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Wallaroos ready to ‘stamp our mark’ against champion Black Ferns
Lock Michaela Leonard will captain the Wallaroos for the first time later this week when Australia host Rugby World Cup champions New Zealand in Redcliffe.
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Head coach Jay Tregonning has confirmed the matchday 23 to take on the reigning world champions in the Wallaroos’ opening match of both the Pacific Four Series and the O’Reilly Cup.
With captain Piper Duck still out – with the Waratahs backrower sustaining an injury blow during Super W – Leonard has been given the captaincy for the first time in a Test match.
The Western Force lock will lead the team out onto Kayo Stadium in Queensland on Thursday evening, and Waratahs centre Georgina Friedrichs will take up the role of vice-captain.
“The energy has been really positive during our first week of camp,” Leonard said.
“The girls are eager for the opportunity to start our Pacific Four campaign off against the Rugby World Cup champions, the Black Ferns.
“Playing on home soil is always special, and gives us a chance to stamp our mark on the tournament before we head off to Canada.”
Three different Super W clubs will be represented in the Wallaroos’ starting front row, with Reds prop Bree-Anna Cheatham set to pack down alongside Brumbies hooker Tania Naden and Waratahs tighthead Eva Karpani.
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Captain Leonard will run out in the No. 4 jersey, and will be joined by Queensland Reds lock Annabelle Codey in the second row.
Kaitlan Leaney has been named for her first Test match of the year after a successful stint with Harlequins in England. Leaney replaces the retired Shannon Parry in the Wallaroos’ backrow.
Leaney joins the experienced duo of Ashley Marsters and Grace Hamilton in a formidable backrow trio.
Waratahs halfback Layne Morgan will start in the halves alongside New Zealand-born playmaker Carys Dallinger, who has retained her spot in the No. 10 jersey.
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Reds duo Ivania Wong and Cecilia Smith will take their place in the backs alongside Waratahs pair Georgina Friedrichs and electric winger Maya Stewart. Fullback Faitala Moleka will add to her one-Test cap on Thursday.
The Wallaroos have also named a strong bench, including Emily Chancellor and Arabella McKenzie – with both players also returning from overseas duty with Harlequins.
“We’re looking forward to going up against the world champions,” coach Jay Tregonning said in a statement.
“I’ve been impressed by Kaitlan Leaney, Emily Chancellor and Arabella McKenzie, who have developed their skills during their time with the Harlequins in England.
“The squad has continued to grow and learn in the wake of our win in Sydney earlier this year – now it’s time to test that knowledge.”
The match between the Wallaroos and Black Ferns will get underway at 7.00 pm AEST on Thursday at Kayo Stadium in Moreton Bay, Queensland.
Wallaroos team to take on Black Ferns
- Bree-Anna Cheatham
- Tania Naden
- Eva Karpani
- Michaela Leonard (c)
- Annabelle Codey
- Kaitlan Leaney
- Ashley Marsters
- Grace Hamilton
- Layne Morgan
- Carys Dallinger
- Ivania Wong
- Cecilia Smith
- Georgina Friedrichs
- Maya Stewart
- Faitala Moleka
Replacements:
- Madison Schuck
- Emily Robinson
- Bridie O’Gorman
- Sera Naiqama
- Emily Chancellor
- Jasmin Huriwai
- Arabella McKenzie
- Alana Elisaia
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
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