Leti-I’iga, who missed the last two games with a calf injury, returns to start on the left wing. Lock Laura Bayfield, who was a late withdrawal because of illness for last weekend’s win over Scotland, and No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, who has not played since suffering a shoulder injury when the side beat the Wallaroos in Auckland in late August, also return to start.
The match will be the first time the two sides have played each other since 2024, with more than 55,000 set to attend.
Hansen said her side had been doing a few different things to prepare for the noise of the home crowd, including forwards coach Simon Kneebone walking around the lineouts with a boom box “with different bits and pieces of music on”. The Cranberries’ Zombie was among the hits.
Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen. Photo / Getty Images
“I think a few different things around sort of distraction and what might cause that,” Hansen said of what they had been adding to trainings.
“Mental performance and those skill sets can be generalised so, as much as they haven’t been in front of those numbers, they have been under pressure individually, they know what they need to do to have that focus on performance.
“I think this will be a really cool learning for our athletes to be able to go, ‘Well, what did take me away in those moments? Where was I able to stay in the moment? How did I get myself back?’
“That’ll be a cool reflection after the game after having that experience too.”
While it is her first season at the helm of the Black Ferns, it won’t be the first time Hansen has sat in the coaches’ box at the famed English stadium.
In 2023, Hansen was part of the coaching group for a World XV side led by her father, former All Blacks head coach Sir Steve Hansen, with Brad Mooar also part of the coaching set-up.
“We had a week at The Lensbury [Resort] and I was just going in at the beginning to do a bit of PD [personal development], but by the end of it they said, ‘Oh look, we’re going to have you come in and be part of the group,’ and that was really special and a special moment to have with Dad.
“I think there’s not too many father-daughter combinations that have sat in a coaching box together in Twickenham. So that was my last time there, that was pretty special. And outside of that, it’s just been watching games. So yeah, excited to be able to play there.”
Black Ferns v England
Sunday, September 27, 3am (NZT).
Black Ferns: 1. Chryss Viliko, 2. Georgia Ponsonby (c), 3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5. Laura Bayfield, 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7. Elinor-Plum King, 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9. Maia Joseph, 10. Hannah King, 11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, 13. Amy du Plessis, 14. Mererangi Paul, 15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee.
Bench: 16. Atlanta Lolohea, 17. Maddison Robinson, 18. Santo Taumata, 19. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 20, Layla Sae, 21. Tara Turner, 22. Justine McGregor, 23. Alena Saili.
Unavailable: Mia Anderson (calf), Ruahei Demant (calf).
For full commentary of Black Ferns v England, go to Newstalk ZB Sport or iHeartRadio.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.