Hansen has named an unchanged side for Saturday morning\u2019s test against the world No 2 Canadians in Kansas City, opting for the same 23 who beat the United States 48-15 in Sacramento last weekend. <\/p>\n
Four players received their first test cap for the Black Ferns in that win, and there are a further five in the squad yet to debut. <\/p>\n
Hansen said stability and continuing to build connections were the priorities against Canada, and that everyone who played last week had earned the right to do so again in Kansas City. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think stability was a priority in this space and having a really strong connection that we grow between key positions and getting continuity within those spaces. <\/p>\n
Whitney Hansen: “Stability was a priority.” Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
\u201cWe absolutely will look to grow opportunities for athletes where that creates depth, but that wasn\u2019t the game to do this in. Keep your eyes posted, and we might see that come Aussie.\u201d <\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s win over the US was the first of the team\u2019s new World Cup cycle and provided some insights into how the side will look to play. <\/p>\n
They were expansive at times, but that came after they had bullied their way through the middle to create a bit more room for the backline to move. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur rugby identity should be summed up by being a team that\u2019s really unpredictable,\u201d Hansen said. \u201cSo, you won\u2019t know what\u2019s coming next, but you\u2019re excited for what it is.<\/p>\n
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a team that\u2019s physically dominant. We\u2019ve got different athletes to the rest of the world, and we want to be able to showcase that and winning collisions. We want to be relentless. <\/p>\n \u201cI think the exciting thing is that we\u2019re in a space where this team\u2019s the fittest it\u2019s ever been before, so that will allow us to work hard for each other. <\/p>\n \u201cThen the last part of that is, as we work through the processes, we want to be a team that\u2019s clinical and we haven\u2019t put a huge amount of pressure on being that early. We probably saw that last weekend was a little bit clunky at times, but we know that part will come.\u201d <\/p>\n Against Canada, they are sure to be tested across the park. <\/p>\n In past seasons, the Canadians have challenged the Black Ferns in the physical areas of the game and managed to keep the high-paced attack largely contained. <\/p>\n While they have a few new faces of their own, the Canadians are welcoming back captain Alexandra Tessier at second five-eighths and reigning World Rugby player of the year Sophie de Goede at lock. Tessier missed the side\u2019s 24-0 win over Australia last week, while de Goede was named on the bench. <\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re obviously one of the best teams in the world,\u201d Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu said. <\/p>\n \u201cSo we\u2019re looking forward to going out there and testing our rugby, our new style against them. And, again, it\u2019s going to be our second game. We\u2019ve gone away and worked on some of the things we did last week, and I think the girls are just going to be really excited to go and show some physicality and play some hopefully fast rugby in this unpredictable weather.\u201d <\/p>\n Black Ferns v Canada<\/p>\n CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. <\/p>\n Saturday, April 18, 10.15am (NZT). <\/p>\n Black Ferns team<\/p>\n 1. Chryss Viliko (20 caps)<\/p>\n 2. Georgia Ponsonby (38)<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n 3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (4)<\/p>\n 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (39)<\/p>\n 5. Laura Bayfield (7)<\/p>\n 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu\u2019u (36)<\/p>\n 7. Kennedy Tukuafu (35) \u2013 co-captain<\/p>\n 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker (17)<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n 9. Maia Joseph (17)<\/p>\n 10. Ruahei Demant (52) \u2013 co-captain<\/p>\n 11. Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga (31)<\/p>\n 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai\u2019i Sylvia Brunt (30)<\/p>\n 13. Amy du Plessis (23)<\/p>\n 14. Mererangi Paul (15)<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n 15. Renee Holmes (30)<\/p>\n Bench:<\/p>\n 16. Vici-Rose Green (6)<\/p>\n 17. Maddison Robinson (1)<\/p>\n 18. Tanya Kalounivale (28)<\/p>\n 19. Maama Mo\u2019onia Vaipulu (8)<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n 20. Mia Anderson (1)<\/p>\n 21. Tara Turner (1)<\/p>\n 22. Hannah King (11)<\/p>\n 23. Justine McGregor (1)<\/p>\n