Two debutants have been named for the Black Ferns' second and final clash against NZ Barbarians in Nelson.
Coach Glen Moore has selected fullback Renee Holmes and winger Grace Steinmetz for the return match, after the world champions repelled a stellar effort from the selection side 34-15 at Waitakere on Saturday.
The pair will wear the black jersey for the first time, while Moore has also recalled loose forward Pia Tapsell and hooker Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate for the Trafalgar Park showdown.
"Both Grace and Renee are familiar with high performance environments, which has made their transition into the Black Ferns easier," says Moore.
"Grace has a high work rate and the ability to create opportunities on the field, due to her elusive speed. We expect her to make a big impact on Saturday.
“Renee has impressed us during this year’s Farah Palmer Cup. Recently, she switched to fullback, after playing at both halfback and first-five.
"It’s given her a sound understanding of the game and she's a confident decision maker.”
After scoring two tries on debut, Langi Veainu has her second start on the wing, while Amy du Plessis starts at centre, after covering the wing from the bench last week.
After her first game in the black jersey last weekend, Canterbury’s Chelsea Bremner starts at lock and fellow second-rower Kelsie Wills will back up from the bench in her first national call-up.
Moore says the changes are an opportunity to try different combinations, after some key lessons in the first match against the Barbarians.
"There’s a lot of talent in this team, but at times, we allowed the Baa Baas to gain momentum, which put us under pressure. This week, we’ve been polishing our basic skillset and focussing on defence."
Meanwhile, Barbarians coach Rodney Gibbs has made four changes to his starting XV, with hooker Rebecca Todd, lock Maiakawanakaulani Ross, No.8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Canadian international Cindy Nelles promoted.
Black Ferns: 1-Phillipa Love, 2-Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 3-Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, 4-Eloise Blackwell (c), 5-Chelsea Bremner, 6-Pia Tapsell, 7-Kennedy Simon, 8-Charmaine McMenamin, 9-Kendra Cocksedge, 10-Ruahei Demant, 11-Langi Veaniu, 12-Chelsea Alley, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Grace Steinmetz, 15-Rennee Holmes
Reserves: 16-Luka Connor, 17-Toka Natua, 18-Aldora Itunu, 19-Kelsie Wills, 20-Aroha Savage, 21-Arihana Marino-Tauhinu, 22-Hazel Tubic, 23-Natahlia Moors/Selica Winata
NZ Barbarians: 1-Krystal Murray, 2-Rebecca Todd, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 5-Maiakawanakaulani Ross, 6-Alana Bremner, 7-Marcelle Parkes, 8-Cindy Nelles, 9-Ariana Bayler, 10-Patrica Maliepo, 11-Crystal Mayes, 12-Kilistina Moata'ane, 13-Janna Vaughan, 14-Lyric Faleafaga, 15-Carys Dallinger
Reserves: 16-Saphire Abraham, 17-Jay Jay Taylor, 18-Oliver Ward-Duin, 19-Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 20-Morgan Henderson, 21-Iritana Hohaia, 22-Shyanne Thompson, 23-Rosie Kelly
