Black Ferns

It was one of several positional shifts Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith made to the squad that demolished Japan two weeks ago; with wings Ruby Tui and Portia ...

It's obviously a little bit new, but any opportunity to pull on the black jersey is really special. I've got a lot of help from Stacey [Fluhler] and Fitzy [Theresa Fitzpatrick] who have been part of World Cups before, so I'm truly grateful they can be here to support me and help me." Smithy is a great coach; he really focuses on the positives and what we do well, but I know there's expectations there to go out and get the job done. While du Plessis has made her mark as a centre, Smith said second five-eighth was a position he had been wanting to see her play for some time. "[Wayne] hasn't said too much, but something we do really pride ourselves on is playing on top," she explained. Making a name for herself at centre at Farah Palmer Cup and Super Rugby Aupiki levels, South African-born du Plessis has played in the 13 jersey in all four Black Ferns tests.

The Wallaroos have put the pressure back on the hosts as they prepare for a women's rugby World Cup opener in front of 40,000 fans. Australia will play ...

The World Cup comes at a pivotal time for women’s rugby, after concerted efforts to increase the investment of money and resources by World Rugby and national rugby unions. but you never think it would happen. [France](https://www.rugbypass.com/teams/france/) is also a leading contender, hardened by competition in Europe’s [Six Nations](https://www.rugbypass.com/six-nations/) tournament and boasting wins in the last four matches against New Zealand. “What could be better than opening a rugby World Cup in front of a record-breaking crowd against the host nation? The Wallaroos have put the pressure back on the hosts as they prepare for a women’s rugby World Cup opener in front of 40,000 fans. “The reality is that if you are playing international rugby at the highest level, this is the atmosphere and the pressure that you should be craving.

Black Ferns: Renee Holmes, Ruby Tui, Stacey Fluhler, Amy du Plessis, Portia Woodman, Ruahei Demant (c), Kendra Cocksedge, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Sarah Hirini, ...

However, their last meeting – a 22-14 win in Adelaide – saw the Australian side cause some problems for the Black Ferns. While Amy du Plessis shifts in one spot to second five-eighth for her first test appearance in the role. On the wings, Ruby Tui and Portia Woodman switch sides and will play on the right and left respectively.

It's been a tumultuous year for the Black Ferns with a new coach and reshuffled squad, but Ruahei Demant has emerged as the unlikely leader as New Zealand ...

“Definitely a game driver because of the position I play, but I was shocked to be asked. And the Demant sisters were good at it. “Being Māori is who I am, I wouldn’t be me without it. It was really hard to separate my feelings of disappointment from supporting Kiri and the girls," Demant says. Demant grew up in Omaio, a blink and you miss it town on State Highway 35, on the way from Ōpōtiki to Te Keha. "The Pac4 success has also helped us as leaders. The rehab was slow and painful," she says. It was tough adjusting to this big Pākehā world," she says. “Girls rugby wasn’t very popular back then so the top athletes didn’t play,” Demant remembers. Demant’s life revolved around her marae, Ōtūwhare, and being completely immersed in a Māori world. We don't have Wi-Fi reception and the nearest pub is an hour away." “I’ve done my ACLs three times, twice on the left and once on the right.

Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning has confirmed Sharni Williams will start on her 15-a-side return as he names the team to face the Black Ferns at Eden Park.

Emily Robinson – New South Wales Waratahs Grace Hamilton – New South Wales Waratahs Emily Chancellor – New South Wales Waratahs Sera Naiqama – New South Wales Waratahs “We want to use that energy to really inspire us, and feed our performance. As Rugby players, what could be better than opening a Rugby World Cup in front of a record-breaking crowd against the host nation?

New Zealand's line-up sees a reshuffle in midfield and the loose forwards for much-anticipated game against Australia at Eden Park.

“We have to be free, play with joy, go out there and love what we are doing.” The teams have met three times in 2022, with matches already in Tauranga, Christchurch and Adelaide. Saturday will be the third time the Black Ferns have played Australia at a Rugby World Cup, with previous encounters in 2002 (a 36-3 win) and 2010 (a 32-5 win). On what to expect from his side this weekend, Smith said the Black Ferns will be focusing their energy on what they can control in front of what will be a big crowd on the opening day of the first women's World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere. “We don’t want the pressure of the crowd to change anything for our team,” Smith said. “We have a lot of players that have the ability to fill starting positions, so we need to give opportunities and see who takes them,” Smith said.

The Wallaroos will be looking to get their Rugby World Cup 2021 campaign off to a perfect start when they face the Black Ferns in Auckland.

Scotland v Australia (3 pm, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool A) Wales v Scotland (5:45 pm, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool A) USA v Italy (12:45 pm, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, Pool B)

Only one player has come into the starting side from their big win over Japan, with Stacey Fluhler starting at centre, however a number of players have had ...

Smith said it wasn't a performance he was happy with, but put the blame on himself noting he might have tried to change a little too much between the test and their 52-5 win in the match prior. The match headlines an opening-day triple-header, which also features France v South Africa and England v Fiji. While Amy du Plessis shifts in one spot to second five-eighth for her first test appearance in the role. On the wings, Ruby Tui and Portia Woodman switch sides and will play on the right and left respectively. Saturday's test will be the fourth meeting between the Black Ferns and the Wallaroos this season, with the New Zealand side sweeping the three matches to date. "We have a lot of players that have the ability to fill starting positions, so we need to give opportunities and see who takes them," Black Ferns director of coaching Wayne Smith said of his selection.

Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning is stressing the importance of a disciplined performance as they look to take it to the Black Ferns on Saturday.

I’m really excited for the players to use that energy but from our point of view, we don’t feel like there’s any pressure at all. That first game in Pac Four was the first time we led them ever at half-time, couldn’t go through with it. In Adelaide, we were really good there and also our physicality but our discipline was still letting us down.” “We feel it’s good for her to get this game under the belt for the rest of the campaign. “Absolutely, from our point of view the Wallaroos have never beaten the Black Ferns, we’ve got this awesome opportunity for a group of Wallaroos to experience this venue at a large capacity,” he believes when asked if the pressure was on the Kiwis. Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning is stressing the importance of a disciplined performance as they look to take it to the Black Ferns on Saturday.

A world record crowd of 40000 is on the cards for Saturday's clash against Australia.

The Women's Rugby World Cup kicks off this weekend with three games at Eden Park tomorrow. The Black Ferns versus Australia is the big one of course at 7.1.

Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith believes his side starts their Rugby World Cup campaign against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday, having made progress since ...

"The unexpected will happen in a tournament and you've just got to handle it. I think it's a new experience for everybody," he said. Differences coaching women were they asked a lot more questions, were more apprehensive because, unlike men, they hadn't started playing the game when they were five years of age. Differences in coaching women were they asked a lot more questions, and were more apprehensive because, unlike men, they hadn't started playing the game when they were five years of age. Smith said the experienced members of the side had been working with younger players about what they could expect in front of such a big crowd. "I think it will be a big Test," he said.

That's according to former Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui, who believes the Wallaroos are more likely than ever to beat their trans-Tasman rivals. Come ...

they're the games that are going to be important for the Wallaroos to qualify for a quarter-final." "Are they good enough to beat the Black Ferns for the first time in their history at such a big moment is the great question we'll find out about. After the Olympics, the late Olympics, I thought she was just struggling physically a little bit. [clicking here](https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=wwos&redirect_uri=https://wwos.nine.com.au&newsletter=true)! [who named their side on Friday](https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/womens-world-cup-2022-aussies-pile-pressure-on-kiwis-as-sera-naiqama-gets-first-test-start/7dcf3711-954d-48d3-bb0b-3fccc14926ce), will face New Zealand at 5.15pm. "The great positive was this was probably the best performance by the Wallaroos against the Black Ferns in their history and what a great time to have it when you're about to play them in the opening match of a World Cup," said Turinui. [Wallaroos](https://wwos.nine.com.au/wallaroos) face the Black Ferns in their opening [Rugby World Cup](https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby-world-cup) match-up. How that's possible, I don't know. [Supercars star's 'wild' Bathurst 1000 prediction](https://wwos.nine.com.au/motorsport/bathurst-1000-2022-supercars-assures-fans-event-will-go-on/79e08bac-1d29-43a5-95e9-db10b165b149) [Manly eyeing high-profile Hasler replacement](https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/news-2022-manly-sea-eagles-eye-anthony-seibold-to-succeed-des-hasler/b55cf846-84e5-4d3c-b450-91c50ef0c76a) [AFL day four trade news](https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/trade-news-2022-live-updates-rumours-whispers-day-four-developments-jason-horne-francis-brodie-grundy-josh-dunkley-zaine-cordy/60871edc-4685-499e-bcad-66bd7d4f35ef) [Wallabies](https://wwos.nine.com.au/wallabies) centre Morgan Turinui, who believes the Wallaroos are more likely than ever to beat their trans-Tasman rivals.

1News sports reporter Jessica Dermody explains how the moment has come for the Black Ferns to step out of the All Blacks' shadow and have their time in the ...

And that’s because the Black Ferns weren’t a regular on TV, or the radio, in the papers or on Weetbix cards I collected as a kid. Spending the morning with some Black Ferns at a community event, lock Joanah Ngan-Woo and prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu told me they don’t remember watching the Black Ferns play at a World Cup growing up either. Despite my devotion to world cups, having played rugby since I was four years old, and playing in the Farah Palmer Cup, I’ve never watched the Black Ferns at a Rugby World Cup. Perhaps most importantly, there’s going to be a whole new wave of kids now dreaming of becoming a Black Fern. I could’ve watched the Black Ferns every four years at a world cup, the same I’ve watched the All Blacks. Truthfully, I didn’t have much of an idea about the women’s team, until Casey Robertson, former captain, No.