Black Ferns rule out two with injury ahead of Australia test
The Black Ferns have added two more players to their squad ahead of this weekend’s clash against Australia in Auckland due to injuries.
Tighthead prop Pip Love and halfback Ariana Bayler have joined the group in Auckland, with tighthead prop Mo’omo’oga Palu and halfback Tara Turner unavailable.
Palu was ruled out due to concussion, while Turner has a hamstring issue. Both injuries were suffered during the Black Ferns’ trial match against the Black Ferns XV in Upper Hutt on Friday.
“They’re just in for this week,” Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen confirmed.
“It’s great to have the experience of previous Black Ferns who are in this space to come back in and give back. And I think, both having outstanding performances in [Super Rugby] Aupiki, [they’re] well deserved for being in here. We talked about people being good enough to be here that weren’t initially and they’re two that very much are that.”
Palu played for the Black Ferns XV in the clash, with she and loosehead prop Maddison Robinson included in that squad to ensure everyone in the end-of-year tour squad was able to get some good minutes under their belts ahead of the test window.
Turner came into the game in the second half for the Black Ferns in a period that saw both her and fellow halfback Maia Joseph on the field at the same time, with Joseph showing some versatility and shifting out to first five-eighths.
“She loves playing 10, I’m not going to say as much as nine, she might have been a bit different a couple of years ago, but she’s a real asset to us as a halfback. So it’s probably not something that we see as being strategic, but it’s something that we can have as cover in the squad,” Hansen said.
The Black Ferns were tested in the early stages of that clash, but ultimately found their stride and ran out to a 62-19 win, with rookie loose forward Elinor-Plum King scoring a hat-trick.
This weekend’s test against Australia is the first of eight for the Black Ferns in their end-of-year run.
The Black Ferns have never lost to the Wallaroos in 30 tests, however Hansen said that streak was not something that added any extra pressure to Saturday afternoon’s meeting at GoMedia Stadium.
“I think for us, to be honest, the biggest pressure will always come from ourselves. We’ve got a really clear identity on how we want to play the game and a real emphasis and pressure and expectation we put on ourselves to perform that,” Hansen said.
“That’ll always be far greater than any external measure or pressure or outcome.”
They will then travel to play South Africa in part of a doubleheader with the All Blacks in Johannesburg on September 5 (NZT), before tests away to France, Scotland and England as part of the WXV Global Series.
They will end their campaign at home with three tests against France in October, hosting the French in Hamilton, Whangārei and Christchurch.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
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