Three uncapped players have been included in the Black Ferns squad to play Australia in this month's two-test series, as they continue their preparation for their World Cup title defence later this year in Aotearoa.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Auckland inside back Ruahei Demant led the team to Pacific Four Series victory in June and will be joined in a co-captaincy role for this series with Waikato loose forward Kennedy Simon.
Simon was the 2021 Black Ferns Player of the Year and missed the most recent series with a knee injury but will add plenty of fire power to the O'Reilly Cup squad.
Theresa Fitzpatrick and debutant Tyla Nathan-Wong to join squad fresh from Commonwealth Games, while 19-test Black Fern Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali and 2019 Black Ferns Player of the Year Charmaine McMenamin return to the squad.
The other uncapped players are Waikato prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu and 19-year-old Bay of Plenty front rower Santo Taumata.
Head coach Wayne Smith believes standard of play in the Farah Palmer Cup will set a strong platform for players coming into this series.
"The beauty of the FPC at the moment is there is huge attacking intent, players are in better condition and as a result we are seeing fast, open and exciting games.
"The trial we held early last month also added real depth to our game. It did end up a bit one-sided but regardless of the result there were players from both sides who showed up and we saw humility, honest endeavour and drive, which are attributes we are looking for," said Smith.
Smith said the return of World Cup winners McMenamin and Subritzky-Nafatali will add experience and depth to the Black Ferns squad.
"Charmaine brings a huge work rate and a wise head, and it's been her form in FPC that clinched her selection. She has recovered from what could have been a career-ending injury, so we're excited to have her in the team.
"Vic isn't your ordinary player - she is mercurial. She's returning after a long layoff and has done incredibly well to get to this point, so having her back in the mix is great."
Smith remarked there was also several quality players that hadn't made the 33-player squad.
"Selection is always difficult. The game is the fastest it's ever been at the moment and while there are some experienced players who have missed out, they are working extremely hard to adapt to our game and we certainly aren't writing them off."
The two-match Test series holds special importance to Smith, named after his former coaching mentor and friend Laurie O'Reilly.
"Laurie inspired me to be a coach and I feel really fortunate to have had such a great relationship with him.
"These are test matches and they are called that for a reason - they test our ability to play under pressure against other world class players. These are incredibly important games from a historic perspective, an emotional one and as a selection tool for the World Cup," said Smith.
The first test is in Christchurch on August 20 with the second test in Adelaide on August 27.
The Black Ferns Squad is (in brackets; age, Super Club, Province, Test Caps);
Hookers
Luka Connor (25, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, 6)
Natalie Delamere (25, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 1)
Georgia Ponsonby (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 5)
Props
Tanya Kalounivale (23, Chiefs, Waikato, 2)
Pip Love (32, Matatū, Canterbury, 17)
Krystal Murray (29, Blues, Northland, 3)
Amy Rule (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 5)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (24, Chiefs, Waikato, new cap)
Santo Taumata (19, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, new cap)
Locks
Chelsea Bremner (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)
Joanah Ngan Woo (26, Hurricanes, Wellington, 8)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (21, Blues, Auckland, 6)
Loose Forwards
Alana Bremner (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 6)
Tafito Lafaele (21, Blues, Auckland, 2)
Charmaine McMenamin (32, Blues, Auckland, 25)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (19, Hurricanes, Manawatu, 2)
Kendra Reynolds (29, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 3)
Kennedy Simon (25, Chiefs, Waikato, 8)
Halfbacks
Ariana Bayler (25, Chiefs, Waikato, 4)
Kendra Cocksedge (34, Matatū, Canterbury, 60)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 8)
Inside Backs
Sylvia Brunt (18, Auckland, 2)
Ruahei Demant (27, Blues, Auckland, 18)
Amy du Plessis (23, Matatū, Canterbury, 2)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (27, Blues, Auckland, 11)
Chelsea Semple (29, Chiefs, Waikato, 28)
Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (30, Otago, 19)
Hazel Tubic (31, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 14)
Outside Backs
Renee Holmes (22, Matatū, Waikato, 3)
Ayesha Leti-I'iga (23, Hurricanes, Wellington, 15)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (28, Blues, Northland, new cap)
Grace Steinmetz (24, Matatū, Canterbury, 0)
Ruby Tui (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, 2)
Unavailable due to injury: Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Grace Brooker, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson