Injury-hit Black Ferns hand rookie King starting role for historic Johannesburg double-header

New Zealand’s Black Ferns will face South Africa without their 2024 Player of the Year, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, after the No.8 was ruled out of the historic double-header at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg with a shoulder injury.

With Olsen-Baker unavailable, head coach Whitney Hansen has reshuffled her loose trio. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u steps into the No.8 jersey, freeing Mia Anderson to start at blindside flank. Test rookie Elinor-Plum King, who impressed on debut against the Wallaroos, keeps her place at openside flank.

The front row of Chryss Viliko, co-captain Georgia Ponsonby and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu will be tasked with taking on the South African scrum, supported by second-row pairing Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu.

In the backline, Maia Joseph and Hannah King will start at half-back, with co-captain Ruahei Demant — the most-capped player in the squad with 55 test appearances — named among the replacements. Sylvia Brunt and Amy Du Plessis form the midfield partnership, with Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Mererangi Paul and Braxton Sorensen-McGee providing pace and threat out wide.

Atlanta Lolohea, Maddison Robinson and Santo Taumata are among the forwards set to add impact from the bench, with Laura Bayfield and Amarante Sititi offering further forward cover. Tara Turner and Justine McGregor complete the backline reserves alongside Demant.

The fixture is billed as a historic occasion, with the match at FNB Stadium — the iconic Johannesburg venue — forming part of a double-header alongside the men’s Springboks.