This welcome news comes not a moment too soon. A hoped-for fixture between Australia and Samoa fell foul of the pandemic. The Ferns will be playing their first international of 2021; the Wallaroos their first since August 2019.
Australia’s lack of competition is far more serious. They have only recently restored Fifteens to the prominence it deserves. Their chances of success have not been helped by the departure this month of both Dwayne Nestor, the head coach, and his assistant, Matt Tink. Their behaviour was deemed inappropriate. Their replacements have yet to be appointed.
Earlier in the year a competition entitled Buildcorp Super W 2021 was held across the country to help selectors pick the most prominent players. Jilly Collins, General Manager of Women’s Rugby, has announced a squad of 40 players in the build-up to next year’s World Cup. They carry a fascinating title:
Buildcorp Wallaroos Player of National Interest Squad
Iliseva Batibasaga – NSW Waratahs
Destiny Brill – Queensland Reds*
Emily Chancellor – NSW Waratahs
Bree-Anna Cheatham – Queensland Reds
Georgia Cormick – Melbourne Rebels
Lori Cramer – NSW Waratahs
Piper Duck – NSW Waratahs
Anita Faimasui-Brown – NSW Waratahs
Georgina Friedrichs – NSW Waratahs
Aleena Greenhalgh – Queensland Reds
Grace Hamilton – NSW Waratahs
Fiona Jones – NSW Waratahs
Eva Karpani – NSW Waratahs
Grace Kemp – Brumbies
Atasi Lafai – NSW Waratahs
Kaitlan Leaney – NSW Waratahs*
Michaela Leonard – Brumbies
Lucy Lockhart – Queensland Reds
Ashley Marsters – Melbourne Rebels
Lillyann Mason-Spice – Brumbies
Jemima McCalman – President’s XV
Arabella McKenzie – NSW Waratahs
Tiarah Minns – Melbourne Rebels
Tiarna Molloy – Queensland Reds*
Layne Morgan – NSW Waratahs
Mahalia Murphy – NSW Waratahs
Sera Naiqama – NSW Waratahs
Bridie O’Gorman – NSW Waratahs
Siokapesi Palu – Brumbies*
Liz Patu – Queensland Reds
Pauline Piliae – NSW Waratahs
Christina Sekona – Queensland Reds
Cecilia Smith – Queensland Reds
Tayla Stanford – Brumbies
Maya Stewart – NSW Waratahs
Adiana Talakai – NSW Waratahs
Jade Te Aute – Melbourne Rebels*
Margot Vella – NSW Waratahs*
Melanie Wilks – Queensland Reds*
Ivania Wong – Queensland Reds*
*New squad members
Fixtures:
New Zealand v Australia 26 September, Christchurch
New Zealand v Australia 2 October, Eden Park
They will battle for the O’Reilly Cup, named in honour of Laurie O’Reilly, who selected and coached the first Ferns’ side in 1989.
As is so often the case, it leaves a Pacific nation, here Samoa, without a replacement tournament to enjoy. They have already qualified for the World Cup, defeating Tonga 40-0 in Auckland last November, but further preparation is limited by lack of competition.
