Olsen-Baker misses out
Whitney Hansen had one name she could not write down. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, the 2024 Black Ferns Player of the Year, is unavailable for the double-header at FNB Stadium with a shoulder injury.
The New Zealand coach named her matchday 23 this morning for the trip to Johannesburg. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u takes the No.8 jersey in Olsen-Baker’s absence. That shift pushes Mia Anderson into the starting loose trio on the blindside flank, and test rookie Elinor-Plum King keeps the openside after a debut against the Wallaroos that did her plenty of favours.
Hansen has gone with a front row of Chryss Viliko, co-captain Georgia Ponsonby and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu. Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu form the second row behind them. The South African scrum is the obvious reason for that combination.
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Demant starts among the replacements
The bigger call sits in the backline. Ruahei Demant, the other co-captain, begins on the bench. Maia Joseph and Hannah King get the halves instead.
Sylvia Brunt and Amy Du Plessis pair up in midfield, with Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Mererangi Paul and Braxton Sorensen-McGee in the back three. Sorensen-McGee has been one of the quickest players in the women’s game since she broke through, and altitude in Johannesburg tends to reward anyone who can finish a break in one movement rather than three.
Atlanta Lolohea, Maddison Robinson and Santo Taumata cover the front row. Laura Bayfield and Amarante Sititi back up the tight five and loose forwards. Tara Turner and Justine McGregor join Demant as backline reserves.
The form guide points one way
The numbers do not flatter the hosts. New Zealand have won all five of their last five matches, scoring 35 tries at a points difference of 153 across that run. The Springbok Women have three wins from five, 26 tries and a difference of 27.
These two have also met recently, and New Zealand took that one 46-17. South Africa have since split a pair of matches with Fiji, edging the first 29-22 before running away with the second 55-12, and they beat the United States 34-21 after losing 26-19 to the same opponents.
FNB Stadium hosts the men’s test between the Springboks and the All Blacks across the same weekend. That gives Hansen’s side a crowd most touring teams never get within shouting distance of.
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