The Black Ferns are gearing up for their final pool match of the Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup against Ireland at Brighton and Hove Stadium on Sunday, September 7, 2.45pm BST kick-off, (Monday, September 8, 1.45am NZT).<\/p>\n
The Black Ferns coaching group has selected their match-day 23 which includes winger Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga who returns from an ankle injury sustained in the match against Spain. Kennedy Tukuafu also resumes her co-captaincy duties off the bench alongside starting first five-eighth Ruahei Demant.<\/p>\n
In the starting XV, the front row remains unchanged with props Chryss Viliko, Tanya Kalounivale and Georgia Ponsonby anchoring the scrum. The locking duo of Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Alana Bremner will also start again. The loose forwards will see a positional change for Layla Sae and Jorja Miller, while Liana Mikaele-Tu\u2019u will start in the no. 8 jersey.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a simliar look for the backs with Risaleaana Pouri-Lane and Demant named in number 9 and 10, as well as the midfield combination of Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai\u2019i Sylvia Brunt and Stacey Waaka. New Zealand\u2019s current top try-scorer, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Player of the Match v Japan Braxton Sorensen-McGee have been named on the wings. Renee Holmes rounds out the starting XV at fullback.<\/p>\n
Following their World Cup debut last weekend, Kate Henwood and Maia Joseph have been named on the bench alongside Vici-Rose Green, Amy Rule, Laura Bayfield, Theresa Setefano and Leti-I\u2019iga. Bayfield was cleared to play after the independent disciplinary update following her red card issued last Sunday.<\/p>\n
A win for the Black Ferns will see a top of the table finish, while the Northampton clash between South Africa and France over the weekend will determine who they will play in next week\u2019s quarter-final.<\/p>\n
Black Ferns Director of Performance Allan Bunting said the team has settled into Brighton well and are looking forward to this week\u2019s match against Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been blessed with world-class facilities and a warm welcome here in Brighton which has allowed us a quality lead into this weekend. Every game in our World Cup journey is crucial to us, and we want to finish our pool phase strong,\u201d Bunting said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur w\u0101hine (women) have all had an opportunity to play the past two games. Consistency and cohesion will be a key focus around our selections. We have had critical learnings out of the last two weeks and are building well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand with highlights available on NZR+ and Black Ferns YouTube (four hours following the final whistle).<\/p>\n
Black Ferns team v Ireland (Test caps):
\n1. Chryss Viliko (15)
\n2. Georgia Ponsonby (33)
\n3. Tanya Kalounivale (24)
\n4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (34)
\n5. Alana Bremner (31)
\n6. Layla Sae (16)
\n7. Jorja Miller (4)
\n8. Liana Mikaele-Tu\u2019u (31)
\n9. Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (4)
\n10. Ruahei Demant (47) \u2013 co-captain
\n11. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (30)
\n12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai\u2019i Sylvia Brunt (26)
\n13. Stacey Waaka (28)
\n14. Braxton Sorensen-McGee (5)
\n15. Renee Holmes (25)<\/p>\n
Black Ferns facts:
\nA win over Ireland will ensure a top-of-the-table finish for the Black Ferns.<\/p>\n
The Black Ferns\u2019 opponent for the quarter-final is dependent on who wins the South Africa v France match in Northampton.<\/p>\n
Ireland have won two of their previous Test matches against the Black Ferns, most recently in WXV1 2024, a 29-27 win in Canada.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Black Ferns are gearing up for their final pool match of the Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup against Ireland at Brighton and Hove Stadium on Sunday, September 7, 2.45pm BST kick-off, (Monday, September 8, 1.45am NZT). The Black Ferns coaching group has selected their match-day 23 which includes winger Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga who returns from an…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":22874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rugbyheartland-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/35410896_PPAUK_New_Zealand_Training_290825_pm_071_jpg_April_Yorwarth_20250829_135318-1__FocusFillWyItMC4wOCIsIi0wLjI5IiwxMTAwLDQzMF0.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-5WV","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21716,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2024\/10\/05\/black-ferns-named-for-england-challenge\/","url_meta":{"origin":22873,"position":0},"title":"Black Ferns named for England challenge","author":"Kevin Hare","date":"October 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Black Ferns coaching group have named their match-day 23 to play England in their second Test of the WXV1 Tournament at Langley Events Centre in Langley. 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