Wallaroos v Fijiana

[Burgs]

Thu, Jul 4, 2024, 2:49 PM
Nathan Williamson

The Wallaroos' clash with Fiji will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport and the Nine Network

Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 2:30 pm WST with kickoff expected at 2:45 pm WST.

The Wallaroos v Fiji match will also be shown on free-to-air, with coverage on 9Gem beginning at 2:30 pm WST.

Wallaroos

1. Brianna Hoy
2. Tania Naden
3. Eva Karpani
4. Kaitlan Leaney
5. Michaela Leonard (c)
6. Atasi Lafai
7. Leilani Nathan
8. Piper Duck
9. Layne Morgan
10. Arabella McKenzie
11. Desiree Miller
12. Cecilia Smith
13. Georgina Friedrichs
14. Biola Dawa*
15. Lori Cramer

16. Tiarna Molloy
17. Allana Sikimeti**
18. Bridie O'Gorman
19. Siokapesi Palu
20. Lydia Kavoa**
21. Natalie Wright**
22. Trilleen Pomare
23. Faitala Moleka

* Debut
** Potential Debut

Fijiana

1. Bitila Tawake
2. Keleni Marawa
3. Tiana Robakadavu
4. Mereoni Nakesa
5. Asinate Serevi
6. Nunia Daunimoala
7. Sulita Waisega
8. Kara Naisewa
9. Evivi Senikarivi
10. Jeniffer Ravutia
11. Adita Millinia
12. Liti Lawedrau
13. Atelaite Buna
14. Merewairita Neivosa
15. Luisa Tisolo

16. Litia Marama
17. Loraini Senivutu
18. Vika Mararugu
19. Doreen Narokete
20. Ema Adivitaloga
21. Setaita Railumu
22. Salanieta Kinita
23. Repeka Tove

Four debutants included as Wallaroos confirm side for Fijiana Test

Thu, Jul 4, 2024, 8:58 AM
Nathan Williamson

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has named four fresh faces for Saturday’s clash with Fijiana in Sydney.

Brumbies winger Biola Dawa comes onto the wing, set to make her starting debut.

Tickets to Saturday's Wallaroos-Wallabies double-header in Sydney available here!

It comes after a hamstring injury to Maya Stewart during the build-up, ruling out the impressive flyer.

Waratahs lock Kaitlan Leaney returns to the side in the second row, the lone change to the starting pack.

Leaney’s inclusion shifts Atasi Lafai to blindside flanker, with Siokapesi Palu named on the reserves alongside potential debutants and Brumbies team-mates Allana Sikimeti and Lydia Kavoa.

Layne Morgan starts at scrum half alongside NSW halves partner Arabella McKenzie following the injury to Sam Wood (back).

McKenzie is set to play her 25th Test for the Wallaroos alongside reigning Wallaroos Player of the Year Eva Karpani.

Experienced fullback Lori Cramer slots back into the starting side, having missed their last Test against New Zealand.

Queensland Reds teammate Nat Wright is in line for her debut off the bench, with the former Sevens star set to provide scrum half coverage.

Wright is joined by Trilleen Pomare and Faitala Moleka as the back reserves, with the Australians hunting for their first win of the season.

“It’s been nice to be back in Sydney and the players are working hard to put in a good performance against Fiji on Saturday," Yapp said in a statement.

“Our team has been building well and we are looking forward to seeing how they go.

“We have four debutants and I’d like to congratulate Allana, Biola, Lydia and Nat on selection ahead of their first Test caps, and Eva and Arabella on their pending milestones.

“Maya Stewart and Ashley Marsters are both unavailable due to injury.”

The Test match will feature as part of a double header with the Wallabies-Wales clash on Saturday night in Sydney, with all Wallaroos home Tests live, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport."

[Burgs]

ANALYSIS: Golden Sydney night sets Test sides on course in crucial international season.

Sun, Jul 7, 2024, 3:10 PM
Nathan Williamson

ANALYSIS: Saturday’s double victory for the Wallabies and Wallaroos held far more significant value than the scorelines will represent.

The double-header felt like a new chapter in Australian Rugby as the teams took steps forward with their respective Jo/Joe’s following breaking bread during the week and taking part in a combined photo.

Sydney hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Australian Rugby in the past years, even extending to the ever-conquering Sevens side in 2023.

The Wallabies hadn't won in the Harbour City since 2019, with the Wallaroos falling 33-14 to Canada earlier in the year.

Therefore with just under 36,000 in attendance, victory was pivotal for both sides and they delivered in two vastly different methods.

The Wallaroos delivered a perfect 80 minutes and a ruthless attacking performance that only shone in patches in their opening three games of the Pacific Four series.

Past Australian sides have built leads and taken the foot off the gas but the work-rate of Piper Duck and the forward pack wasn’t going to let that happen as they raced past the 50 mark and kicked clear with ease.

Desiree Miller was excellent on the edge with a quartet of tries, accompanied by playmakers Cecilia Smith, Georgina Friedrichs and Trileen Pomare off the bench.

Yapp’s side is one step down the line from Schmidt’s, past the ‘rapidly come together for a trio of Tests’ stage, and the attacking identity that the English legend is looking to implement was on full display.

They produced a similar win against the USA last year but it’s amplified on home soil with the attention growing on women’s Rugby with the Olympics and next year’s World Cup on the horizon.

“It’s one thing to have little girls come and look up toys because we didn’t have that when we were younger but even the boys coming up and asking for autographs and photos, it’s just really special,” Miller said after the game.

"It shows we’re a motivator for both sexes and all genders. We even have a staff member’s son who says ‘Oh there’s boy Wallaroos’ when he flipped over the team sheet.

“It’s really special to know that we’re seen as equal and building together as a country and one club.”

They have the chance to have a free swing against New Zealand next week at Ballymore, with September’s WXV 2 the big goal. They’ll enter the tournament as one of the favourites and they must back up this tag against tough opposition to not only build confidence but their reputation as a team to watch at the 2025 World Cup.