28-04-2025
The Black Ferns' 1st-49 to retain the World Cup
The Black Ferns' defence of the Rugby World Cup in the biggest year in the history of the sport is officially underway with the announcement of a 49-strong training squad ahead of the Pacific Four series in May.
The training squad provides the first clues as to what the Black Ferns selectors are thinking ahead of England in August. What's new? What's alarming? How can England, who've won 55 of their last 56 internationals, be tamed?
New Blood
The squad included 11 uncapped players: Mia Anderson, Taufa Bason, Laura Bayfield, Vici-Rose Green, Jaymie Kolose, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Holly-Rae Mete, Jorja Miller, Risi Pouri-Lane, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, and Tara Turner.
With the loose forward department already stacked with the likes of Kennedy Tukuafu, Alana Bremner, Layla Sae, Kaipio Olsen-Baker and Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, it will be tough for the excellent Anderson, Bayfield, Miller and Bason to break through.
Anderson was really strong for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aupiki, covering both Number 6 and 8. Bayfield is similarly versatile and an option at lock, too. Youth might count against Bason, but was there a more dynamic forward in Aupiki? Uncontracted at the start of the season, Bason was a force of nature by the end. Miller is the best Sevens player on the planet. If that form translates, she'd be a certain selection, somewhere.
Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu might be the prop the Black Ferns need. A damaging carrier, her scrum work is proficient and durable. By contrast, Santo Taumata and Awhina Tangen-Wainohu have been injury-prone. Mahutariki-Fakalelu and Chryss Viliko in tandem is a potentially mouthwatering prospect.
Renne Holmes might be anxious about her place at fullback. Goal kicking counts, but Braxton Sorensen-McGee is an undeniable livewire. Mererangi Paul enjoyed an excellent 2024 and showed compelling form for Chiefs Manawa at centre.
Halfback Anxiety
Following the retirement of Kendra Cocksedge (68 Tests, 388 points, 54 wins) in 2022, halfback has been a position of concern. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu fell out of favour in 2023. Ariana Bayler hasn't cemented a regular spot since her debut in 2021 and played her last test in a 17-18 loss to France in 2023. Iritana Hohaia and Maia Joseph are youthful, which brings both promise and inconsistency.
Joseph appears to have the inside running as the starter with six starts in eight tests in 2024. She enjoys an increasingly settled partnership with first-five Hannah King, whom she also combines with at Matatū.
However, King's selection isn't guaranteed, especially if Demant chooses to reprise her role at 10, a position from which she was voted World Rugby Player of the Year in 2022.
With Hohaia, there's an urgency about her game that is very appealing. She started in both the Black Ferns' best performances last year, a 67-19 slaying of Australia at North Harbour and a 39-14 thrashing of France in Vancouver.
The other options at halfback are the inexperienced Tara Turner or sevens maestro Risi Pouri-Lane. A supreme playmaker, distributor and restart merchant, Pouri-Lane hasn't played 15s since leaving high school nearly a decade ago, but she might have the talent, drive and poise to cover the challenging and important position.
Centres of Attention
Amy du Plessis and Sylvia Brunt would have fancied their chances of casting an anchor at centre until Portia Woodman-Wickliffe reneged on her retirement. Don't forget Black Ferns Sevens powerhouse Kelsey Teneti and double World Champion Stacey Waaka, with 25 Tests, 19 wins and 11 tries, are strong contenders too.
Woodman-Wickliffe's comeback announcement is the biggest news in women's rugby this year. Why the World Cup's all-time leading try scorer has returned has been covered at length by other media. A more prudent question is what Woodman-Wickliffe's return looks like?
For a start, Woodman-Wickliffe has said she wants to play centre, where she made such a big impression for Super Rugby Aupiki champions, the Blues. She hasn't played centre for the Black Ferns since 2016, but she did score three tries in a 38-8 win over Ireland and has a clear vision of her game.
'Amy has great line speed, defense, and ball skills. Sylvia is similar. She loves to smash people. What do I offer? Speed and power; not much ball game, but I'm growing,' Woodman-Wickliffe said.
Brunt and Theresa Setefano, 18-0 in her career, could partner Woodman-Wickliffe in midfield. However, Woodman-Wickliffe stressed her chemistry with Ruahei Demant was essential in the Blues' success.
'Ruahei has so much knowledge, knows how to put everyone in a hole, and she communicates. She understands my strengths and what doesn't work.'
Woodman-Wickliffe was knocked out in the 17th minute of the 2022 Rugby World Cup final. She says that the incident played no part in her decision to return.
'I'm still grateful for that experience. I get asked, 'Do you feel like you were ripped off?' No, I don't. I was a part of the game. I made a couple of breaks. Did my injury help the game? I don't know, but it was an amazing game and tournament to be a part of.'
Playing ourselves
The biggest difficulty in gauging what shape the Black Ferns are in is that they spend so much time essentially playing themselves. Even innovative training can't disguise the shortage of competitive matches or fully measure their strength against legitimate rivals that now include Ireland and Canada, who beat the Black Ferns last year.
Before 2022, the Black Ferns were a long way behind England. The same is true in 2025. The Red Roses have won 25 consecutive Test matches, including three wins against New Zealand by a combined score of 106-55.
England has evolved from the clinically dour outfit that won 30 games in a row from 2019 to 2022 to a side that now balances renowned forward dominance with genuine attacking flair.
When England beat the Black Ferns 49-31 in Vancouver in October 2024, all nine tries were scored by outside backs. Dazzling fullback Ellie Kildunne has scored tries in their past five tests against New Zealand.
Scarily, England have used their Six Nations campaign to build 'two squads.' Coach John Mitchell changed 13 players after a 38-5 win over Italy, and those new selections slayed Wales 67-12. They held out a remarkable France comeback to win the match 43-42 and the Six Nations title at the weekend.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe addressed the challenge of England by stressing the Black Ferns have to work 'with their own strengths.'
'It is scary, they've been on a winning streak, their players have been around, they are fully professional, they are playing some amazing rugby but I like a challenge and I think a lot of the girls in our environment like that challenge as well.
'We're not going to give up, we're not going to bow down to anyone, we're going to give it our best crack.'
Ruby Tui told Aotearoa Rugby Pod:
'It's going to be something new, and some people could be like 'oh, it's a bit late to have something new', but hey, it does work. We had even less time last time.
'So I think the new ideas, the key is that no one in the world has seen them yet. We've been working on a couple of things, and obviously, you've got to be smart about what you're releasing.'
Pacific Four Series
v Canada, Saturday 17 May, 3.35pm, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
v USA, Saturday 24 May, 3.35pm, North Harbour Stadium, Albany
O'Reilly Cup
v Australia, Saturday 12 July, 4.30pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
