‘If it’s not pretty…’: Wallaroos’ mindset for crucial USA World Cup clash

With a spot in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals up for grabs, the mission is clear for Australia this week. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but as long as the Wallaroos get the job done against the USA in York, then they’ll consider this week a big success.

Australia made the quarter-finals at the last World Cup in New Zealand, bowing out after with a one-sided loss to eventual finalists England. Three years on, and with a different coach at the helm, the Wallaroos have their sights set on the knockouts once again.

Coach Jo Yapp helped lead the Wallaroos to their first trophy in team history, taking out WXV 2 in South Africa last October. Australia has since beaten Fiji, the USA and Wales – playing seven Tests before the World Cup got underway last week.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

2

Draws

1

Wins

2

Average Points scored

26

31

First try wins

20%

Home team wins

60%

The Wallaroos set a new team record for the biggest win a World Cup with their 73-nil triumph over Samoa in Salford. That was the first job done for the women in gold, who can secure a spot in the quarters with a win over one of their Pacific Four Series rivals, the USA.

If the Australians get the job done and England defeat Samoa, then the two victors would have done enough to make the next stage with a week to go in pool play. But if the Wallaroos lose, then the USA Women’s Eagles will be in the box seat heading into round three.

“The difference this week is it’s all about the win,” Yapp told reporters on Thursday.

“If it’s not pretty, that’s okay, but it’s about getting the win this week and we know that.”

Yapp has made four changes to Australia’s matchday 23 that beat Samoa, including a personnel change up front with Tania Naden replacing Katalina Amosa at hooker. Amosa will instead come off the bench, while Adiana Talakai drops out of the 23 altogether.

Lydia Kavoa, Annabelle Codey and Trilleen Pomare have also been called into the playing squad. The selection of Pomare is significant, with four of the players selected on the bench boasting at least 38 Tests of experience – with Pomare having played 40 matches already.

Injured captain Siokapesi Palu has not been named to return in this quasi-knockout fixture, with the backrower still sidelined with a foot injury. Yapp remains confident in the backrow of Piper Duck, Emily Chancellor and Tabua Tuinakauvadra who start again this week.

“We always wanted the potential for her to be back for this game in case, for example, we picked up a knock in the first couple weeks of training or in the Samoa game,” Yapp explained when asked about Palu.

“But as everyone has come through fit and are rugby fit and ready, and Pesi is really team first and we had a really good conversation about it.

“She completely gets it. She’s still there supporting the team as a leader and as a person. Having her in camp has been really valuable.”

This is also a momentous match for second rower Michaela Leonard, who is set to become just the third Wallaroo to play 40 Tests in the gold jersey. Pomare and Ashley Marsters – both on the bench – have also reached that mark.

Leonard is a former skipper of the national team, but Chancellor and Kaitlan Leaney will lead the Wallaroos as co-captains for the second Test in a row. Yapp was full of compliments for Leonard, who is a trailblazer of women’s rugby in Australia.

“That’s really impressive. For Mac, she’s an incredibly professional athlete. She’s always doing the extras, she looks after he body really well, she’s always staying out doing her catching,” the coach said.

“She’s just a really professional athlete in her approach to everything. That has then allowed her to achieve what she’s achieving this weekend.”