The New Zealand women's rugby coach Glenn Moore has named eight new caps in his squad to play Canada in the first game of the Women's Super Series in Calgary.
Black Ferns rugby player Selica Winiata Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Forwards Toka Natua, Charmaine Smith, Charlene Halapua and back Stacey Waka will debut in the starting lineup, while Aldora Itunu, Angie Sisifa, Kiritapu Demant and Janna Vaughn have been named on the bench.
Moore says they've settled in well in camp and are focussed on winning matches.
He says every day they've been there the women have been stepping up more and more, they're very well prepared and there's a high level of desire to win.
Moore says they've really been putting in the extra yards, on and off the field.
He says the new members of the squad have fronted up well and were ready to pull on the black jersey, adding when the team takes to the field this weekend they will be ready to step up and play for New Zealand.
Canada finished second to England in the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2014.
The Black Ferns will face England, USA and Canada in the Women's Super Series.
Moore is interim coach, after Greg Smith voluntarily stood down from the tour following a Waikato Rugby judicial decision to suspend him from coaching for 14 weeks for verbally abusing match officals while coaching for the club Fraser-Tech.
The Black Ferns team to face Canada in their first match in the Women's Super Series in Calgary, Alberta on Sunday (NZT)....
The team is as follows:
Toka Natua* Waikato
Fiao'o Fa'amausili (c) Auckland
Aleisha Nelson Auckland
Eloise Blackwell Auckland
Charmaine Smith* North Harbour
Charlene Halapua* Auckland
Justine Lavea Auckland
Linda Itunu Auckland
Kendra Cocksedge Canterbury
Victoria Subritzki-Nafatali Otago
Renee Wickliffe Auckland
Chelsea Alley Waikato
Stacey Waaka* Waikato
Honey Hireme Waikato
Selica Winiata (vc) Manawatu
RESERVES
Teresa Te Tamaki Waikato
Aldora Itunu* Auckland
Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate Counties Manukau
Angie Sisifa* Otago
Lesley Ketu Waikato
Emma Jensen Auckland
Kiritapu Demant* Auckland
Janna Vaughan* Manawatu
*new caps
