The defending champions will meet Ireland in their final pool game at the Rugby World Cup in England on Monday morning.
It will be the Black Ferns’ biggest test yet after comfortable opening wins against Spain, 54-8, and Japan, 62-19.
Ireland, who failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand, also made a good start, dispatching Japan 42-14 and Spain 43-27.
Ireland will also have confidence heading into the game having beat the Black Ferns 29-27 in their WXV 1 game last year.
It is a big game for both sides — who have qualified for the quarterfinals — and will determine who is the top seed in pool C.
They will then meet the top two seeds of pool D in the quarterfinals, which will be either France or South Africa, who also play on Monday morning.
France and South Africa — the latter a miracle story of perseverance after failing to win a game at the last World Cup and now making it through to their first pinnacle playoffs — play each other on Monday morning as well.
Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu said they needed to treat every game like a final, The New Zealand Herald reported.
‘‘We want to make sure we don’t show all our cards, but that we nail the moments that we do get.
‘‘Winning momentum is huge,’’ Tukuafu said.
‘‘We want to make sure we are playing second in the next pool.
‘‘So, not that we talk about it much like that, us as leaders like to make sure that we’ve got all our ducks in a row and know what’s going to happen.
‘‘If plan A doesn’t work, then how do we attack plan B?
‘‘We need to win every game from now on.’’
Black Ferns director of performance Allan Bunting in a statement last night said the team had settled into Brighton well and were looking forward to the match against Ireland.
‘‘We’ve been blessed with world-class facilities and a warm welcome here in Brighton which has allowed us a quality lead into this weekend,’’ he said.
‘‘Every game in our World Cup journey is crucial to us, and we want to finish our pool phase strong,’’ Bunting said.
‘‘Our wāhine have all had an opportunity to play the past two games.
‘‘Consistency and cohesion will be a key focus around our selections.
‘‘We have had critical learnings out of the last two weeks and are building well.’’
Following her World Cup debut, Otago halfback Maia Joseph will start in the reserves for the Black Ferns on Monday.
Black Ferns v Ireland
1.45am, Monday
New Zealand: Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner, Layla Sae, Jorja Miller, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, Ruahei Demant (co-captain), Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, Stacey Waaka, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Renee Holmes.
Reserves: Vici-Rose Green, Kate Henwood, Amy Rule, Laura Bayfield, Kennedy Tukuafu (co-captain), Maia Joseph, Theresa Setefano, Ayesha Leti-I’iga.
