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‘.
Matatū v Hurricanes Poua
Saturday, 4:35pm at Ngā Puna Wai, Christchurch
Matatū
Coach Blair Baxter has the luxury of naming an unchanged starting XV for Matatū’s first home match in Christchurch.
Captain Alana Bremner, who played at lock for the Black Ferns last year, remains at lock.
Nine of the starting line-up have played for the Black Ferns since 2021 – eight did so last season – and the impressive combination of Rosie Kelly and Di Hiini will resume at first five-eighth and halfback respectively.
There are three changes to their bench, with loose forward Emma Dermody set for her Matatū debut.
Prop Steph Te-Ohaere Fox and playmaker Terauoiwa Gapper are the other additions to the 23.
Matatū: Renee Holmes, Cheyelle Robins-Reti, Amy du Plessis, Grace Brooker, Martha Mataele, Rosie Kelly, Di Hiini; Marcelle Parkes, Kendra Reynolds, Lucy Jenkins, Cindy Nelles, Alana Bremner (c), Amy Rule, Georgia Ponsonby, Phillipa Love. Reserves: Natalie Delamere, Ona Palu, Steph Te-Ohaere Fox, Sera Naiqama, Emma Dermody, Georgia Cormick, Terauoiwa Gapper, Grace Steinmetz.
Hurricanes Poua
Coach Victoria Grant has opted for several changes in response to their heavy defeat against the Chiefs in round one.
One is enforced, with injured captain Jackie Patea-Fereti replaced at lock by Rachael Rakatau, but there are two of great significance promoted to start from the bench.
Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, a World Cup winner with the Black Ferns in 2017, is named at second five-eighth.
Kaipo Olsen-Baker, who played two tests for the Black Ferns last season, starts at No 8 after her successful comeback from a knee injury last Saturday.
Olsen-Baker was player of the match in her first two tests last June, against Australia and Canada, before missing out on the World Cup squad because of injury.
League convert Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly has been picked on the right wing for her Hurricanes debut, as has Wellington loose forward Maddie Feaunati but on the bench.
Hurricanes: Isabella Waterman, Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly, Shakira Baker, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Carys Dallinger, Iritana Hohaia; Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Rhiarna Ferris, Layla Sae, Rachael Rakatau (c), Joanah Ngan-Woo, Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Krystal Murray. Reserves: Saphire Abraham, Sosoli Talawadua, Cristo Tofa, Kahurangi Sturmey, Maddie Feaunati, Milly Mackey, Monica Tagoai, Crystal Mayes.
My pick for this one is Matutu. All games on Stan Sports. Watch this women’s rugby. A great spectacle and great entertainment.
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