The Black Ferns have named their 23 for Saturday's historic match against the Springbok Women at FNB Stadium, with KwaZulu-Natal-born centre Amy Du Plessis set for a charged return to her home country in front of what is expected to be a massive crowd ahead of the All Blacks-Springboks Test.
Du Plessis, who missed the 2025 World Cup quarterfinal between the two sides through injury, lines up in the midfield alongside Sylvia Brunt. Hannah King starts at flyhalf, while Maia Joseph gets the nod at scrumhalf.
Georgia Ponsonby captains the side for the first time as co-captain, starting at hooker, with Ruahei Demant moving to the bench while retaining the co-captaincy. Head coach Whitney Hansen described the arrangement as a deliberate push to deepen the squad's leadership pool, with King also earmarked to develop her game-driving credentials in the role.
The loose forward trio of Mia Anderson, Elinor-Plum King and Liana Mikaele-Tu'u start together.
Off the bench, hooker Atlanta Lolohea and lock Laura Bayfield return, while Amarante Sititi — younger sister of All Black Wallace Sititi — is included among the replacements.
Kick-off at FNB Stadium is 13:30 local time, with Zoe Naude as referee.
New Zealand: 15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 14 Mererangi Paul, 13 Amy du Plessis, 12 Sylvia Brunt, 11 Ayesha Leti-I'iga, 10 Hannah King, 9 Maia Joseph, 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, 7 Elinor-Plum King, 6 Mia Anderson, 5 Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 2 Georgia Ponsonby (co-capt), 1 Chryss Viliko. Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Maddison Robinson, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Laura Bayfield, 20 Amarante Sititi, 21 Tara Turner, 22 Ruahei Demant (co-capt), 23 Justine McGregor.