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‘I love Quade Cooper’: NZ-born flyhalf reflects on opportunity to represent Australia
For New Zealand-born Carys Dallinger, playing for the Black Ferns has always been “the goal.” But, at 23 years of age, the flyhalf has sworn her international rugby allegiance to rivals Australia.
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Dallinger was sensational in the No. 10 jersey for the Queensland Reds in Super W this season, which included two clutch penalty goals in the thrilling semi-final win over the Brumbies in Sydney.
The flyhalf, who has also represented the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Aupiki, was set to return to New Zealand after the season – but instead, Dallinger received an intriguing phone call.
Before flying back to New Zealand as planned, Dallinger’s manager told her that her flights had been put on hold. As her manager explained, “I think you’re going to (Wallaroos) camp next week.”
That’s how the 23-year-old found out.
After receiving a phone call, Dallinger entered the Australian national set-up for the first time – and has been named to debut on Saturday.
Dallinger has been named as one of four potential debutants in the Wallaroo’s matchday 23 to take on the Fijiana at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Dallinger told reporters earlier this week.
“Dad was born here and then moved to New Zealand, and then my grandparents had another kid over in New Zealand. He lived here very briefly and we’ve all grown up in New Zealand. It was luck of the draw I guess.
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“The Black Jersey was the goal obviously growing up in New Zealand but at the end of the day, international rugby is where I need to be, it doesn’t matter where.
“I’ve come in and felt really connected. The girls and the coaches have made me feel at home. I’ve really found a home here.”
When Dallinger makes her Test debut on Saturday, the flyhalf will follow in the footsteps of one of her rugby idols.
Just like famous Wallaby Quade Cooper – who was born in Auckland – Dallinger will don Aussie gold on the international stage.
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“Quade Cooper is one of my favourite players, even before all of this stuff came about,” she added.
“I love Quade Cooper, both being 10s and both doing the same stuff. Love his side-step, love everything about him.
“He’s awesome.”
The Wallaroos will take on rivals the Black Ferns in Redcliffe next month, which could see Dallinger come up against some of her “friends” for the first time at Test level.
“I don’t know if I can quite put it into words because I haven’t thought too much about it. When I do think about it I get quite emotional because those are my friends and people I’ve grown up playing alongside.
“It’ll be quite different but I think you’ve got to play the best to be the best so it’ll be an experience in itself.”
The Wallaroos will take on Fiji at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium at 5.00pm AEST on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pls get it into your thick arrogant heads that the final was played by two Southern Hemisphere teams. The best against the best and that Argentina was just unlucky otherwise non of the Northetn Hemisphere teams would have seen the light of day.
124 Go to commentsAs long as New Zealand youth are involved in sport they are passionate for, and are well supported, it’s all good. I love league as well as rugby. NRL clubs have long since scouted the First 15 competitions, the NH and Japan scout super rugby and NPC. It’s a miracle there’s any players left for the all blacks to pick from.
4 Go to commentsI'm a Bok fan, so I don't say this lightly, but he is one of my all time favourite players. I am really going to miss watching him play. Thanks for many great memories. You are a true legend of the game.
3 Go to commentsBest way to deal with all of this is to play another game.
124 Go to commentsIt’s 12-15 games Luke. Ringrose has barely played in 2024 and Henshaw and Keenan have also been out for spells in the same time period. There are always injuries and for younger players to play with the likes of Barrett will be great for them. It’s just looking for negatives where there are none.
5 Go to commentsAndy Goode pushing his own agenda with very dubious considerations on refereeing performances. Luke Pearce speaking a bit of French doesn’t make him a good and adequate referee for the Champions Cup final; his latest refereeing performance in particular was not so great.
4 Go to commentsJordie knows that he has to earn the right to put on the jersey, whatever that jersey might be.
5 Go to commentsThe best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
3 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
4 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
124 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
3 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
4 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
4 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
124 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
4 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
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