Take a look at the Wallaroos’ fixture-list (down below) and wince. But they are made of sterner stuff than mere reporters, so they will be relishing meeting in sequence the world second-ranked whom they’ve never beaten, the first-ranked and the third-ranked.
We can only imagine how their last WXV game against Wales will turn out.
Jay Tregonning has listed 30 players to undertake this task, four names familiar to spectators at Premier 15s games; but from an Aussie perspective it’s good to see players included from beyond the two strongholds of rugby union, NSW and Queensland. It’s vital for the game to find participation from Victoria (home of rugby league) and Western Australia.
Rugby in Australia suffers from effects not felt anywhere else: rugby league has a vast following; Australian rules too. Then there’s cricket – they’re quite good at that. So rugby union can’t claim to stand any higher than fourth in the nation’s affections.
Like one or two other cases you could think of, the Wallaroos have called out their union for not supporting them properly. Sevens has for long been the first mouth to feed.
For Rugby Australia another poser lies over the horizon, a World Cup will come visiting in 2029. So in the meantime they will need to bang the drum as loudly as possible; the squad will help them by mounting a strong campaign. And fortunately for everyone, WXV is an annual event, not a one-off.
The team is led by Michaela Leonard and contains just four uncapped players.
Squad
Emily Chancellor (Harlequins, 19 caps), Bree-Anna Cheatham (Queensland Reds, 5), Annabelle Codey (Queensland Reds, 4), *Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs), Eva Karpani (NSW Waratahs, 17), Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs, 6), Kaitlan Leaney (Harlequins, 11), Michaela Leonard (captain, Western Force, 18), Ashley Marsters (Melbourne Rebels), Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies, 6), Sera Naiqama (NSW Waratahs, 10), *Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs), Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs, 15), Emily Robinson (NSW Waratahs, 20), Adiana Talakai (NSW Waratahs, 12), Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies, 1), Lori Cramer (Exeter Chiefs, 17), Carys Dallinger (Queensland Reds, 2), Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs, 15), Jasmin Huriwai (ACT Brumbies, 4), Arabella McKenzie (Harlequins, 18), *Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs), Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies, 2), Layne Morgan (NSW Waratahs, 15), Trilleen Pomare (Western Force, 21), Cecilia Smith (Queensland Reds, 8), Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs, 5), *Melanie Wilks (Queensland Reds), Ivania Wong (Queensland Reds, 11), Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies, 3),
*uncapped
The Wallaroos’ Fixtures
Second O’Reilly Cup Match
30 September v Black Ferns, FMG Stadium, Waikato
WXV
20 October, v England, Sky Stadium, Wellington
28 October v France, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
3 November, v Wales, Go Media Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
