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Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard returns to Western Force’s First XV

Michaela Leonard poses with team mates during an Australian Wallaroos captain's run at Sydney Grammar School on May 10, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard returns to the Western Force’s starting side as the tourists prepare to take on both Yokogawa Musashino Artemi Stars and Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix in 40-minute matches in Japan on Saturday.

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Leonard recently led the Wallaroos to a historic WXV 2 title in South Africa. Jo Yapp’s Australian side got the better of Wales in their opening fixture before later beating tournament hosts South Africa and finally Scotland in the title decider.

Alapeta Ngauamo is another Wallaroos who bolsters the Force’s forward pack after being named at tighthead prop. New recruit Loretta Mailangi has also been named to start at hooker, with Braxton Walker rounding out the front row.

Rosie Ebbage joins Leonard in the middle row, while Topaz Jean Porter, Nami Dickson and Brooklyn Teki-Joyce make up the loose forwards. On the bench – with this being a 24-woman squad – keep an eye out for Australia international Sera Naiqama.

In the backs, Nicole Ledington comes into the First XV at halfback. Ledington joins vice-captain Grace Freeman In the halves, while Ngamihi Monk and Ocean Tuhua will link in the Western Force’s midfield.

Wests Scarborough winger Tizanae Kovacs has earned her first start of the Force’s Japan tour on the left edge, while 2024 ACT Women’s Player of the Year April Downey will start on the right. Sheree Hume has been named to wear the No. 15 jersey as the starting fullback.

The Force will take on Artemi Stars from 1:30 pm WST before facing the Phoenix from 2:25 pm WST. Last Sunday, the Force went down swinging 27-24 in a standalone fixture against the Phoenix, so they’ll be out to make amends in their in the final clash of their three-game tour.

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Western Force team for Sunday

  1. Braxton Walker
  2. Loretta Mailangi
  3. Alapeta Ngauamo
  4. Michaela Leonard
  5. Rosie Ebbage
  6. Topaz Jean Porter
  7. Nami Dickson
  8. Brooklyn Teki-Joyce
  9. Nicole Ledington
  10. Grace Freeman (vc)
  11. Tizanae Kovacs
  12. Ngamihi Monk
  13. Ocean Tuhua
  14. April Downey
  15. Sheree Hume

Replacements

  1. Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (c)
  2. Hannah Pelelei
  3. Allana Sikimeti
  4. Zoe Elliott
  5. Sera Naiqama
  6. Tamika Jones
  7. Georgia Cormick
  8. Cecilia Smith
  9. Leilani Hills
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I
IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
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