Renee Holmes will start at full-back for New Zealand in their Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final

Renee Holmes will start at full-back for New Zealand in their Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final with France at Eden Park on 5 November.

New Zealand director of rugby Wayne Smith has named his team for the Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final against France at Eden Park on 5 November.

1. Phillipa Love
2. Georgia Ponsonby
3. Amy Rule
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos
5. Chelsea Bremner
6. Alana Bremner
7. Sarah Hirini
8. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u
9. Kendra Cocksedge
10. Ruahei Demant (captain)
11. Portia Woodman
12. Theresa Fitzpatrick
13. Stacey Fluhler
14. Ruby Tui
15. Renee Holmes

16. Luka Connor
17. Krystal Murray
18. Santo Taumata
19. Joanah Ngan-Woo
20. Kennedy Simon
21. Ariana Bayler
22. Hazel Tubic
23. Ayesha Leti-l'iga

• New Zealand director of rugby Wayne Smith has made one personnel and two positional changes to his starting line-up from the 55-3 victory over Wales
• Renee Holmes comes into the starting line-up at full-back to re-form the back three that New Zealand played with against Australia in their opening match
• Ruby Tui moves to the right wing with her fellow Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Portia Woodman shifting across to the left wing
• Ayesha Leti-I’iga drops down to the bench to fill the spot vacated by Holmes with the match-day 23 featuring the same players as the quarter-final
• This is the first time that the Black Ferns and France have met on New Zealand soil
• New Zealand won the first five meetings between the sides but have lost the last four, having last tasted victory in November 2018
• Five of New Zealand’s starting line-up also started their last meeting with France, a 29-7 loss in Castres last November. Maiakawanakaukani Roos, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Kendra Cocksedge, Portia Woodman and Stacey Fluhler started, while Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Alana Bremner and Ruahei Demant came off the bench
• This is the fourth meeting between the sides at a Rugby World Cup with the previous encounters having also been semi-finals. New Zealand won 30-0 in Barcelona in 2002, 40-10 in Canada in 2006 and 45-7 in Twickenham in 2010
• Kendra Cocksedge is the only survivor for the Black Ferns from that RWC 2010 semi-final
• New Zealand are seeking a 13th consecutive victory on the Rugby World Cup stage and are unbeaten in the Wayne Smith era with 10 wins in 2022
• The Black Ferns have only lost one semi-final – 7-0 to USA at the inaugural tournament in 1991. This is one of only two defeats New Zealand have suffered on the RWC stage