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The quiet skill fuelling success of Australia’s reshaped back-row
By Finn Morton at York Community Stadium, York
Australia’s new-look back-row has already made its mark at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, having proved themselves a lethal combination ahead of their third consecutive appearance together.
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With injured captain and flanker Siokapesi Palu sidelined with a foot injury, Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has turned to Piper Duck, Emily Chancellor and Tabua Tuinakauvadra as the starting loose forwards for matches against Wales in Sydney, and Samoa in Salford last weekend.
Chancellor was among the standouts in Australia’s 73-nil win over Samoa to start their Rugby World Cup campaign, with the co-captain making 27 stops in defence. Duck was also a workhorse, and the same can be said about Tuinakauvadra at No. 8.
Those three have been named to start against the USA in York on Saturday, in a Test that’s been built up as practically a quarter-final decider for both sides. If the Wallaroos beat their Pacific Four Series rivals, they’ll secure a place in the knockout rounds.
For the Wallaroos to get the job done, the back-row can be expected to have a major say, with Tabua standing out as one of the team’s best during the 2025 season to date. Duck is also a reliable enforcer, having captained the national side in the past.
“Us as a three work really well together,” Tuinakauvadra told reporters on Friday.
“Communication wise, I don’t think I’ve played with a back-row that is so concise in what they say and know what to say when you need it.
“We really worked together over the past few weeks to get where we are. It’s exciting to see where we’ll go.
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“I also look to [Palu] more than just an older mentor in terms of rugby. I do spend a lot of time with her off the field,” she added.
“I just know she’s there as a support for me and anything else she’s willing to support me with.”
While the Wallaroos have been fairly clear this week about focusing on themselves in the lead-up to this crunch clash, the back-row looms as a fierce battle in this Test, with the USA Eagles naming a strong trio.
With Georgia Perris-Redding out, coach Sione Fukofuka has shifted captain Kate Zackary from blindside flanker to openside. That has seen Fred Tafuna come into the run-on side in the No. 6 jersey, while Rachel Johnson is set to pack down at the back of the scrum.
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The USA’s forward pack has been a big talking point this week, with Hope Rogers regularly highlighted as a danger player for the Eagles. Rogers scored a hat-trick against the Wallaroos earlier this year, with the Australians beating the USA 27-19 in Canberra.
“We’re excited for the physicality. They’re a big pack and they really put their best foot forward in terms of who their threats are and set-piece and around the park,” Tuinakauvadra said.
“Just knowing that us as a pack, we’ve been working really hard to stop whatever they can throw at us and to put our best foot forward.”
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