Super Rugby Women's Round 2 preview: From season-defining to getting off the mark

This week there are, for different reasons, three interesting games as Super Rugby Women is back for week two..

Brumbies vs Rebels

Friday is the ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at GIO Stadium, with both sides coming off a loss. This match may be their best opportunity to earn a win. Cutting to the chase, the Brumbies should win. Last season the Brums did it 30-23. If the Brumbies forwards can get some dominance, then fly-half Faitala Moleka can do her thing with feisty half-back partner Jay Huriwai. Brums fullback Ashlea Bishop is becoming a bit of a favourite, she is not big but is a smart footy player, runs well and has a bit of a boot on her.

On the wing for the Rebels is Samantha Treherne, it is good to see she is still playing. She adds some much-needed experience, having played for the Reds previously and she was in the Aussie Sevens squad.

Quick aside: is Rebel Ash Marsters the most versatile player in Australian rugby? Normally plays in the back row, played in the front row in Montpellier, ran out at 13 last week and 12 this week.

Drua vs Waratahs

Saturday is a bit of a blockbuster with the Waratahs men’s and women’s teams playing in Fiji for the first time. Interestingly, the men’s game is being played before the women’s match. So depending on the weather, the women should have a good crowd.

For both Tahs’ teams this game is arguably season-defining.

Last season the Fijian Drua and Tahs women each had a win, except the Fijian win was in the semi-final. No doubt this match will be a totally new experience for the Tahs. Hot, humid, maybe bucketing with rain and a noisy crowd. Who wins? Toss a coin. An unfortunate outcome of last week’s game was that Emily Chancellor went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Siokapesi Palu of the Brumbies. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Only a couple of changes to the Tahs pack. Kaitlan Leaney, back from her UK stint, is in the starting line-up with Sera Naiqama going to the bench. Leilani Nathan comes in for Chancellor, adding some handy size against the Drua. We need to make mention of flanker Skye Churchill who had an excellent match last week. There’s a bit of uncertainty about her – so much so, she hasn’t even made the squad list headshots on the Tahs website.

The only certainty about this game is that the Tahs women are going to be sore post-match.

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Force vs Reds

The final game is the Western Force vs Queensland Reds over in Perth. This could very well be a cracking game, they seem to be pretty equally matched. It is an important match for both teams to see where they are positioned. The Reds probably have the advantage in the backline, most have played for the Wallaroos.

Plus young gun Shalom Sauaso gets a start on the wing after an exciting and quality stint off the bench last week. No matter how good the backline is, it is the forwards who will be the make or break both teams, noting the Reds have had to rejig their back row due to a couple of injuries.

The Force have also made a couple of changes to their reserves bench. While the Reds have more experience in the backs, keep an eye on the Force’s 19-year-old half Samantha Wood, she looks a prospect and a half as does their 20-year-old fly-half Nicole Ledington – both are local WA products and both were in the Super Rugby Women’s Team of the Week.

Carys Dallinger of the Reds. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

For free-to-air viewers the Force vs Reds match is on 9GEM at 5pm AEDT on Saturday.

Super Rugby Women – All broadcast on Stan.

Fri, Mar 22, 2024, 5:05 PM AEDT GIO Stadium
ACT Brumbies Women vs Melbourne Rebels Women

Sat, Mar 23, 2024, 2:35 PM AEDT, Churchill Park, Lautoka
Fijian Drua Women vs NSW Waratahs Women

Sat, Mar 23, 2024, 5:05 PM AEDT, HBF Park, Perth
Western Force Women vs Queensland Reds Women