Injury blow: Waratahs skipper Piper Duck ruled out of Grand Final

NSW Waratahs captain Piper Duck will miss this weekend’s Super Rugby Women’s Grand Final against the Queensland Reds. Duck has been ruled out with a shoulder injury, which the backrower picked up during the semi-final win over the Western Force in Sydney.

Duck led the Tahs for a majority of the season but will watch on from the sideline as the women in sky blue chase back-to-back titles, having beaten the Fijian Drua 50-14 in last season’s decider at Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium.

Coach Mike Ruthven has made three changes to the starting side ahead of the big dance, with two of those forced due to injuries. Along with Duck, flanker Leilani Nathan has also been deemed unavailable with a severe knee injury.

Nicole Nathan – who is the sister of Leilani – comes into the run-on side at blindside flanker while Duck has been replaced by Ruby Anderson at No. 8. Rounding out the loose forwards, Emily Chancellor will start at openside and has been named captain.

“It’s hugely disappointing for both of them. Not just because they miss out on the Grand Final, but also due to the nature of their injuries,” Ruthven said in a statement.

“They’ve been enormous contributors this season, and we’re certainly thinking of them at the moment.

“Both players bring physicality in their own way,” Ruthven explained about Nathan and Anderson.

“When we look at the replacements, we wanted like-for-like in terms of the punch and presence that Piper and Leilani bring in both sides of the ball.

“Chancellor’s a great leader in her own right,” he added.

“It’s as seamless a transition in captaincy as you could find. She’ll lead the group well in her own way.”

Ruthven has made one other change to the run-on side with Caitlyn Halse set to wear the No. 15 jumper after impressing in her return from injury last weekend. Halse is joined by Wallaroos duo Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart in the outside backs.

Georgina Friedrichs has been retained at outside centre and joins Katrina Barker in the midfield for this match on Saturday afternoon. Tatum Bird starts at halfback and will link up with Wallaroo Arabella McKenze in the halves.

In the forwards, Bridie O’Gorman was always likely to start at loosehead prop. O’Gorman joins Adiana Talakai and Faliki Pohiva in the front row, while Kaitlan Leaney and Annabelle Codey are the locking duo.

After dropping their first match of the season to the Drua at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, the Tahs recovered to finish first on the ladder with a 3-1 record. The Reds finished two points back in second – their one loss coming to the Tahs in Brisbane.

Both the Tahs and Reds recorded clinical wins in the semi-finals, and they’ll be full of belief ahead of their shot at history on Saturday afternoon at North Sydney Oval. This Grand Final is scheduled to kick-off at 2:30 pm AEST.

“It’s an exciting week,” he added.

“This group has a huge amount of experience and talent.

“They’re used to playing in big matches, and we’ve stayed really focused on being performance-driven this year.

“That’s what we’re chasing on Saturday – a really strong performance.”

NSW Waratahs to take on Queensland Reds in Grand Final

1. Bridie O’Gorman
2. Adiana Talakai
3. Faliki Pohiva
4. Kaitlan Leaney
5. Annabelle Codey
6. Nicole Nathan
7. Emily Chancellor (c)
8. Ruby Anderson
9. Tatum Bird
10. Arabella McKenzie
11. Desiree Miller
12. Katrina Barker
13. Georgina Friedrichs (vc)
14. Maya Stewart
15. Caitlyn Halse

Reserves

16. Millie Parker
17. Emily Robinson
18. Seneti Kilisimasi
19. Jayjay Taylor
20. Anahera Hamahona
21. Martha Harvey
22. Jade Sheridan
23. Waiaria Ellis