McMenamin returns from injury

Coming through: Black Ferns No.8 and former Gisborne Girls' High student Charmaine McMenamin (centre), with support from lock Eloise Blackwell, making a break for the line during their test match against Australia played at Eden Park. McMenamin has returned from injury and has been selected in the Black Ferns squad to take on Australia in Christchurch on Saturday. NZ Herald picture

Black Ferns loose forwards Kennedy Simon and former Gisborne Girls' High student Charmaine McMenamin will play their first test of the year after being named to start against Australia in Christchurch on Saturday night.

The pair are both returning from injury.

Simon will wear the captain's armband alongside first-five Ruahei Demant who led the team during the Pacific Four Series, which the Black Ferns won.

The team now plays two tests against Australia for the Laurie O'Reilly Cup, with the first match in Ōtautahi this weekend.

The Waikato loose forward was named Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2021 but missed the June series with a knee injury.

McMenamin, the Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2019, has recovered from spinal surgery to reclaim her place.

Black Ferns Sevens exponent Theresa Fitzpatrick, who was part of the 2017 World Cup winning Black Ferns, plays her first test since 2019 and will combine with Amy du Plessis in the midfield.

Her New Zealand sevens teammate, Tyla Nathan-Wong, is one of two debutants named on the bench.

Prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu is also in line to make her debut from the reserves.

Black Ferns head coach Wayne Smith said there is real significance in defending the O'Reilly Cup in the city where Laurie O'Reilly had such an influence on the game of rugby.

“My desire to get involved with the Black Ferns started as a tribute to Laurie who was a great mate and mentor of mine; he inspired me to be a coach and I feel really fortunate to have had such a great relationship with him.

“Every test match is special, but the significance of playing for this trophy in Christchurch this weekend is not lost on our team,” said Smith. After claiming the Pacific Four Series on home soil in June, the Black Ferns are eyeing the defence of the O'Reilly Cup as they build towards the Rugby World Cup. Waikato halfback Ariana Bayler has been released to play in the Farah Palmer Cup for Waikato this weekend and will rejoin the squad for Test week in Adelaide. — RNZ

BLACK FERNS: (tests in brackets, * debut) Pip Love (17), Georgia Ponsonby (5), Tanya Kalounivale (2), Joanah Ngan Woo (8), Chelsea Bremner (3), Alana Bremner (6), Kennedy Simon — co-captain (8), Charmaine McMenamin (25), Kendra Cocksedge (60), Ruahei Demant — co-captain (18), Ayesha Leti-I'iga (15), Theresa Fitzpatrick (11), Amy du Plessis (2), Ruby Tui (2), Renee Holmes (3), Luka Connor (6), Awhina Tangen-Wainohu*, Amy Rule (5), Tafito Lafaele (2), Kendra Reynolds (3), Tyla Nathan-Wong*, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'I (Sylvia) Brunt (2), Hazel Tubic (14). Not available for selection due to injury: Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali.