‘Have to practice’: Wallaroos set to sing national anthem in Indigenous language
The Wallaroos will wear their First Nations jersey against the Black Ferns, and sing the national anthem in the Yugambeh language – representing one of the local Indigenous peoples.
For the second time in as many Test matches, New Zealand-born playmaker Carys Dallinger is working hard off the field to learn another national anthem.
Dallinger has been named to start at flyhalf in the Wallaroos’ “nerve-wracking” Pacific Four and O’Reilly Cup openers against the Black Ferns this week.
Like many of her countrymen and women, Dallinger grew up dreaming of that black jersey.
The prospect of one day playing for the Black Ferns fuelled the young No. 10, who starred for Hurricanes Poua in Super Rugby Aupiki. But things have worked a little bit differently.
Dallinger, 23, will play in a Black Ferns Test match on Thursday at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium in Queensland, but it won’t be for the reigning Rugby World Cup champions.
After making her international debut last month for the Wallaroos, Dallinger is – at least on the rugby field – an Aussie.
“Quite nerve-wracking but also really excited at the same time,” Dallinger told RugbyPass, as reported earlier this week.
“There’s a lot of mixed emotions because a lot of them are my friends and I’ve grown up playing with them.
“You’ve got to play the best to be the best so I’m excited for that challenge.
“Just fortunate enough to be picked for the Wallaroos and give this a go… international footy is the goal at the end of the day.
“I always just had an inkling that I was going to end up in Aussie.
“You’re sort of tied to New Zealand chasing that black jersey dream, then just a few setbacks and Aussie has been calling my name for a long time.
“I always knew I was going to end up here, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be playing rugby, I just happened to fall into his quite fortunately and here we are riding the wave.”
Chasing her “goal” of playing international rugby, Dallinger could’ve lined up for three traditional heavyweights of the sport.
Of course, Dallinger could’ve played for the Black Ferns – the rising star was born in Rotorua. But the 23-year-old was also eligible for Australia and England.
Dallinger impressed in the No. 10 jersey for eventual runners-up the Queensland Reds in Super W this season, which clearly caught the attention of Wallaroos selectors.
The Kiwi was preparing to return to New Zealand when her flights were put on hold
An international call-up beckoned.
After officially joining the Australian national team, the hard work didn’t stop – both on the field and off it.
While Dallinger looked cool, calm and collected during an inter-squad opposed session on the Gold Coast last week, the young playmaker opened up about a challenge she faced on debut.
“Trying to get the national anthem right was one,” Dallinger said while laughing. “There was a lot of pressure on that one, a few giggles from the sidelines.”
Now, ahead of Test number two, Dallinger is having to learn another one.
“There’s a lot of banter going around about me learning the Australian National Anthem and practising it the night before the game.
“Finally got that national anthem down and then I got word that we are learning the Indigenous national anthem and have to practice that one.
“I’ll be practising that one for the game.”
The Wallaroos host world champions New Zealand in a highly anticipated trans-Tasman clash at Kayo Stadium north of Brisbane, Queensland, on Thursday evening.
Comments on RugbyPass
So….who is Andy Goode?
41 Go to commentsEngland had to bed in their new defensive system while challenging for the 6N. The schedule allowed them to try and focus on defense for first 3 matches and then target Ireland (the pre tournament target match). A win in France would be a bonus.
1 Go to commentsJust from watching the highlights there was plenty to like and plenty to build on. Some of these boys will be Super players soon and they will benefit from the exposure. Sounds like the coaches have made a good connection with these young men.
3 Go to commentsDont know if the Irish players said it or not, but lets all be honest with ourselves, and hopefully both the Irish and French have healed by now, the Media did jump the gun, be realistic, according to 90% of the media it was a France and Ireland final, and the media had 1 of them winning the world cup, not even mentioning the All blacks? Just remember world cups are different, Australia was not the most in form cricket tean in the last cricket world cup, but they have a nack of winning when it matters. I wont go into whether what Etzabeth is saying is true, all I am saying is that its very easy for a team to get ahead of themselves due to the media. Nothing wrong with it, the media got the springboks over confident against England and we nearly lost that one.
41 Go to commentsHey Finn, Well done to the Junior Wallabies…a win is a win but it was a wet and scrappy game. Would be interesting to hear your opinion on two things from watching the game at the Not So Sunny Coast Stadium. Firstly, what is your opinion on the rule change of being able to call The Mark from a kick off and what is the reason for the change? Secondly, your thoughts on the lack of action for the high tackle on the SA fullback. I understand the TMO ruled that he had fallen into the tackle and the tackler didn’t have time to adjust but it was clearly shoulder on head and the Aussie 11 had not made any attempt to adjust his tackle height leading into the tackle. In my opinion he was never going to get his tackle technique correct to complete a safe tackle. If that tackle was made at a more senior and more scrutinised level would we have seen the same result?
2 Go to commentsI don’t think this has been ventilated enough. Discuss. Perhaps the lessons in all of this is that, in the game of life, one should do all the talking on the field of play. And in the game of rugby, what’s said on the field - stays on the field. Take care of yourselves. And each other.
41 Go to commentsLow skills compared to the Junior ABs. The ball handling and ball retention of the SAns in particular was utterly woeful. The latter will be better on home turf.
2 Go to comments1. Heard this so often over the yrs. One Warriors CEO even claimed future kids wouldnt know which came first, the ABs or the Warriors. Always keen to talk themselves up. 2. That fella Barakat who says he will drop HBHS sponsorship because HBHS quite rightly wants its players to focus on rugby is an odd fit as a sponsor in the first place. As a recruitment official for the Warriors he seems to regard his sponsorship as a paid licence to help to select players from HBHS for the league side. Maybe he should find a league school to fund.
1 Go to commentsNZ U20s are the team to beat this year for sure. And how nice after so long that NZRFU is actually taking this seriously. For far too long they have been sending woefully coached and woefully underprepared teams to the U20 WCs. That Wrampling boy is a star in the making.
3 Go to commentsI agree ..come on keyboard warriors and journalists looking for a cheap win ….. only 2 mins to go 12 points down …this DID NOT decide the game and beside JM was hit after the whistle and in response it was a pat on the back of the head …harmless ….watch soccer if this is your issue
4 Go to commentsRest is for namby pamby sissies, I see. True men should overcome their trifling injuries by playing week in, week out. Bidwell’s stance reminds me of a Jon Gadsby character from the 70s, a rugby captain giving an after-match speech: “It was a very physical contest. One of our players caught a boot on the back of his head in a ruck, and he died, actually. But to his credit, he played on.”
1 Go to commentsI still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
3 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
41 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
41 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
41 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
41 Go to comments