Youthful Waikato team primed for next challenge
Anthony Momoemausu
August 31, 2013 •05:00am
There is a fresh look to the Waikato women's rugby team as the new provincial season prepares to get under way in a week.
The make up of the 2013 squad has 12 new additions to the side as Waikato attempt to build on their progress from last season where they returned to the national competition after a seven year absence.
Some of the current squad members are in secondary school or a couple of years removed, but coach Reuben Samuel said the focus would be to learn the lessons from 2012 as they prepare to line up against other provincial teams stacked with Black Ferns.
"Last year was about us learning about ourselves and seeing what we could do.
"In the media guide last year, we were the team with the least amount of caps by a long shot and once again we're probably in the same boat.'
Despite being without the services of Black Ferns vice-captain Victoria Grant and the Hohepa sisters, Carla and Chyna, Samuel still has the luxury of calling upon the likes of New Zealand sevens star Honey Hireme and first five-eighth Chelsea Alley, who made her debut for the Black Ferns against England this year.
Samuel will also draw on experienced campaigners Teresa Te Tamaki and lock Crystal Kaua as Waikato endeavour to improve on their fourth-place finish in the women's provincial championship.
"We do look towards those girls to help us in our planning and us moving forward and keeping the girls enthused knowing that they're coming up against some big experienced girls.
"It's trying to encourage them that there is a gap but it's not as big as they think and if they put their best foot forward that anything is possible. Chelsea's proved that.
"We'd like to see a few more of our Waikato girls represent not only in sevens but in fifteens and we think over the next couple of years that will definitely happen."
However, Samuel faces the challenge of having the gifted Hireme for a limited amount of games with the dual international set to link up with the national sevens team for training camps and could possibly be joined by Francea Hanson, Ariana Hira-Herangi and Shiray Tane.
But he is confident they have the players ready to step in with many of them having had great seasons at club and secondary school level.
The Waikato squad have no pre-season games leading into the competition but will be in a training camp over the weekend as they begin preparations for their opening fixture away against competition newcomers Counties Manukau next Saturday.
Waikato Women's NPC Team: Ana Marsters, Ariana Bayler, Ariana Hira-Herangi, Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland, Azania Watene, Baye Jacob, Carrie Lobb, Chelsea Alley, Crystal Kaua, Francea Hansen, Ginia Muavae, Honey Hireme, Jodie Pryor, Kendra Reynolds, Kennedy Simon, Katokakala Tonga, Moana Forbes, Racqual Anderson-Pitman, Rivay O'Donnell, Rochelle Smiler, Sarah Young, Shiray Tane, Sosoli Talawadua, Teresa Te Tamaki, Tylar Papuni,
Tyler Reid, Victoria Edmonds. Unavailable for selection: Robyn Engles, Carla Hohepa, Chyna Hohepa, Nicole Marwick, Victoria Grant.
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