity due to the music setup but still an awesome crowd. Great way to kick things off.

What is the capacity at the moment?

Will re sub to Spark for this (and the Cricket I guess...)

@foobaNZ said in Ferns v Oz World cup:

What is the capacity at the moment?

Will re sub to Spark for this (and the Cricket I guess...)

Around 40k in the setup they are using I think.

EDIT: 47k. I assume that one end on stand area is being used as a stage.

@Crucial that's great!! A shame Ayesha isn't playing as others have said. She's a gun.