Australia stalwart Michaela Leonard on how they can 'trouble' Black Ferns

Demotion to WXV 2 could have spelled disaster for the Wallaroos. Instead, Michaela Leonard believes Australia turned a page in the second tier of an 18-country, three-division competition they won in 2024.

In South Africa last September and October, Australia beat Wales (37-5), South Africa (33-26) and Scotland (31-22) to build palpable momentum heading into 2025 and a World Cup year. Last Saturday, Australia trounced Fiji 43-7 in Suva.

“Multiple games against countries we don’t play often was massive for us,” Leonard, who played all ten Tests for the Wallaroos last year, told RugbyPass.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

“We were exposed to new challenges and styles that we were unaccustomed to, forcing us to communicate, adapt, and trust each other more. We’ve built a stronger culture of compassion and competition. We want to play an exciting, winning brand of rugby.”

The Wallaroos start their Pacific Four campaign against the USA on Saturday 17th May, but before then, the Black Ferns come to town to compete in the O’Reilly Cup match in Newcastle on Saturday. Australia has never beaten New Zealand in 27 internationals stretching back to 1994. Last year, the Wallaroos were hammered 67-19 and 62-0.

Leonard debuted against the Black Ferns at Optus Stadium in Perth back in 2019. Australia was also beaten that day 47-10. In the opening match of the 2022 Rugby World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland, Australia was beaten by 24 points but memorably led 17-0 after 30 minutes.

“I can still see Bienne Terita running in for her two tries. She’s such a strong finisher with real confidence. The way Arabella McKenzie identified the space was awesome,” said the 33-time-capped international.

“Winning the collisions while moving the ball quickly and accurately to space troubles any team. We showed at Eden Park that night, we can do it. The challenge is to do it for longer.”

Australia has selected a combination of youth, established sevens talent, and experience in their bid to conquer the Black Ferns.

Loosehead prop Martha Fua is a converted centre who made a big impression in Super Rugby W for the Brumbies. She’ll play only her second Test alongside Eva Karpani, the redoubtable tighthead prop who scored two tries in WXV 2 and three in the Wallaroos’ famous French victory in Auckland in 2023. Emily Chancellor (24 Tests) returns from injury to bolster the back row.

In the backs, Tia Hinds will run the cutter from first five-eighth. ‘Dolly’ has won a Commonwealth Games gold medal and World Cup and World Series honours with the Aussie Sevens. Winger Desiree Miller scored three tries in the Waratahs Super Rugby W final win over the Reds in April and four for Australia in a 64-5 win against Fiji in July 2024. On the opposite wing resides Rio Olympics sevens gold-medalist Charlotte Caslick.

“Our Sevens players are world-class. They’ve been in a professional environment for a long time and bring a fitness, speed, awareness of space and worldiness that’s invaluable,” Lenoard said.

“The new faces from Super W bring freshness and increase depth, which creates competition for places.

“There is still some variability between players at a Super Rugby level and those who are internationals, but that gap is shrinking all the time with more resources and more games.”

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Watch Australia take on the Black Ferns in the O’Reilly Cup clash on Saturday 10th May, live and for free on the RugbyPass App.