It is a make-or-break weekend for the Western Force and the ACT Brumbies women with their seasons on the line. Both teams are yet to have a win and the only points they have is from the draw against each other.
On Saturday, the Brumbies have the Reds travelling down to the country’s capital to face off at Viking Park.
The Brumbies return from a heartbreaking loss in Fiji so it will be interesting to see if this will impact this week late in the game. Looks like Andy Friend has gone again for a 6:2 bench. The Western Force have the Fijian Drua flying over the Nullabor for their game on Sunday.
Apart from season success, what else is there?
The first Wallaroos Test against Fiji is in just six weeks. So you would have to guess the first Wallaroos squad will be announced in a month. This week again there will be head-to-head battles and individual players wanting to perform to make that first squad.
In the Brumbies/Reds clash we have the hookers Tiarna Molloy (Reds) and Tania Naden (Brumbies) in action. At the end of last year Naden was the starting Wallaroos hooker with Molloy coming off the bench. It is not directly a head-to-head battle as Naden is coming off the bench. With Waratahs Adiana Talakai back playing, how will three fit into two spots?
Eva Karpani. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Brumbies prop Sally Fuesaina is up against Eva Karpani. Wallaroo vs Wallaroo. Reds prop Bree-Anna Browne continues to show she has recovered from her ACL having missed the 2024 season. In 2023 she started or came off the bench of every Wallaroos match.
In the locks you have three players on Rugby AU’s contact list, Reds’ Deni Ross and Tiarna Minns and Brumbies’ Ashley Fernandez. While Michaela Leonard and Kaitlan Leaney are probably locked in and with Atasi Lafau out with an ACL there are a couple of spots open in the lock department. If you add the Force’s Sea Naiqama, four does not go into two very easily.
In the backs there are a couple of battles and just big interest. Charlotte Caslick is starting at 15 which is great news. She needs as much time in the saddle as possible. It will be worth keeping an eye on Caslick popping up for an offload from Shalom Sausao as she does with Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea in Sevens.
Charlotte Caslick of the Reds in action during the round three Super Rugby Women’s match between Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs at Ballymore Stadium on March 16, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images)
A bit of a surprise is Lori Cramer at flyhalf and Carys Dallinger dropping to the bench. You can bet the old head of Cramer will want show Brumbies and incumbent Wallaroos flyhalf Faitala Moleka what she has and demonstrate her utility value. Dallinger will want to get on and show she should still be in Wallaroo discussions.
Halfback is of interest too. On the Brums side Ella Ryan has been playing well is up against the Wallaroo Layne Morgan. Then on the bench, you have Brums Jay Huriwai who was the bench Wallaroo half but missed all last season with an injury. Coming off the Reds bench is Nat Wright who became the Wallaroos bench half last season. Huriwai will want to show she is back. The selection of the Wallaroos halfbacks is highly competitive, at least four in the running for two spots.
Lastly there may well be a bit of battle on the wings in this game. Brums Biola Dawa, who debuted for the Wallaroos last year, against the Reds Caitlin Unwin who has been one of the most impressive wingers this year. Add to the mix stalwart Ivania Wong will be striving to get back her Wallaroos position.
So the Brumbies and Reds game has a lot going on.
In the Force/ Drua game there are no head-to-head battles for a Wallaroos spot but a performance against the Drua will still look good on the resume come Wallaroos selection time.
In the forwards 20-year-old loosehead prop Allana Sikimeti, who debuted for the Wallaroos last season, will want to continue her good form to ensure she is in the front mix come Wallaroos squad selection. There are around eight props vying for possibly six spots.
As noted earlier there is a battle for a couple of lock positions. Michaela Leonard is a lock and Sera Naiqama will be full steam ahead to regain one of those.
Sera Naiqama. (Photo by Hannah Peters – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
A good physical performance against the Drua should go a long way. As the Wallaroos have found in the last couple of years against the big teams such as New Zealand, USA and Canada they have to match it with them in the collision.
In the backs with all the talk about the rugby sevens players of late you would not be surprised if Trilleen Pomare and Cecilia Smith try to put on a bit of a show to demonstrate they are still here. The Force centre combination is highly professional and were probably a selection lock until the sevens players put themselves in the mix for selection.
Let us see which teams and players put their hand up this weekend.
Hugh_96https://ift.tt/uFZca2q Rugby W: Wallaroos selection battles light up Reds vs Brumbies, Force face make-or-break against Drua
Post a Comment