Black Ferns focused on revenge

By JULIE ASH

Black Ferns coach Darryl Suasua describes his World Cup team as the fittest, fastest and hungriest squad he has selected.

Suasua has named four newcomers and recalled five past players in a squad of 27 who will defend New Zealand's title at the World Cup in Barcelona from May 13 to 25.

Only 26 players will travel to Barcelona. Sandie Yates and Vanessa Cootes are bracketed on one wing.

The squad include 15 players from the side who won the World Cup in Amsterdam in 1998.

"The cup is clearly going to be the most competitive yet," said Suasua, who has been in charge of the national side since 1996.

"If we are to defend the title we have to win four matches in 12 days, so the squad are going to be under enormous pressure.

"To have more than half the players familiar with the demands of a World Cup tournament will be a bonus for us."

The team will once again be captained by Manawatu hooker Farah Palmer.

The new caps are Canterbury prop Casey Robertson, Auckland prop Halyn Vaaga, Auckland hooker Fiaao Faamausili and Waikato halfback/first-five Emma Jensen.

Lock Monalisa Codling (Auckland) and flankers Adrienne Lili'i (Auckland) and Izzy Gray (Wellington) have earned recalls, and Auckland winger Dianne Kahura has returned after retiring in 2000.

Codling played two matches in the 1998 World Cup and two tests in 1999. Gray turned out in two tests in 1999, and Lili'i took the field in four tests in 1999 and 2000.

"All the players who have been there [to the World Cup] have been deliberately put under intense scrutiny," Suasua said.

"They were good enough to win it in 1998, but the rest of the world have caught up, so we have to be better to win it again.

"They have increased their speed, strength and aerobic fitness."

Suasua said the 22-17 loss to England last year - the Black Ferns' first defeat in 10 years - has given some motivation in the build-up to the cup.

"That loss really hurt. It has certainly added some sting to the tail of these players and to our preparation, but our first game is against Germany, not England.

"If we don't play our cards right, we won't get the chance to defend the cup. Holding it up on May 25 is the ultimate revenge for last year's defeat. It's not England we are gunning for, it is winning the World Cup regardless of who we play."

The Black Ferns have a six-day camp in Palmerston North, starting on Friday. They reassemble in Auckland on May 2 and leave on May 8.

Backs: M. Hirovanaa (Auckland), E. Jensen (Waikato), A. Richards (Auckland), A. Marsh (Canterbury), S. Shortland (Auckland), A. Rush (Auckland), H. Myers (Otago), E. Shelford (Bay of Plenty), D. Kahura (Auckland), V. Cootes (Waikato) or S. Yates (Counties Manukau), T. Wilson (Auckland).

Forwards: F. Palmer (capt, Manawatu), S. Dawson (Northland), F. Faamausili (Auckland), H. Vaaga (Auckland), R. Sheck (Waikato), R. Luia'ana (Wellington), C. Robertson (Canterbury), V. Heighway (Auckland), F. King (Otago), M. Codling (Auckland), A. Lili'i (Auckland), C. Waaka (Auckland), M. Robinson (Auckland), R. Martin (Auckland), I. Gray (Wellington).