Black Ferns looking for another cup in Canada

The coach of the New Zealand womens rugby team, Jed Rowlands, has named a strong side for the Canada Cup women's rugby final against Canada in Ottawa tomorrow.

Only two players in the starting line-up -- Canterbury centre Amiria Marsh and Hawke's Bay No 8 Marina Canterbury -- were not in the side that won the cup last year.

"We have done everything on and off the field to get ourselves ready for this game and to continue to improve on our performance," Rowlands said.

Canterbury's Stacey Lene and Otago's Katie de Jong were not considered for the game. Lene has returned home for family reasons and De Jong is suffering from a shoulder injury.

* Black Ferns:

Hannah Myers (Auckland), Claire Richardson (Otago), Amiria Marsh (Canterbury), Exia Shelford (Bay of Plenty), Stephanie Mortimer (Canterbury), Anna Richards (Auckland), Emma Jensen (Auckland), Marina Canterbury (Hawke's Bay), Rochelle Martin (Auckland), Melissa Ruscoe (Canterbury), Victoria Heighway (Auckland), Monalisa Codling (Auckland), Casey Robertson (Canterbury), Farah Palmer (Manawatu, captain), Mel Ngatai (Waikato). Reserves: Karina Penetito (Auckland), Margaret McKenzie (Otago), Shannon Willoughby (Otago), Justine Lavea (Auckland), Nicole Borthwick (Auckland), Huriana Manuel (Auckland) and Amy Williams (Hawke's Bay).

- NZPA