Head coach Whitney Hansen confirmed Anderson was still recovering from the calf injury and that, even without the concussion, the 24-year-old still wouldn\u2019t have been available for selection.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was one of those ones on the injury list where we could have put calf and concussion, but concussion probably trumped that,\u201d Hansen said. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe wasn\u2019t going to be available this week regardless and now won\u2019t be for this week or next week with her concussion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along with Demant\u2019s return, there have been several changes to the team that lost to England last time out, with Shyrah Tuliau-Tua\u2019a starting on the right wing and Maama Mo\u2019onia Vaipulu named to start at lock. <\/p>\n
Those additions see Mererangi Paul and Laura Bayfield move to the bench, with Vici-Rose Green and Ngano Tavake named as cover at hooker and loosehead prop respectively. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think this Black Ferns team is ever going to be an easy one to select. We\u2019ve got so much talent and everyone is good enough to play,\u201d Hansen said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey always put the challenge on coaches, but probably rather than sort of easy and hard, the decision-making around it was more about how do we keep some of the continuity that we\u2019ve grown and developed and keep those connections together, but also continue to think about who\u2019s coming next and give them opportunities in other spaces as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the test in Hamilton, the Black Ferns will meet France in Whang\u0101rei and Christchurch over the following two weeks as part of the home WXV Global Series calendar. <\/p>\n
\u201cFrance is always a threat no matter who they bring, right? They are so passionate within their space and the unpredictability that they bring when they play is pretty second to none in terms of competition that we get to play against,\u201d Hansen said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a physicality that they bring regardless of who their team is and I think they\u2019re starting to look at a bit of a new look in terms of depth and who\u2019s there and how they keep growing that talent, and what we know is that they\u2019ve traditionally had a heap of depth within their squad and space. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think we know a little bit around the rugby, but I also think the challenge when you play a team three weeks in a row is you have to find new ways to be able to take on opportunities. If you exploit something one week, they figure that out and they\u2019re going to be better again the next week. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a competition of moving the chess pieces and who can anticipate what\u2019s coming next and sort of always being a bit of a step ahead. But also you learn from where they\u2019re exposing us and you get to have another go at it, and that\u2019s going to be really powerful as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Black Ferns squad to play France in Hamilton<\/p>\n
FMG Stadium. Saturday, October 17. 3.05pm kickoff. <\/p>\n
Black Ferns: 1. Chryss Viliko, 2. Georgia Ponsonby (cc), 3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5. Maama Mo\u2019onia Vaipulu, 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu\u2019u, 7. Elinor-Plum King, 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9. Maia Joseph, 10. Hannah King, 11. Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga, 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai\u2019i Sylvia Brunt, 13. Amy Du Plessis, 14. Shyrah Tuliau-Tua\u2019a, 15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee.<\/p>\n
Bench: 16. Vici-Rose Green, 17. Ngano Tavake, 18. Santo Taumata, 19. Laura Bayfield, 20. Layla Sae, 21. Tara Turner, 22. Ruahei Demant (cc), 23. Mererangi Paul.<\/p>\n
Unavailable: Mia Anderson (concussion, calf)<\/p>\n