Black Ferns debut a 'finally' moment for Whangārei prop

Leilani Perese, wearing jersey number 18, gets up to a celebrate after helping push skipper Fiao'o Fa'amausili over for a try. Photo/Photosport

Northland's newest Black Fern said her debut was the best "20-something" minutes of her life - even if it did fly past.

Whangārei's Leilani Perese, a prop, made her debut in the Black Ferns' 31-11 win over the Wallaroos in Sydney on Saturday. The game was played before the All Blacks took on the Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup test.

The 25-year-old, who can play on either side of the scrum, came on as a second half substitute and said it was a "finally" moment for her.

"I finally got to live my dream out that I've been working so hard for."

Perese said it made everything - the early mornings, the tough trainings - worth it.

"My family flew over from New Zealand and surprised me."

That was special.

"My family were there to witness this moment I have dreamt of for so many years."

While she played just over 20 minutes, Perese said it "felt like five minutes".

Shortly after entering the fray, Perese was involved in a huge scrum. It was fed by the Wallaroos but the Black Ferns emerged with a penalty.

Perese admitted she initially thought it was Black Ferns ball and was just trying to protect it. She knew they were close to the Wallaroos' tryline and thought they might be able to push it over.

They didn't from that move, but the resulting penalty led to a lineout drive and skipper Fiao'o Fa'amausili picked up the second of her three tries.

"For every scrum it's just go hard or go home. One of my goals was to dominate the scrum, to make a statement," Perese said.

Perese felt she did that.

She said even more of her family would be making the trip to Eden Park for the second Black Ferns v Wallaroos fixture on Saturday.

"My mum, dad, my sisters, my partner, everyone's coming."

She said being able to play on home soil in front of their families was huge for her team.

"I don't know how this trip could get better."

There was a distinct Northland flavour to the Black Ferns squad picked for the two-test series to defend the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.

Along with Perese, prop Aleisha Nelson and lock Charmaine Smith grew up in the region, while hooker Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate is teaching in Kaitaia and number eight Aroha Savage lives in the Far North.

Northland five-eighth Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali was not selected in the squad due to injury, while Kaikohe's Portia Woodman was rested.

Perese said there were others in the wider training squad with ties to the region too.

"There's hidden gems up north, just got to find them."

Whangārei will find out in November if a New Zealand Rugby bid to host the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup is successful.

New Zealand Rugby has submitted a bid which would see Auckland and Whangārei as the only host cities for the cup bid. Games in Whangārei would be played at Okara Park.