Black Ferns at full strength for World Cup

Selica Winiata of New Zealand makes a break. Photo / Getty

Stung by the defeat to England last month - just their second home reverse - the Black Ferns are now full speed ahead in the preparations for next month's Rugby World Cup in Ireland.

Coach Glenn Moore has named a 28-strong squad, with a 16-12 split heavy on versatility, experience and firepower.

The 29-21 loss to England in Rotorua, following wins over Canada and Australia, will galvanise the team and ensure zero complacency as they seek a fifth WRWC title. There are 12 returning from the 2014 group that placed fifth, so they will have extra motivation.

"We have to improve our accuracy and one-on-one defence after that England game," says Moore. "They scored two tries while we were down to 14 players due to their driving mauls."

He also identified discipline in general - they copped four yellow cards in the June series - and the need to better pressure opposition kickers as work-ons.

"We are confident we have the weaponry in our squad and this was a good shot in the pants for us," Moore adds.

There were some tight selection calls, with the likes of prop Pip Love, loosies Angie Sisifa and Justine Lavea, and outside backs Honey Hireme and Janna Vaughan cut from the June series. In comes promising 20-year-old prop Aotearoa 'Katie' Mata'u, who played five tests last season, and utility back Hazel Tubic.

"Hazel was in the 28 but carried an injury through that June window. We thought we might be able to play her in the last game, but decided to sit her out. We had a conditioning programme window for 'Katie' and she came through that well," Moore says.

There are some multi-skilled players in the squad, of necessity when playing five games in a tight 17-day window. There are five props, six or even seven who can play in the loose forwards, and then the likes of Tubic and Kelly Brazier who can operate in up to three backline positions.

"Part of that thinking is that we have four-day turnarounds and to get recovery is difficult. The loose forwards get beaten up so (having more) gives us versatility."

Fifteen of the squad hail from the powerbase of New Zealand women's rugby, Auckland and Counties Manukau, the two unions that contested the 2016 Farah Palmer Cup final.

Most of the squad will play club rugby this weekend, and then assemble for a July 14-15 camp in Auckland, one more round of July 22 club play for some of the group, and then a final July 29-August 1 camp in Auckland before flying to Ireland. Pool games against Wales, Canada and Hong Kong kick off on August 10 (NZT). Under the same cut-throat format as in 2014, it is imperative the Black Ferns win all their pool games, in which Canada will be the toughest opponent, or they will be reliant on other results to be the top second-placed qualifier for the semifinals.

Black Ferns WRWC squad:
Backs: Selica Winiata (Manawatu, 27 caps), Hazel Tubic (Auckland, 10), Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau, 11), Carla Hohepa (Waikato, 14), Renee Wickliffe (Counties Manukau, 26), Stacey Waaka (Waikato, 6), Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland, 2), Chelsea Alley (Waikato, 14), Kelly Brazier (Otago, 32), Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (Counties Manukau, 14), Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury, 37), Kristina Sue (Manawatu, 7)
Forwards: Linda Itunu (Auckland, 33), Aroha Savage (Counties Manukau, 23), Sarah Goss (Manawatu, 5), Rawinia Everitt (Counties Manukau, 22), Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland, 9), Lesley Ketu (Bay of Plenty, 5), Charmaine Smith (North Harbour, 11), Eloise Blackwell (Auckland, 27), Becky Wood (North Harbour, 2), Aldora Itunu (Auckland, 11), Aleisha Nelson (Auckland, 23), Sosoli Talawadua (Waikato, 3), Aotearoa 'Katie' Mata'u (Counties Manukau, 5), Toka Natua (Waikato, 11), Fiao'o Fa'amausili, Auckland, 47, (c), Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (Counties Manukau, 15)