Women"s international rugby preview: Black Ferns v England Women

England women head into Saturday’s final Test match against the Black Ferns in Pukekohe looking for a first win on New Zealand soil in 12 years.

Head coach Gary Street has once again rung the changes following two losses in three days, the latest a 14-9 defeat in Waikato which handed series victory to the Black Ferns.

Street has named seven changes to the side which fell on Tuesday to an 80th-minute try as his side look to restore pride.

England captain Sarah Hunter moves to No 8 as 19-year-old Alexandra Matthews gets her second start of the series at flanker.

Also in the pack, veteran prop Rochelle Clark comes into the starting line-up while Tamara Taylor and Joanne McGilchrist combine in a formidable second-row partnership.

Whitewash

Katherine Merchant returns on the right wing while Bristol’s Amber Reed will start at outside centre with La Toya Mason joining Katy Mclean in the half-backs.

Meanwhile, Black Ferns coach Brian Evans has named four changes as his side look to complete a series whitewash on home soil.

Props Kathleen Wilton and Stephanie Te Ohaere both make their first starts in the front row alongside captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili.

Flankers Charmaine McMenamin and Aroha Savage both return to the starting XV as Evans’ rotates his squad.

Papatoetoe High School student Onjeurlina Leiataua, 17, also looks set to make her international bow from the bench after being included in the match-day 23.

Black Ferns: 15 Selica Winiata, 14 Portia Woodman, 13 Claire Richardson, 12 Amiria Rule, 11 Renee Wickliffe, 10 Kelly Brazier, 9 Emma Jensen, 8 Casey Robertson, 7 Charmaine McMenamin, 6 Aroha Savage, 5 Vita Dryden, 4 Rawinia Everitt, 3 Stephanie Te Ohaere, 2 Fiao’o Fa’amausili (capt), 1 Kathleen Wilton.
Replacements: 16 Karina Stowers, 17 Ruth McKay, 18 Melodie Bosman, 19 Eloise Blackwell, 20 Justine Lavea, 21 Kendra Cocksedge, 22 Chelsea Alley, 23 Onjeurline Leiataua.

England: 15 Kay Wilson, 14 Katherine Merchant, 13 Amber Reed, 12 Rachael Burford, 11 Michaela Staniford, 10 Katy Mclean, 9 La Toya Mason, 8 Sarah Hunter (capt), 7 Marlie Packer, 6 Alexandra Matthews, 5 Tamara Taylor, 4 Joanne McGilchrist, 3 Sophie Hemming, 2 Victoria Fleetwood, 1 Rochelle Clark.
Replacements: 16 Emma Croker, 17 Laura Keates, 18 Kate Newton, 19 Emily Braund, 20 Harriet Millar-Mills, 21 Ceri Large, 22 Francesca Matthews, 23 Sally Tuson.

What they said…

Black Ferns head coach Brian Evans

“We’re delighted to have taken the Series, but there’s unfinished business and we want to make it a full set. There are still areas of our game we want to improve, in particular our ability to make an impact in the first half.

“We can’t get wait to get to Pukekohe and play in front of what we hope will be a great home crowd. It’s afternoon footy, so it will be a great day for people of South Auckland to come out and support us.

“Although the Series is in the bag, England have had the better of us too many times in recent years, and we need to make up the deficit. We’re looking forward to a fantastic day at ECOLight Stadium.”

England head coach Gary Street

“We are fielding our freshest group of players available. The players are in good spirits and have had a couple of days rehabbing and analysing the games. We are looking to finish this series on a high.

“Winning is important but actually performance is key too. A win is nice but we are building towards a World Cup. The key thing for me is to get that right. If they do, the result will take care of itself. Certainly learning from the last two games is paramount.

“For me, it is about maintaining that level of performance in this final game and that the players give everything they’ve got to get the win.”

Article source: http://www.westsussextoday.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/england-rugby-ace-continues-the-cranleigh-tradition-1-5298122

Women"s international rugby preview: Black Ferns v England Women