Black Ferns to play England named

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Black Ferns Coach Grant Hansen has named the team to face England for their first of three clashes on Sunday morning (NZT) at Twickenham.

Two of the squad’s eight new faces – lock Eloise Blackwell (Auckland) and winger Shakira Baker (Wellington) - will earn their first Test caps after being picked into the starting XV while Canterbury’s Amanda Murphy also makes her debut in the No 6 jersey. Fellow debutants Aucklanders Rawinia Everitt and Hazel Tubic will get their chance to earn their first caps off the bench.

The four-time Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) champion Black Ferns will play England immediately after Graham Henry’s Barbarians side takes on Australia at Twickenham.

Coach Grant Hansen said the team’s preparations for their first clash had gone well and the women were eager to take to the field.

“Competition for starting positions has been strong throughout our trainings in England and it was a difficult task to name the 22 for this first Test.

“The team is looking to start the tour with a strong performance at Twickenham. It is an honour to play at this ground and we are excited about what lies ahead,” Hansen said.

It will be the first time the two sides have met since the Black Ferns beat England 13 – 10 in the 2010 WRWC Final.

The current tour is the first part of a three-year programme that will see the Black Ferns play England again in 2012 and 2013.

The Black Ferns v England Test will be broadcast live on SKY Sport 3, with coverage from 5.40am on Sunday (NZT). Kickoff is at 6am New Zealand time. Delayed coverage follows on the Rugby Channel from 7.30am (NZT).


The Black Ferns team to play England at Twickenham on Sunday (NZT) is:

(Test caps noted in brackets)

1 Kathleen Wilton (2)
2 Fiao’o Faamausili (20)
3 Mel Bosman (12)
4 Vita Robinson (8)
5 Eloise Blackwell (0)
6 Amanda Murphy (0)
7 Justine Lavea (14)
8 Casey Robertson (28)
9 Emma Jensen (21)
10 Rebecca Mahoney (13)
11 Renee Wickliffe (4)
12 Amiria Rule (20)
13 Kelly Brazier (7)
14 Shakira Baker (0)
15 Victoria Grant (C) (14)
16 Karina Penetito (9)
17 Doris Taufateau (4)
18 Rawina Everitt (0)
19 Aroha Savage (2)
20 Kendra Cocksedge (8)
21 Teresa Te Tamaki (2)
22 Hazel Tubic (0)
 
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Black Ferns 2011 tour to England (local times shown)

Saturday 26 November, Black Ferns v England, Twickenham, 5pm (local time)
Tuesday 29 November, Black Ferns v England, Esher RFC, 7pm
Saturday 3 December, Black Ferns v England, Esher RFC, 2pm

Black Ferns 2011 – 2013 programme:

2011: Black Ferns Travel to England for three Tests on 26 and 29 November, and 3 December
2012: Black Ferns Travel to England for three Tests
2013: England travels to New Zealand for three Tests