Kalounivale Makes World Cup Debut For Black Ferns

Fiji-born prop Tanya Kalouni­vale is one of the five debuts for Black Ferns in their sec­ond World Cup pool clash, against Wales at Auckland’s Waitākere Sta­dium on Sunday.

Following their 41-17 opening-game win over Australia at Eden Park last Saturday night, coach Wayne Smith has opted to make several tweaks to his lineup for an­other match the home side are ex­pected to win comfortably on their way to the knockout stage.

The five players include Kalouni­vale, flanker Alana Bremner and reserve prop Krystal Murray, who all return after not being consid­ered for the opening game due to injury.

X-factor winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga (calf) and loose forward and co-cap­tain Kennedy Simon (leg) remain sidelined, not set to be available un­til next Saturday’s final pool match against Scotland in Whangārei.

Kalounivale replaces Amy Rule at tighthead, Awhina Tangen-Waino­hu gets her first start in the black jersey, in place of Phillipa Love at loosehead, while hookers Luka Connor (starting) and Georgia Pon­sonby (bench) swap roles.

Joanah Ngan-Woo makes way in the second row for Maiakawa­nakaulani Roos to be promoted to partner Chelsea Bremner, who will have sister Alana for company at No 6, as Charmaine McMenamin moves from the blindside to No 8 in place of Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, and Kendra Reynolds swaps with Sarah Hirini to take the No 7 jersey.

Veteran halfback Kendra Cocksedge moves to the reserves (in place of Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu), with Ariana Bayler handed a start alongside captain Ruahei Demant at first five-eighth.

There is a new-look midfield pair­ing with Theresa Fitzpatrick in for Amy du Plessis (bench) at second five-eighth and Logo-I-Pulotu Lem­apu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt promoted to a start at centre, with Stacey Fluhler rested.

Opening-game hat-trick hero Por­tia Woodman is retained on the left wing, joined on the right wing by her partner, Renee Wickliffe, with another opening-game star in Ruby Tui shifting from the No 14 jersey to don the No 15 one for the first time.

“We are balancing a desire to keep as much continuity as possible, but we want to give players the oppor­tunity to put their form out on the park,” Smith said. “So we are put­ting in a lot of work around who plays when."

“We need to use this whole occa­sion to make us better. We’re in our own country, marching behind our flag, it is the greatest time in our life. We need to use that to our ad­vantage.”

The Black Ferns have met Wales on four previous occasions, all at World Cups – winning 24-6 in 1991, 41-8 in 2010, 63-7 in 2014 and 44-12 in 2017.

The Welsh, who finished third in this year’s Six Nations, go into the game on the back of a heart-stopping 18-15 win over Scotland in Whangārei last Sunday, prevailing via an 86th minute penalty goal to replacement halfback Keira Bevan.

AT A GLANCE

Black Ferns: Ruby Tui, Renee Wickliffe, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Portia Woodman, Ruahei Demant (c), Ariana Bayler, Charmaine McMenamin, Kendra Reynolds, Alana Bremner, Chel­sea Bremner, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Tanya Kalounivale, Georgia Ponsonby, Awhina Tangen-Waino­hu.

Reserves: Luka Connor, Krystal Murray, Santo Taumata, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Sarah Hirini, Kendra Cocksedge, Amy du Plessis, Hazel Tubic.

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