Kendra Cocksedge second Black Fern in history to reach 50 Tests

Halfback Kendra Cocksedge will captain the Black Ferns for her 50th Test match in the black jersey when the team plays France in San Diego on Sunday morning (NZT).

Black Ferns Head Coach Glenn Moore has named the team today for their third match of the Women's Rugby Super Series 2019.

The team is (number of caps in brackets):

1. Toka Natua (18)
2. Te Kura Ngata-Aerengemate (26)
3. Aleisha-Pearl Nelson (31)
4. Eloise Blackwell (Vice captain, 39)
5. Charmaine Smith (23)
6. Pia Tapsell (2)
7. Marcelle Parkes (3)
8. Charmaine McMenamin (21)
9. Kendra Cocksedge (Captain, 49)
10. Ruahei Demant (7)
11. Ayesha Leti-I'iga (5)
12. Kelly Brazier (38)
13. Carla Hohepa (20)
14. Renee Wickliffe (37)
15. Selica Winiata (Vice captain, 37)
16. Luka Connor (1)
17. Phillipa Love (9)
18. Leilani Perese (7)
19. Karli Faneva (1)
20. Kennedy Simon (1)
21. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (2)
22. Chelsea Alley (20)
23. Alena Saili (3)

Moore said captain, Les Elder, was being rested with an injury and Wellington's Marcelle Parkes would start at 7. Pia Tapsell moves to blindside flanker and Charmaine McMenamin into Number 8.

"We expect Les will be right for the final match and Marcelle has now played a couple of Tests, been in the environment for a while, and is looking forward to starting in that position."

With two matches of the series now under their belts, and seven players having made their debuts, Moore said it was now time for the Black Ferns to take their game to the next level against the French.

"We've had a couple of good wins but if there's one thing we know about the French it's that they take a step up when they face the black jersey. We saw that when we played them twice in France eight months ago."

The French lost to Canada in the Super Series 36-19 earlier in the week.

During last year's November series against France, the Black Ferns won one match and lost the other.