Black Ferns 2023

@booboo said in Black Ferns 2023:

Not commenting on this issue specifically, but I've rather gone off Ruby.

Got a few too many tickets on herself.

Yes, she's marketable, but the game would go on without her.

Her ego is writing cheques her body can't cash ...

Edit: and yes, it may be tall poppy syndrome, but she walked away for (nearly) a year. Most of the other "super" stars stuck with it and delivered without grandstanding.

Deliberately grandstanding though. She is hugely passionate about promoting and growing the women’s game and got an opportunity through her high profile to keep pushing after the RWC.
Not a decision that all would take but an unusual set of circumstances.

Coming to the end of her career
Was pursued by broadcaster to take part behind the microphone
Has done broadcasting courses in the past with a view to that being her post playing career.
Offered a chance to cash in before rejoining the BFs (plenty of the men do similar with sabbaticals)
Probably pushed a bit far in asking for the but she can ask, if she got pissy about the answer then that’s not right.

I don’t see it as ego. More created opportunities.
This rainbow thing is the only reported time that has indicated thoughts of being bigger than the norm. She may be outspoken but stays humble.

Playing wise she’s better off in the US (others are going there too) than being on the lonely wing of an FPC side that struggles to get her ball. At least Sevens will sharpen her up again.
Bunting wants her in the squad and she needs to be there as the incumbent that the new players have to be better than.

@Crucial - I agree re: Ruby. She’s just probably sick of years of lip service from the NZRU and knew that “business as usual” just wouldn’t cut it after the success of the World Cup. She’ll retire in a few years and would’ve kicked herself if she didn’t use her huge profile and leverage to push the NZRU to grow the women’s game. I understand part of her contract conditions was the expansion of Super Rugby Aupiki season and proper pay for Aupiki players. That’s not a person that’s all about herself in my book. Anyway she’ll be back for the WXV1 later this year.

A few surprises.

Unavailable for selection due to injury: Awhina Tangen Wainohu (neck), Charmaine McMenamin (concussion), Hazel Tubic (knee), Layla Sae (ankle), Patricia Maliepo (foot), Santo Taumata (knee).
Unavailable for selection due to sabbatical: Ruby Tui.

Bugger about Santo but she has plenty of years in her yet. Great that Henwood has come through from being an Aupiki replacement and not in the BF radar until them.

Also, the O’Reilly Cup game against Australia is Saturday 30 September, 4.35pm, FMG Stadium Waikato.

That means that Waikato vs Canterbury (NPC) is the curtain-raiser.

So the big winners are Esther Faiaoga-Tilo, Kelsey Teneti and Tenika Willison, who weren't part of the original wider training squad AFAIK.

The big losers are Ariana Bayler, Grace Steinmetz and Kelsie Thwaites (all contracted players).

Steinmetz picked up an injury before the Aupiki finals so that may have hampered her selection. Wing/Fullback selection is pretty ruthless with the BFs.
They all went to cam at the Sports centre in Upper Hutt and would have been put through lots of testing. Bunting likely to have scratched those not up to speed. I'm guessing he has high emphasis on fitness from his Sevens success.

@mikedogz Geez, ACL injury. That will probably be a long stint in the injury ward.

New Zealand’s brightest emerging women’s rugby talent will have the chance to don the black jersey later this year with the Black Ferns XV set to play against Samoa.

The Black Ferns XV has been formed by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to foster the professional growth of players, coaches and management on the international stage and provide a high-performance pathway to the Black Ferns.

The Black Ferns XV’s squad will be named in mid-September, ahead of their fixture against Samoa onSaturday September 23 at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe at 4.35pm. The fixture will be broadcast live on Sky Sport as part of a double header including the Bunnings NPC fixture between Counties Manukau and Manawatū at 2.05pm.

Matatū’s Head of Rugby Whitney Hansen will lead the Black Ferns XV, with Blues Assistant Coach, former Black Fern Linda Itunu and former Wallaroos Assistant Coach Peter Breen.

NZR Women’s High Performance Manager Hannah Porter said the Black Ferns XV was an important part of the high-performance pathway.

“We know for the continued success of our Black Ferns team we need to ensure we are developing and exposing a wider group of players to high-performance environments. The inclusion of the Black Ferns XV in our high-performance pathway, provides aspiring players and coaches the opportunity for continued growth, experience, and a chance to demonstrate their craft.

Black Ferns coaches Allan Bunting, Steve Jackson, Mike Delany and Tony Christie have named their 30 player squad to compete at home in front of their Black Ferns fans for the final O'Reilly Cup Test and inagural WXV1 Tournament.

The Black Ferns team is (Age/Super Club/Province/Test caps):
Loosehead Props
Kate Henwood (34, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 2)
Krystal Murray (30, Hurricanes Poua, Northland, 10)
Chryss Viliko (20, Blues, Auckland, new cap)

Hookers
Georgia Ponsonby (23, Matatū, Canterbury, 16)
Luka Connor (26, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 16)
Natalie Delamere (26, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 3)

Tighthead Props
Amy Rule (23, Matatū, Canterbury, 16)
Sophie Fisher (24, Blues, Auckland, new cap)
Tanya Kalounivale (24, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 8 )

Locks
Charmaine Smith (31, Chiefs Manawa, Northland, 27)
Chelsea Bremner (28, Chiefs Manawa, Canterbury, 15)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (22, Blues, Auckland, 17)

Loose Forwards
Alana Bremner (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 15)
Kennedy Simon (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 16) – Co-Captain
Layla Sae (22, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, new cap)
Liana Mikaele Tu'u (21, Blues, Auckland, 14)
Lucy Jenkins (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 2)

Halfbacks
Ariana Bayler (26, Blues, Waikato, 7)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (31, Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau, 15)
Iritana Hohaia (23, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 3)

First Five-Eighths
Rosie Kelly (23, Matatū, Canterbury, new cap)
Ruahei Demant (28, Blues, Auckland, 29) – Co-Captain

Midfield
Amy du Plessis (24, Matatū, Canterbury, 10)
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (19, Blues, Auckland, 9)
Patricia Maliepo (20, Blues, Auckland, 3)

Outside Backs
Katelyn Vahaakolo (23, Blues, Auckland, 2)
Martha Mataele (24, Matatū, Canterbury, new cap)
Mererangi Paul (24, Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau, 2)
Renee Holmes (23, Matatū, Waikato, 13)
Ruby Tui (31, Counties Manukau, 10)

Unavailable for selection due to injury: Ayesha Leti-I'iga (knee), Awhina Tangen Wainohu (neck), Charmaine McMenamin (knee), Santo Taumata (knee).

Those players not selected include Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kendra Reynolds and Phillipa Love.

For who prefers pictures:

The Black Ferns XV squad for their first ever game against Manu Sina on 23 September 2023 has also been named:

@Bovidae said in Black Ferns 2023:

Those players not selected include Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kendra Reynolds and Phillipa Love.

What does this mean? Was this part of the press realese?

@booboo said in Black Ferns 2023:

@Bovidae said in Black Ferns 2023:

Those players not selected include Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kendra Reynolds and Phillipa Love.

What does this mean? Was this part of the press realese?

No, those were my comments about incumbents not selected (for both squads).