Vici-Rose Green during the Black Ferns 79-14 win over USA Eagles Women on Saturday 24 May 2025 Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga
One of the Black Ferns' newest faces says she is still "speechless" after making her test debut as the team switches its focus to their World Cup defence.
In their final Pacific Four hit-out, the Ferns came away with an emphatic 79- 14 win over the USA at Albany to seal the Pacific Four series title.
Coach Allan Bunting rolled out the changes with four players earning test debuts during Saturday's comprehensive victory.
Hooker Vici-Rose Green came off the bench for her first cap, as competition for World Cup places heats up.
Green told Morning Report she was still stunned about the occasion at the weekend.
"I'm still quite speechless on being named and then running out in front of our home crowd there at North Harbour in front of my whanau and friends and everyone there," she said.
"Don't quite have the words to explain my feelings."
Despite the Ferns coming away with an eleven try haul against the ninth-ranked Eagles, Green said the score did not "reflect how the game went".
"Moving forward we're just happy with ticking a box. We're more focusing on ourselves and what our work-ons and continuing to build for the World Cup."
The win also saw Portia Woodman-Wickliffe become the greatest try scorer in Black Ferns history, running in seven tries against the Americans.
Green paid tribute to the star wing three-quarter who has returned to the test arena after a retirement change-of-heart.
"Portia is just an amazing human on and off the field. She's one of the ladies who you try and pick their brain," she said.
After wrapping up the Pacific Four series, the team now look ahead towards the next challenge.
In July, the team will face off with the Black Ferns XV before reconvening with the Wallaroos in Wellington a week later.
The team is only focusing on how they can get better, Green said.
"All we need to do is focus on our own individual goal. What we need to do as a team is focus on ourselves and not the opposition," she said.
"We'll have a couple of weeks back here at home and then reconnect as a team in a few weeks.
"It's not too long from the World Cup so there's not much space to take a rest. We're just trying to train as hard as we can so we can put our best foot forward for the World Cup."
The Black Ferns face Spain in their opening World Cup pool game on 24 August.
