Black Ferns team named to play Wallaroos in Auckland
Go Media Stadium will host the latest chapter in women's rugby's historic rivalry, with the O’Reilly Cup Test presented by Bupa kicking off at a family-friendly 3.05pm.
Tickets are available here and the match will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 1.
Black Ferns match-day 23
(Test caps bracketed, *denotes debut)
1. Chryss Viliko (22)
2. Georgia Ponsonby (40)
3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (6)
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (41)
5. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (10)
6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (38)
7. Elinor-Plum King*
8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker (19)
9. Maia Joseph (19)
10. Ruahei Demant (54) - captain
11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga (33)
12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (32)
13. Amy Du Plessis (25)
14. Mererangi Paul (17)
15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee (9)
IMPACT
16. Vici-Rose Green (7)
17. Maddison Robinson (3)
18. Santo Taumata (7)
19. Amarante Sititi*
20. Mia Anderson (3)
21. Ariana Bayler (8)
22. Hannah King (13)
23. Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a*
Unavailable due to injury: Mo’omo’oga Palu (concussion), Tara Turner (hamstring), Layla Sae (knee).
Three players have been named to make their potential Black Ferns debut. Elinor-Plum King earns a start in the loose forwards, following her hat-trick last Friday against the Black Ferns XV, while lock Amarante Sititi and winger Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a will look to create impact off the bench.
Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen congratulated the trio on their achievement.
“Elinor-Plum, Amarante and Shyrah are exciting young athletes with potential that can be a real point of difference for us now and in the future.
“Shyrah is a strong ball carrier and has great offload ability who’s gained a huge amount of experience being around this group, including during the Pacific Four Series which has helped her develop.
“Elinor-Plum is incredibly agile and relentless through the middle, but she’s also becoming a real threat on the edge. She’s worked exceptionally hard over the past three years to put her hand up for this team, and what we saw from her last week showed she’s ready to be part of this environment.
“Amarante is a phenomenal talent with the versatility to play both lock and loose forward as she continues to develop. She’s powerful in collisions and is building a deeper understanding of her role within the team.”
WATCH: Whitney Hansen talks ahead of the Wallaroos clash this Saturday
Included in the match-day 23 is World Rugby’s 2025 Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, Braxton Sorensen-McGee who returns to the Black Ferns for her first Test of 2026.
Prop Santo Taumata also makes a highly anticipated return, four years after her last appearance in the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park. Joining her is halfback Ariana Bayler, who was called into the squad this week as injury cover for Tara Turner. Bayler returns to the black jersey for the first time in almost three years, adding valuable experience to the match-day 23.
In the front row, props Chryss Viliko and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu start, with Georgia Ponsonby anchoring the scrum at hooker.
The locking duo of Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu start alongside loose forwards Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Elinor-Plum King and Kaipo Olsen-Baker in the no. 8 jersey.
The backline will see halfback Maia Joseph and captain Ruahei Demant in first five-eighth, alongside formidable midfielders Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt and Amy Du Plessis. Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Mererangi Paul start out wide, with Sorensen-McGee at fullback.
Vici-Rose Green Maddison Robinson, Mia Anderson and Hannah King will join Sititi and Tuliau-Tua’a off the bench.
A Black Ferns win will see them retain the O’Reilly Cup trophy. The following week they’ll then travel to South Africa to play as part of the All Blacks double-header in Johannesburg.
Highlights of the match will be available on Black Ferns YouTube, 48 hours after the final whistle.
