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Evan Barnes / Getty Images
Amy du Plessis tries to break through the defense during the match between the New Zealand Black Ferns and the New Zealand Barbarians at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on Sunday.
Southland’s Amy du Plessis has the joy of playing for the Black Ferns and is now in contention for a shot at a Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next year.
du Plessis made her debut for New Zealand’s 15-year-old women’s team when she came off the bench in the first of two games against a New Zealand Barbarians team a fortnight ago. A game in which the Black Ferns won 34-15.
On Saturday du Plessis was promoted to start center-back in Game 2 at Nelson, and she took her chance with both hands.
The Southland Girls ‘High School alumnus’ pace of work, particularly on defense, was sublime. She was a key figure in helping the Black Ferns to a 19-17 victory and has now firmly put herself in contention to play in a World Cup next year.
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It’s that pace of work that has captured the attention of Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore.
du Plessis admitted that her promotion to the Black Ferns this year had caught her off guard.
She was one of nine players who debuted with the Black Ferns in the two games, which were arranged after Covid-19 canceled the international season.
“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks,” du Plessis said.
“To be fair, it wasn’t really on my radar. Playing the Possible-Probable games was, but doing the Black Ferns was a bit shocking. ”
du Plessis was born in South Africa, but moved to New Zealand at age 7.
He emerged as a promising talent when he was a key part of Southland Girls’ High School’s rugby success. It included helping Invercargill school win its first national Top 4 final in 2016.
du Plessis has also been successful in the shortened format, having also represented the Black Ferns Sevens team.
Since Southland does not have a Farah Palmer Cup, the du Plessis team now lines up for the Otago Spirit at the provincial level.
After his whirlwind weeks with the Black Ferns, he will now return to Invercargill where he will continue to study correspondence psychology through Massy University.
At the same time, du Plessis will wait with his fingers crossed until the Black Ferns’ contracts for next year are announced next month.
If du Plessis were to get a contract, he would rejoin the Black Ferns for a camp in January.
The 2020 World Cup will kick off on September 18 in New Zealand next year and will run until October 16.
New Zealand has drawn Australia, Wales and a yet to be confirmed qualifier in their group.
Naturally, du Plessis would love to play in a World Cup, let alone a World Cup in New Zealand.
Evan Barnes / Getty Images
New Zealand barbarian support Amy Rule scores a try during the game against the New Zealand Black Ferns in Nelson on Saturday.
Amy Rule, an alumnus of Aparima College, has become another southern land that is now slamming the door for the Black Ferns selection.
The tight-headed mainstay, who now plays rugby at Canterbury, impressed playing for the Barbarians against the Black Ferns in Nelson on Saturday.
It included scoring one of the Barbarians’ two attempts in the 19-17 loss.
