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Wallaroos captain reflects on Black Ferns’ success with sevens stars
By Finn Morton
Following Rugby Australia’s significant sevens announcement earlier this month, Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard has reflected on the success of the Black Ferns’ code-hoppers during the team’s triumphant run to the Women’s Rugby World Cup title two years ago.
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Australia and New Zealand share fierce rivalries in all sports, and that includes the women’s game in rugby union. While the Black Ferns have long dominated the head-to-head battles between the neighbouring nations, the Wallaroos look forward to these Tests every year.
As has been the case in the men’s game, New Zealand have been one of the teams to beat on the international stage practically forever. They will go into next year’s World Cup in England as the defending champions, with the Black Ferns taking out the title on home soil in 2022.
Black Ferns Sevens stars Stacey Waaka, Theresa Setefano, Sarah Hirini and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe had all switched codes, and the world-class quartet all made their mark during that tournament as the New Zealanders sent the Eden Park crowd into a frenzy.
Rugby Australia announced earlier this month that nine players from the sevens side would link with Super Rugby Women’s clubs in a bid to make the Wallaroos’ squad for the showpiece event – including World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Maddison Levi.
Levi sisters Maddison and Tegan, Charlotte Caslick, Isabella Nasser, Khali Henwood, Saraiah Paki, Demi Hayes, Tia Hinds and Bienne Terita have all committed, and that’s left Leonard feeling positive, optimistic and excited about what that could mean for the Wallaroos.
“I think not only the Black Ferns but a lot of the other nations as well have incorporated both their 15s and sevens programs quite well,” Leonard told RugbyPass during a 20-minute interview the day after Rugby Australia’s announcement.
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“You do see a lot of change from year to year with those players coming in and out of the environment… just how well it worked for New Zealand at the last World Cup and how much influence and impact those girls had.
“It definitely shows the excitement that it can add and the benefit it can bring to a team. Even looking back at the World Cup for us, Bienne Terita being part of that environment, Sharni Smale… they brought an incredible element to our game as well and our ability to play and their leadership and professionalism was really good for our group.
“I think it’s definitely a positive… other teams have shown that and shown how successful it can make a group and I have no doubt that whatever mix we end up with for next year will be a group of incredible athletes and phenomenal athletes.
“It’s exciting to be able to choose that group of players from the best available athletes that want to put their hand up and want to compete to be there.”
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The Levi sisters, three-time Olympian Caslick, sevens captain Nasser and recent SVNS Series debutant Nasser have all joined the Queensland Reds for pre-season at Ballymore. Paki is the only sevens star off to the NSW Waratahs, while the other three have signed with the Brumbies.
It’s understood these nine women will all have the opportunity to play up to two matches for their SR Women’s clubs during a four week break between SVNS Stops in March. Those two events on the Series are in Vancouver and then Hong Kong China.
While it remains to be seen if any of these sevens stars end up making Jo Yapp’s Wallaroos, captain Leonard is especially excited to see how Teagan Levi goes – the youngster sister of Maddison, who was one of the most searched rugby players in the world this year.
“It is a tough one because as you mentioned they are really quite different games in terms of space, in terms of tactical approach. Even though some of those skillsets, the fundamental skillsets, are there and similar, the way that we implement is so different,” Leonard explained.
“Personally I’m really excited to see how Teagan Levi comes across and transitions and how she works in the 15s side of the game as potentially more of a game-driver… I think that’d be an interesting one to see.
“[Maddi] is an incredible finisher, she’s shown incredible talent on the edges in getting over the line, showing physicality in her carries. I think she’ll be really exciting to see too, coming in with a little bit less space to work; potentially a little bit more front-on physicality in the 15s game.
“To see how that competes and how players like her and [Desiree Miller] and [Maya Stewart] can challenge each other and grow from each other and work together to improve their game in that way.”
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