I concur with you @nanator.
Ekenasio, Nweke and Walmsley are on lock for me. It’s really up to the other young shooting options to sort their fitness out. While not in the Development Squad it will be interesting to see if Georgia Heffernan finds herself at December’s trials..
Gordon, Heffernan and Poi have cemented their roles. For Poi’s exploits at WA and her ability to slide to C, I think a WA specialist can be picked. The opportunity is there for Toeava IMO if she passes fitness testing. I think Souness needs a big ANZP to force her way back into the Ferns, but working with Gordon, Walmsley and Metuarau is a good start. COB looked frazzled last night.
I was thinking Karaka was gone but her 15 minute cameo reminded me her elevation is unlike anyone else in the Ferns and I think her role will evolve more to a GD/GK slide in the future. I would retain Burger, Jury, Karaka and Mason moving forward and bring Burley into the squad over Mikaere.
I get what Taurua was doing last night but there were too many changes. Walmsley should’ve got a half at GS – for herself and the feeders to settle in. IMO she was better at GA than Wilson who seemed to forget she had Nweke in the back.. Gordon can never be off the court, and Heffernan and Burger are best one position back from where they finished.
Disappointed with the final margin, but the fact I blinked and our deficit was back to 6 midway through the last quarter without doing anything special our side was pleasing to me. Would have been interesting if our starting 7 played the full second half.
