Trusting the Process

First up an apology for being missing from your inbox last week. The Black Ferns and Black Ferns XV match being played at 3.30pm landed right on top of my writing time. So I made the executive decision to head down there and ask some questions instead to better inform the write up this week.

Because yes, we could do the head to head preview, breaking down the changes in line ups for tomorrow's match. But I also wanted to try and capture some of the less visible stuff that suddenly becomes overwhelmingly relevant when decisions are being made.

I guess that's because I've been thinking a lot recently about how too often women's sports coverage is focused on the beginning and end, ignoring all the meat in the middle. But that's the stuff we need to sink our teeth into if we want to keep learning and growing. If we want progress we have to start paying more attention to the process. So let me tell you about what I'm observing.

When I walked into Black Ferns camp last Monday, I saw four women coaches I knew before I entered the gym. Only two of these women I had been expecting as their appointments had been announced in a press release. So who were the other two and what were they doing there?

Emma Jensen and Janna Vaughan are the current Poua assistant coach and Northland Kauri head coach respectively. They were there as they had been invited to take part in the newly formed programme called Mamaku.

On Friday, I saw three more wāhine who had been taking part in the same initiative. Black Fern props, Steph Te Ohaere Fox and Pip Love, giving me hopes for our set piece future. While former Poua loosie, Rachel Rakatau, was also kicking about in the stands.

These five women had been brought together along with a couple of blokes currently in the women's pathway. They were invited to observe the camp to get a proper look at all the detail in this high performance environment. From here, they keep connected to Dr Sian Barris to continue their development.

All of this, the concrete example of the intention Whitney Hansen had made clear in our sit down earlier this year.

"...Something I'm exceptionally passionate about is sending the elevator back down." Whitney Hansen, February 2026

Well, this Mamaku cohort then are an example of the first group to come up Hansen's elevator. And it's not just me that's noticed these doors opening. Here's what co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu had to say on it.

It's something I've heard on from a couple of different people now. What a difference it's making to have someone in this head coaching role who has come up through our game. Who hasn't had to educate themselves on the legacy as they become part of it. Who has a clear vision on where they want to grow. Who knows full well the weak points in the system that need attention.

It's the core challenge of any women's international head coach right now — how do you balance the need to get the results on game day with the need to influence the structure to be more sustainable? I put that to Whitney back in February and she told me to ask her again in six months. So last week I did.

There then again, this Mamaku programme. Looking to address the gap left after Ako Wāhine was repurposed back in 2024. That previous version had supported coaches like Carla Hohepa to get the coaching certs needed to be able to take up the Manawa assistant role which has now landed her in the XV set up. But Ako Wāhine then became to be the first step on the coaching ladder rather than the bridge between high performance talent and opportunity.

Mamaku is the new bridge. Not solely targeted at women coaches anymore (sigh) but they are at least currently the majority of the talent that we are investing in. I will be watching as this develops because it's only by sending elevators like this down the coaching pathway, that we can possibly hope to have more wāhine reach the top. So take note reader, this is the middle part. That moment of the story that could influence important decisions like who gets to be the next Blues head coach.

Black Ferns vs Wallaroos

Thank you to my paid subscribers who afforded you all the inside scoop on the Wallaroos a couple of week's back. I had speculated at the time on the head coach vacancy and shape of their programme to come. What do you know, those guesses are all looking a lot more educated.

So Sione Fukofuka has now been confirmed as their next head coach. But his recent departure from Scotland Rugby means he isn't available until 2027. So it's Tim Walsh taking charge with a band of brothers for the rest of the season.

The centralisation question is also to be closer to being answered. There was an announcement yesterday that Queensland is partnering with Rugby Australia to create a purpose built facility for their seven's and Wallaroos teams. The merger of the women's 15s and 7s programmes is there on the Aussie team sheet for this weekend's match too. Maddi Levi named on the bench for her Wallaroos debut.

This is the 100th test match for the Aussies and shout out to Michaela Leonard, Eva Karpani and Bridie O'Gorman who have each played in over 40 of them. Apart from all the coaching hoopla, the big chat in this squad announcement focuses on the two potential debutantes on the bench.

Pia Tapsell is making history as the first Black Fern to go across the ditch. She last played for the Black Ferns back in 2019 and has since chased other opportunities over in Aussie in both the NRLW and Super W. Pia is a good player who was caught in the churn we experienced between 2017 and 2022 as well as the more familiar logjam of loose forward talent.

Pia played six tests for the Black Ferns and played for Manawa in the inaugural match against the Blues back in 2021. This fixture is one she's familiar with having won twice against the Wallaroos. We will see how she goes off the bench now the boot on the other foot.

We have four Aussie 7s players on the team sheet tomorrow but Maddi Levi is the mast Rugby Australia are pinning all their hopes on. Named at 23 we have to assume she'll be playing on the wing. Which already feels limiting on her potential impact.

I probably sound like a hater but I'm not sure she'll bring the same spark as say, Charlotte Caslick, last year. I think the Wallaroos already have class wingers in Desi Miller and Maya Stewart at the moment. The challenge has been getting them ball and getting the launch to really fire once they are up over halfway.

More interesting then is the switch of 15 and 10 from the last time these two teams met. The young Waiaria Ellis is named at first five and is the most influential player on the Aussie chances.

Five changes to the Black Ferns starting line up from the last time these two team met. I would argue this is a stronger team than we fielded then. Elinor-Plum King's debut doesn't come with any of the anticipatory nerves I usually feel for young players. Instead, I'm just waiting to see whether she will score another hattrick on debut.

All the other changes to the starting lineup are the return of strong players, other players being out with injury or in Renee Holmes case, 7s duty.

The bench meanwhile is an expression of depth and the emergence of new talent. Amarante Sititi and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua'a the example of the latter. They have already been on the radar, Amarante on a Black Ferns development contract and Shyrah given the exposure to the environment when named in the Pacific Four squad. With eyes on them, they both took things up another level in Aupiki this year and will be thrilling to watch off the bench.

Santo Taumata and Ariana Bayler get their triumphant recalls into the game day 23. Bayler last played in 2023 against France whereas Santo's last game in black was the Rugby World Cup final of 2022. No many players get second chances, they will no doubt be soaking up every minute.

Tomorrow will be the 31st time these two have played each other and I'm not predicting this one to be the game that ends the Black Ferns 100% winning streak. It was 40-5 in April, I expect a similar scoreline tomorrow.

Regardless, I'll be tuning in. Locking in on the process to judge our team's progress ahead of the global tour.

With you,
Alice