Women’s Rugby, New Zealand.
The name Super Rugby Aupiki reflects on the competition being a crucial steppingstone between Farah Palmer Cup and the Black Ferns, with Aupiki translating to mean ‘the ascent to the upper most realm‘.
Super Rugby Aupiki’s second round starts with the Blues hosting the Chiefs Manawa in Albany on Saturday.
There are five rounds for the New Zealand sides and matches will be played across the country through to the finale in Hamilton on March 25.
The line-ups for Saturday’s matches are below.
Blues v Chiefs Manawa
Saturday, 2:05pm at North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Blues
Blues coach Willie Walker has made three changes to his team’s starting line up as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s loss to Matatu.
Their task doesn’t get any easier this Saturday, at home at North Harbour Stadium against Chiefs Manawa, who beat Hurricanes Poua comprehensively in their first match.
Black Fern Patricia Maliepo will start at No 12 in place of Hayley Hutana, who drops out of the matchday 23 entirely.
The other changes come in the forward pack, with Maama Vaipulu replacing Eloise Blackwell at lock and Shannon Leota coming in for Tafito Lafaele at No 7.
Having missed the Blues’ season opener while dealing with the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on Hawke’s Bay, where she is based, Krysten Cotterll comes onto the bench as a reserve back.
“There were some really encouraging signs from game one and I think we showed what we’re capable of with ball in hand,” Walker said.
“It’s just about making a few small adjustments to be at our best against the defending champions this weekend.”
Blues: Kiritapu Demant, Jaymie Kolose, Sylvia Brunt, Patricia Maliepo, Katelynn Vahaakolo, Ruahei Demant (c), Ariana Bayler; Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Shannon Leota, Charmaine McMenamin, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Maama Vaipulu, Esther Faiaoga-Tilo, Grace Gago, Chryss Viliko. Reserves: Alakoka Po’oi, Toka Natua, Sophie Fisher, Eloise Blackwell, Tafito Lafaele, Melanie Puckett, Krysten Cottrell, Tara Turner.
Chiefs Manawa
Black Ferns prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu’s return from injury is the only change coach Crystal Kaua has made to their starting XV from last Saturday’s resounding 53-21 win against the Hurricanesl
Tangen-Wainohu played in last year’s Rugby World Cup-winning campaign and starts at loosehead in an international front row with Luka Connor and Tanya Kalounivale.Connor scored a hat-trick of tries amongst the seven the Chiefs’ forwards scored in an emphatic opening win for the defending champions.
Angel Mulu, another loosehead who played for the Black Ferns last season but didn’t make the World Cup squad, also returns from injury and is named on the bench.
Black Ferns tighthead prop Santo Taumata is unavailable this week because of injury.
Wellington playmaker Amanda Rasch has been added to the bench and is poised for her Manawa debut.
Chiefs: Tenika Willison, Mererangi Paul, Carla Hohepa, Azalleyah Maaka, Georgia Daals, Hazel Tubic, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu; Kennedy Simon (c), Tynealle Fitzgerald, Charmaine Smith, Chelsea Bremner, Kelsie Thwaites, Tanya Kalounivale, Luka Connor, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu. Reserves: Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Angel Mulu, Kate Henwood, Dhys Faleafaga, Victoria Makea, Violet Hapi-Wise, Amanda Rasch, Apii Nicholls.
My pick would be Chiefs Manawa.
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