Martha Mataele Primed for Potential Black Ferns Debut

Matatū and Canterbury wing Martha Mataele is set to go for her potential Black Ferns debut tomorrow against Australia.

Mataele will start on the bench wearing jersey number 23 and will look to make an impact with her strength and explosive ball carrying.

When the Black Ferns director of rugby, Allan Bunting, rang the 24-year-old to tell her the good news, she had to hold things together and not scream directly into her phone. Her contagious positive energy can be felt through the phone simply recalling the moment.

“But straight afterwards I screamed at the top of my lungs and I just started crying, bawling my eyes out.”

Mataele scored an all-important intercept try to swing momentum in Matatū’s favour in the 2023 Aupiki Final against the Chiefs Manawa and has been a mainstay at the top end of the try scorers list in the FPC for the last few seasons.

Jumping for Joy: Martha Mataele celebrates an intercept try with Lucy Jenkins and Rosie Kelly. All three would go on to earn Black Ferns call-ups in the months following. Image - Matatū

Mataele has been named alongside 6 other Matatū players for this weekend’s O’Reilly Cup match in Hamilton.

Amy Rule and Georgia Ponsonby both occupy their usual spots at tighthead prop and hooker respectively. Alana Bremner dons the number 6 jersey with Amy du Plessis continuing to stake her claim as the in form centre in the country.

Lucy Jenkins continues to get the nod and will start on the bench, along with Rosie Kelly who will look to inject speed into the game when she comes on.

Watch the Black Ferns take on Australia tomorrow from Hamilton at FMG Stadium.

Kick-off 4:35pm.