Fun fact: 2 September 2024 marked 30 years since the Wallaroos played their very first Test. (Naturally it was against the Kiwis, and yes, we came second.)
How times have changed since then!
This weekend, the Wallaroos will embark on their largest overseas tour so far in their history (outside of a World Cup), with tests against Ireland, Wales – twice – South Africa and Scotland, travelling across three countries – a lot of frequent flyer points!
How good of a rugby tour is it going to be for the players? For many, it will likely be their first rugby-related trip to the UK and South Africa. No idea when the last time the Wallaroos went on a similar tour. The answer? Maybe never.
Most importantly, this tour is a vital one for the Wallaroos as part of their preparation for next year’s World Cup in England.
Where do we rank outside of the big hitters in New Zealand and Canada? More to the point, does it matter? Based on the World Rugby rankings, we have reason to be confident.
Australia sits in fifth, Scotland sixth, Wales eighth, Ireland tenth, and South Africa twelfth, respectively. However, as many of us know, rankings are often an anomaly – Ireland is below Scotland and Wales, yet qualified for WXV1 due to their performance in the Six Nations.
Previous fixture stats also indicate the Wallaroos have reason to be confident. In the last 30 years, they have played Ireland four times for three wins and one loss, with the last game being in 2017.
Games against Wales have been a happy hunting ground, six games for six wins. Scotland has been three wins from three games. As for South Africa, the Wallaroos have had three wins from the three encounters, but the last was in 2014 – and a lot has changed since then.
Maya Stewart (L) and Laurie Cramer of Australia celebrate victory in the WXV1 match between Australia Wallaroos and Wales at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on November 03, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
All these previous fixtures against Ireland, Scotland and South Africa took place during a World Cup – marking this tour as a notable moment in women’s rugby history, and a reflection of the growing opportunities in this side of the game.
However, in the world of international women’s rugby, previous statistics are misleading – particularly when you consider how much more investment is being poured into this side of the game around the world.
Wales have proven to be a hard team to put away, with their last two fixtures with the Wallaroos – being last year’s WXV1 fixture and their World Cup 2022 fixture – being excruciatingly tight. The same can be said for Scotland, with our last clash against them at the 2022 World Cup resulting in a 14-12 win for the green and gold. Last weekend just gone, they beat Wales 40-14.
Ireland are in WXV1 for a reason, with consistent game time – over 200 matches in their history – and wins over Wales and Scotland this year to earn that position. Even South Africa, the WXV2 hosts and lowest-ranked side are a team on the up, earning their first-ever victory over the Barbarians on the weekend, winning 59-17.
These games for the Wallaroos will be way more competitive than the rankings may indicate. For flagging (or indeed, growing) Wallaroos supporters and casual viewers, make no mistake: these are going to be tough games.
Such a tour is critical for this side, as it should be remembered how the Wallaroos have played just 79 Tests in their history, and won just 29 (37%). By comparison, the Wallabies have played 691 Tests and have won 345. Yep, just less than 50%.
So, who knows what the form guide is – we are truly in uncharted waters for this side.
Grace Hamilton of Australia (Photo by Fiona Goodall – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
The Squad
The first thing that jumped out with the squad announcement was the list of capped players unavailable due to injury – being Emily Chancellor, Bree-Anna Cheatham, Piper Duck, Emily Robinson, Allana Sikimeti and Adiana Talakai.
Duck provides the Wallaroos with serious, line-bending go-forward and Sikimeti is a young developing prop who has been coming off the bench, and a tour like this would have been a great experience for her. Emily Chancellor is also a major loss, serving as a critical leader across the Wallaroos program – but it serves as an opportunity for other players to put their hands up.
A left-field inclusion is Force halfback Lucy Dinnen, who was not in the published train-on squad. She joins halves Layne Morgan and Natalie Wright, while Samantha Wood is recovering from a back injury. It appears Wood will be held back from this tour to further recover, but she is set to get a run in the Australia A side against Samoa next week.
Apart from Dinnen’s inclusion, the rest of the backs are the same – and that is far from a criticism. In reality, the backs, if given enough front foot ball, have proven extremely effective on attack.
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Unlike the Wallabies, Jo Yapp seems to have found an ideal halves combination in Morgan and Arabella McKenzie, with centres also looking like a toss-up between Cecilia Smith and Trilleen Pomare, while Georgina Friedrichs has locked in outside centre.
With Maya Stewart back from her hamstring injury, you would expect she will return to the starting side, while the fullbacks in Caitlyn Halse and Lori Cramer provide some critical back-field firepower. It would be good to see Halse get more of a run – interestingly, she is also meant to be completing her HSC on her return; luckily for her, a couple of players are teachers. Handy.
The forwards, however, are where most question marks lie. The squad has one less prop compared to the July squad – and interestingly, just two hookers. It is not clear if any of the props can double as a hooker, or whether Ash Marsters is seen as a back-up if needed – she can play anywhere and has played hooker previously.
The second row, however, is where depth is tested, with potential debutants Ashley Fernandez and Tiarah Minns set to be included – and while both loom as very exciting prospects, the lack of experience at this level is a challenge. This is one area where the Wallaroos need more punch, so may be lined up to get a run later in the tour.
Rugby Australia announced Cadbury as the Wallaroos’ new principal partner on Monday. Photo: Rugby Australia
In this tour, while the side still has a lot of potential, with four uncapped players and eleven players with less than ten caps to their name, experience is really going to prove the difference for this squad – and that is where the experienced heads of Pomare, Marsters, captain Michaela Leonard, Friedrichs and Eva Karpani.
The question of Sevens players also looms large – with some taking a break after the Olympics and an extensive Sevens tour, while others have made the jump over to the NRL. In all honesty, while the quality of athlete in the Sevens would be a welcome addition to this side, the key challenges the Wallaroos face loom in the forward pack.
Jo Yapp has admitted that she, along with the team and staff, is hungry to make up for results earlier this year and come back with wins and a WXV2 title. It cannot be disputed that, given the Wallaroos have spent most of their history coming up against some of the toughest sides in Women’s rugby, such exposure should give them the grit and conditioning to produce some good wins.
At the same time, it is a step into the unknown – many of these other WXV2 teams find themselves in a similar position to the Wallaroos, with growing programs looking for success. This is a true indication of where they stand.
Wallaroos Schedule
WXV2 games will be on Stan, there has not been any confirmation on the broadcasting of the Ireland and Wales games.
Wallaroos vs. Ireland – 14 September, 11:30 PM AEST – Belfast
Wallaroos vs. Wales – 21 September 4:00 AM AEST – Newport
WXV2 – South Africa
Wallaroos vs. Wales – 28 September 8:30 PM AEST – Cape Town
Wallaroos vs. South Africa – 6 October 12:00 AM AEDT – Cape Town
Wallaroos vs. Scotland – 13 October 1.00AM AEDT – Cape Town
>>> Click here to view the complete Wallaroos squad for the Ireland, Wales and WXV Tour
Hugh_96https://ift.tt/bgk3v2S weeks, five Tests, three countries – why this WXV tour is a crucial moment for Wallaroos – and a step into the unknown
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