Australia v Scotland
Bryan Easson has made wholesale changes to his starting side. That may be a reaction to a close game against their last opponents – a win over Japan 19-13 – but some of the starters show he is still looking beyond this 2024 WXV.
A prime example is Leia Brebner-Holden, who sends Caity Mattinson for a rare visit to the bench; and Eva Donaldson retains her No 8 slot at the expense of Jade Konkel, who was once the first name out of the hat. Chloe Rollie reaches an admirable 70 caps.
Brebner-Holden’s rise to prominence is also a credit to PWR clubs’ links with Championship teams, in this case the highly successful Cheltenham Tigers. They will be delighted. So will her mother from Inverness (just where Mattinson was born, if I remember correctly). It’s a small world.
Jo Yapp has spoken wise words about the growth of the Wallaroos under her guidance. The longer they are together, the closer their bonds become off the field, and that translates to more cohesion on it. She has made only two changes.
Ashley Marsters will become the most capped Roo of all with 33 appearances. Yapp resisted the temptation to recall Bella McKenzie to the side after her head knock. That wouldn’t have been in her best interests, and Faitala Moleka has made a very favourable impression at No 10.
Scotland are ranked higher than Australia, but that will count for little in the cut and thrust of a rare test match. There is a striking contrast though in the clubs the two sides represent. With Alex Stewart now counted out by an HIA, twenty-two Scots play for PWR clubs (Rachel McLachlan is with Montpellier).
The spread of unfamiliar club names in the Aussie set-up underlines the problems staffs have in assembling their squads for extended periods. But I’m not sure how well Gloucester-Hartpury or Saracens would get on against the Gropers from beyond Newcastle at Nelson Bay, NSW.
Scotland won the WXV2 title last year; they will be rather keen to retain it, but the Wallaroos have high ambitions too. A contest to grab your attention.
Teams
Australia
15 Caitlyn Halse (Southern Districts), 14 Maya Stewart (Nelson Bay Gropers), 13 Georgina Friedrichs (Wests Bulldogs), 12 Cecilia Smith (Leeton Dianas), 11 Desiree Miller (Eastern Suburbs), 10 Faitala Moleka (Blacktown Scorpions), 9 Layne Morgan (Merewether Carlton), 1 Bridie O’Gorman (Sydney University), 2 Tania Naden (Uni-North Owls), 3 Eva Karpani (Onkaparinga), 4 Kaitlan Leaney (CSU Marlins), 5 Michaela Leonard (Tuggeranong Vikings), 6 Siokapesi Palu (Rockdale Rangers), 7 Ashley Marsters (Booroondarra), 8 Tabua Tuinakauvadra (Tuggeranong Vikings)
16 Tiarna Molloy (Inverell Highlanders), 17 Sally Fuesaina (Campbeltown Harlequins), 18 Alapeta Ngauamo (Wests Bulldogs), 19 Atasi Lafai (Campbelltown Harlequins), 20 Lucy Dinnen (Wanneroo), 21 Samantha Wood (Kalamunda District), 22 Trilleen Pomare (Wanneroo), 23 Lori Cramer (University of Queensland).
Scotland:
15 Chloe Rollie (Trailfinders), 14 Coreen Grant (Saracens), 13 Emma Orr (Bristol Bears), 12 Lisa Thomson (Trailfinders), 11 Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers), 10 Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning), 9 Leia Brebner-Holden (Cheltenham Tigers/Gloucester-Hartpury); 1 Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers), 2 Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears), 3 Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears), 4 Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers), 5 Sarah Bonar (Harlequins),6 Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning), 7 Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier), 8 Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears).
16 Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning), 17 Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning), 18 Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning), 19 Louise McMillan (Saracens), 20 Jade Konkel (Harlequins), 21 Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders), 22 Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears), 23 Lucia Scott (Gloucester University/Gloucester Hartpury).
Fixture details:
Date: 12 October
Venue: Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.00 (local time); 16.00 (BST)
Coverage: Stan Sport in Australia; BBC iPlayer in the UK; rugbypass.tv elsewhere
