August 12, 2017
New Zealand vs Hong Kong #WRWC2017 Preview
Photo: INPHO/Oisin Keniry (Wales number eight Sioned Harries is tackled by New Zealand duo Sarah Goss and Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali)
Doug Coil
New Zealand will play Hong Kong in their second match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 at 7am ET in Dublin, Ireland. New Zealand beat Wales 44-12 in their opening match, while Hong Kong lost to Canada 98–0.
The match may be viewed worldwide outside of the New Zealand and Hong Kong on http://www.rwcwomens.com
New Zealand Black Ferns
New Zealand has made nine changes in their starters and one positional change from their win over Wales.
With the second ranked in the world Black Ferns playing the 23rd ranked Hong Kong, this provides the perfect opportunity to bring int he reserves and rest the starters for their hug match against the 3rd ranked Canada on Thursday.
In the forwards, the props have changed with Sosoli Talawadua and Aleisha Nelson seeing her first WRWC 2017 action. Charlene Gubb is also a new addition at lock where she will pair with Charlene Smith, who moved from flanker to lock. Sara Goff retains her position at flanker and is joined by Lesley Ketu and No. 8 Charmaine McMenamin from the reserves.
In the backs there are four changes, with Carla Hohepa at wing, Chelsea Alley seeing her first action at center, along with Theresa Fitzpatrick, who was a reserve against Wales. Hazel Tubic also is new at fullback. That leaves the three constants in halfbacks Kendra Cocksedge, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali and Portia Woodman at wing.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has also made ten changes in their starters, along with two position changes from their loss to Canada.
Against the Black Ferns, Hong Kong will gain an appreciation of what it takes to play against the top ranked teams in the world and hope for improved play as a result.
In the forwards, the entire front row has been replaced in Lau Nga Wun, Roycle Chan and Wong Yuen Shan. Captain Chow Mei Nam retains her position at lock and is paired with Tsang Sin Yan. In the bakrow, Amelie Seure switches from No.8 to blindside flanker, while Winnie Siu and Christine Gordan join as starters.
The backs have also changes with scrumhalf retaining her position and pairing with a new flyhalf in Lee Tsz Ting. The centers have also changed with kelsie Bouttle at inside center and Natasha Olson-Thorne moving from inside to outside center. The entire back three have also changes with Chong Ka Yan and Laurel Chor at wings and Lau Sze Wa at fullback.
New Zealand v Hong Kong: 1 Sosoli Talawadua 2 Fiao’o Faamausili 3 Aleisha Nelson 4 Charlene Gubb 5 Charmaine Smith 6 Sarah Goss 7 Lesley Ketu 8 Charmaine McMenamin 9 Kendra Cocksedge 10 Victoria Subritzsky-Nafatali 11 Carla Hohepa 12 Chelsea Alley 13 Theresa Fitzpatrick 14 Portia Woodman 15 Hazel Tubic 16 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate 17 Toka Natua 18 Kate Mata’u 19 Eloise Blackwell 20 Becky Wood 21 Aroha Savage 22 Kelly Brazier 23 Stacey Waaka
Hong Kong v New Zealand: 1 Lau Nga Wun 2. Roycle Chan 3. Wong Yuen Shan 4. CHOW Mei-nam (captain) 5 Tsang Sin Yan 6 Amelie Seure 7 Winnie Siu 8. Christine Gordon 9. Jessica Ho 10. Lee Tsz Ting 11 Chong Ka Yan 12 Kelsie Bouttle 13 Natasha Olson-Thorne 14. Laurel Chor 15. Lau Sze Wa 16. Hoi Lam Ho 17. Lee Ka Shun 18 Pun Wai Yan 19 Christy Cheng 20 Chan Ka Yan 21 Lindsay Varty 22 Rose Hopewell-Fong 23 Colleen Tjosvold
