Black Ferns set sights firmly on third World Cup title

New Zealand's bid for a third successive women's World Cup crown starts in Canada tomorrow with the tournament hosts being shown no mercy.

The Black Ferns top line-up will run out in Edmonton as New Zealand seek an impressive start in a tournament where a healthy points differential could be crucial in determining semifinal berths.

Coach Jed Rowlands has named an experienced side for the opener which features just one change from the side that played a trial game in Rotorua last month.

Otago wing Claire Richardson, who missed the trial through injury, is the only alteration.

Six players will make their first appearance at a World Cup: Auckland trio Linda Itunu, Huriana Manuel and Diane Maliukaetau, Cantabrians Stephanie Mortimer and Melissa Ruscoe - and Richardson.

"This is a great opportunity for these players and I'm confident they have all the skill and ability to perform at this level," Rowlands said.

Although the Black Ferns are expected to be too strong for Canada, Scotland and Samoa, Rowlands said the squad could not afford to relax with heavyweights England looming later in the competition.

New Zealand have not played an international since beating England in a two-test home series last October.

Rowlands expected the Five Nations to be even tougher in Canada.

"They've been here 10 days, they're doing everything right. Typical England, they've put a lot of resources into it, they haven't left any stone unturned," he said.

Rowlands said the Black Ferns scrum could battle against the likes of England, and their lineout was not the tallest in the competition.

However, he backed his players' intuitiveness and back play to more than compensate for any set-piece problems.

"We have a lot of players who have played sevens and touch so that helps us a lot.

"We want to play a wide game, an up-tempo game, similar to what the All Blacks do - move from one side of the field to the other and get our backs involved."

Meanwhile, despite the Black Ferns dominance, captain Farah Palmer said the competition has only become more difficult from year to year.

"I've been lucky enough to go to two World Cups, I know that some have gone to three or four, and I'm sure they'll all agree that the competition's getting better and better each time," she said.

- NZPA