How SVNS stars have given Wallaroos confidence before Black Ferns Test

Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona has highlighted the impact some Australia Sevens stars have had on the side, who are chasing a first-ever win over the Black Ferns in an O’Reilly Cup Test this weekend.

Australia will field multiple players with HSBC SVNS Series experience on Saturday afternoon, in what will be the 100^th Test in Wallaroos history. Tia Hinds and Maya Stewart feature in the starting side, while the likes of Bienne Terita and Maddison Levi will add impact off the bench.

Hinds made the switch to Super Rugby Women’s ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup in the UK, and the playmaker is now set to start in the halves alongside teenager Waiaria Ellis, who has spent some time training with the national sevens squad.

Stewart is a prolific try-scorer in XVs, and that game-breaking ability was showcased on the SVNS Series during the 2026 campaign. Terita and Levi are household names on the world’s premier sevens circuit, with the latter winning the 2024 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year.

The Wallaroos have played 30 Tests against the Black Ferns dating back to September 1994, but the New Zealanders have won every time. But there’s a sense of confidence about the Aussie group this week, with the injection of sevens players already providing significant.

“They are no foreigners to this level… it gives confidence to the rest of the team knowing that there is going to be an extra level of speed, skill,” Palu Sekona told reporters.

“It’s just how they can compliment the game that we’ve been building.

“It just comes back to the individual in terms of belief. The sevens girls have been in a space where they have beaten that New Zealand side. It’s just up to us to make sure we piggyback off that success.

“It’s a slate for us to rewrite our history that we’ve had from them. We’ve got the injection of those girls who’ve already been in that space, so it’s just up to the individuals to make sure we jump on board.”

Levi starred as the Australia Sevens side took out the HSBC SVNS World Championship, with the season coming down to the very last match. The SVNS phenom crossed for a double as the Aussies powered past regular season champions New Zealand in Bordeaux.

It’s the second time in three seasons that the Australia Women’s Sevens side have taken out the top prize on the circuit, having also emerged victorious at the 2024 SVNS Grand Final at Madrid’s Civitas Metropolitano.

Levi is in line to debut for the Wallaroos off the bench, set to wear the golden No. 23 jumper at Go Media Stadium this weekend. The 24-year-old hasn’t played any Super Rugby Women’s and comes from an AFLW background, but still appears ready for the opportunity ahead.

“Her curiosity and [willingness] to learn has been unreal throughout the week,” Palu Sekona said of Levi.

“She’s constantly asking questions with coaches and her teammates. She’s got great comms and chat around the field. We know what she can bring, we’re going to create that space and hopefully when she comes on, she’ll really amplify the game.”

The Wallaroos were beaten 40-5 by the Black Ferns during the Pacific Four Series earlier this year, before players split off into their Super Rugby Women’s squad. NSW Waratahs secured a three-peat, before falling to the Blues 24-17 in the Champions Final.

Players reassembled for Wallaroos camp last week, before jetting off to Auckland for the second O’Reilly Cup Test. The Black Ferns were crowned Pac Four champions and are unbeaten all-time against the Wallaroos, but the visitors are out to make history.

“There’s a lot of excitement across the group,” the captain added.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence going into this, knowing that the lead-up here has been a different space to navigate, but we’ve done really well to connect both on and off the field.”