The former Hamilton Girls’ High School student made her Farah Palmer Cup debut as a 16-year-old and has been a key member of the resurgent Waikato team in recent years. Waikato halfback Ariana Bayler’s journey to the Black Ferns has been one of persistence, the talented youngster suffering three ACL injuries in her career to date. Halfback Kendra Cocksedge has the potential to become the most capped Black Ferns player of all time on this tour, surpassing Fiao’o Faamausili. The squad has an average age of 26, a total of 399 caps experience. The squad represents eight of New Zealand’s provincial unions, with nine Waikato players, seven from Auckland, six from Canterbury, five from Bay of Plenty, three from Wellington, two from Northland and one each from Counties Manukau and Taranaki.
This would be one of the most difficult selection processes I can recall in my time in rugby,” said Moore. “The lockdown probably did mean some players weren’t able to cement their positions in the squad and it meant we had to reflect more on the early rounds of Farah Palmer Cup and some of the situational games we’d played in camps this year. Selection conversations were thrown a curve ball with the latest Covid 19 outbreak forcing a halt to the Bunnings Warehouse Farah Palmer Cup which Moore said changed how the selectors looked at assembling the squad. Ella (Blackwell) did a great job last year when we had the domestic hit out, she and Kendra are named as vice captains, and I’m confident this leadership group will do an outstanding job,” said Moore. “Les is a crucial part of our set up, she’s an outstanding player, leads from the front and has the ability to galvanize people around her. Les Elder returns to captain the side after missing the 2020 season.
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