Theresa Fitzpatrick, a sevens player from New Zealand, will start in midfield for the Black Ferns versus Australia on Saturday in Christchurch.
Fitzpatrick, a member of the 2017 World Cup-winning Black Ferns, will partner Amy du Plessis in her third Test and first at home.
Tyla Nathan-Wong, another sevens expert, has been chosen on the bench and is poised to make her Test debut. Prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu is also scheduled to make her debut off the bench.
Former sevens specialist Ruby Tui will start her third Test on the right flank.
The Black Ferns have never lost against the Wallaroos in 20 Tests, and this match will be keenly anticipated considering the performance of Wayne Smith’s team in the previous Pacific Four Series in June. The Black Ferns last played in Christchurch five years ago.
Adelaide will host the second of two OReilly Cup tests on August 27.
The series will be key in the Black Ferns’ preparations for the World Cup, which begins in New Zealand in October.
Kennedy Simon and Charmaine McMenamin, both loose forwards, have been picked to the starting lineup for their first Test of the year after returning from injuries.
Simon will share the captain’s armband with Ruahei Demant, who captained the squad during the Pacific Four Series.
Waikato’s loose forward was voted Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2021, although he was unable to play in the series owing to a knee injury.
Defending the OReilly Cup in the place where Laurie OReilly made such an effect on both the men’s and women’s games, according to Black Ferns Head Coach Wayne Smith, is crucial.
Smith added, “My desire to get associated with the Black Ferns began as a homage to Laurie, who was a wonderful friend and mentor of mine; he motivated me to be a coach, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had such a terrific connection with him.”
Every Test match is significant, but our squad recognises the significance of playing for the trophy this weekend in Christchurch.
The Black Ferns will meet Australia at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday (kick-off 7 p.m.).
05:05pm) is (in brackets):
1. Pip admires (17)
Georgia Ponsonby is ranked second (5)
Tanya Kalounivale is ranked third (2)
Joanah, Ngan Woo (8)
Chelsea Bremner is ranked fifth (3)
Alana Bremner is ranked sixth (6)
Kennedy Simon (age 8) is a team captain.
No. 8 Charmaine McMenamin (25)
Kendra Cocksedge (60)
Ruahei Demant (18) is the team’s co-captain.
11-year-old Ayesha Leti-Iiga (15)
Theresa Fitzpatrick is number twelve (11) and Amy du Plessis is number thirteen (13) (2)
Ruby Tui is fourteenth (2), while Renee Holmes is fifteenth (3)
Luka Connor is sixteenth in the reserves (6)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu makes her first appearance.
Amy’s Law (5)
Kendra Reynolds 20, Tafito Lafaele 19. (3)
Tyla Nathan-Wong makes her debut at the age of 21. Logo-I-Pulotu AtaiI (Sylvia) Brunts (2)
Hazel Tubic is number 23 (14) in the list.
Fitzpatrick is back for the Black Ferns ahead of their match against Australia.
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