Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has made several changes for the crucial Pacific Four clash against New Zealand’s Black Ferns in Auckland on Saturday.
Yapp has lost Ashley Marsters with an ankle injury for a game the Australians must win with a bonus point to qualify for the WXV1 in October. The Aussies have a terrible record against New Zealand and lost their most recent clash 50-0 last year.
The Wallaroos have lost both their games of the series so far – to Canada and the United States, while the Black Ferns were surprisingly on the end of a 22-19 defeat to Canada last Sunday.
Queensland Reds captain Cecilia Smith comes in for her first match of the series with Atasi Lafai and Leilani Nathan set to start in the forwards, shifting Kaitlan Leaney and Trilleen Pomare to the reserves.
Caitlyn Halse, 17, retains her spot at fullback after making her debut last week with Lori Cramer dropping out of the squad and Tabua Tuinakauvadra the new face on the bench.
Michaela Leonard is set to play her 25th Test in a career milestone for the Wallaroos captain.
“While the first two results against Canada and USA have not been what we were after, the team has come together well and have shown some good learnings and progressions,” Yapp said in a statement.
“We’ve had a really good week of training in Auckland and I am excited to see how the team performs against the Black Ferns.”
Following the Pacific Four series, the Wallaroos will shift their attention to two Test matches in July against Fijiana (July 6) at Allianz Stadium and the Black Ferns (July 14) at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane.
The Black Ferns named their 23 with the inclusion of experienced campaigners Alana Bremner and Renee Holmes.
Tighthead prop Amy Rule gets her her first start of the series and combining with Chryss Viliko and Georgia Ponsonby in the front row.
Lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos will combine with the experienced Bremner, who is in line to play her 20th Test in the Black Ferns jersey, her first start at lock.
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u will shift back to the blindside making way for Kaipo Olsen-Baker to start at No.8, with loose forward Layla Sae set to make an impact off the bench this weekend.
In the backline, Hurricanes halves combination of Iritana Hohaia and Hannah King earn their first Test starts of the season. The midfield combination of Sylvia Brunt and Amy du Plessis survives alongside left winger Katelyn Vahaakolo. Mererangi Paul will shift to the right wing, with Renee Holmes named to start at fullback.
Marcelle Parkes makes her Black Ferns return for the first time since 2019, as loosehead prop. Halfback Maia Joseph and Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant will add
powerful forward pack will take the field with tighthead prop Amy Rule earning her first start of the series and combining with Chryss Viliko and Georgia Ponsonby in the front row. In-form lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos will combine with the experienced Alana Bremner, who is in line to play her 20th Test in the Black Ferns jersey, her first start at lock. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u will shift back to the blindside making way for Kaipo Olsen-Baker to start at number eight, with loose forward Layla Sae set to make an impact off the bench this weekend.
In the backline, Hurricanes Poua halves combination of Iritana Hohaia and Hannah King earn their first Test starts of the season. The relentless midfield combination of Sylvia Brunt and Amy du Plessis remain, alongside left winger Katelyn Vahaakolo. Mererangi Paul will shift to the right wing, with Renee Holmes named to start at fullback.
Marcelle Parkes makes her Black Ferns return for the first time since 2019, as loosehead prop. Halfback Maia Joseph and Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant will start on the bench with new midfielder Grace Steinmetz.
WALLAROOS TEAM LIST
1. Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs) – 5 caps
2. Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies) – 12 caps
3. Eva Karpani (NSW Waratahs) – 23 caps
4. Michaela Leonard (c) (Western Force) – 24 caps
5. Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs) – 11 caps
6. Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies) – 8 caps
7. Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs) – 4 caps
8. Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs) – 12 caps
9. Samantha Wood (Western Force) – 2 caps
10. Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs) – 23 caps
11. Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs) – 4 caps
12. Cecilia Smith (Queensland Reds) – 12 caps
13. Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs) – 21 caps
14. Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs) – 10 caps
15. Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs) – 1 cap
Reserves
16. Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (Western Force) – 2 caps
17. Sally Fuesaina (ACT Brumbies) – 2 caps
18. Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs) – 19 caps
19. Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs) – 17 caps
20. Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies) – 5 caps
21. Layne Morgan (NSW Waratahs) – 21 caps
22. Trilleen Pomare (Western Force) – 26 caps
23. Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies) – 8 caps
BLACK FERNS TEAM LIST
Black Ferns team to play Australia is (Test caps in brackets);
1. Chryss Viliko (4)
2. Georgia Ponsonby (22)
3. Amy Rule (21)
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23)
5. Alana Bremner (19)
6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (20)
7. Kennedy Simon (co-captain) (22)
8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker (4)
9. Iritana Hohaia (8)
10. Hannah King (1)
11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (8)
12. Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt (15)
13. Amy du Plessis (16)
14. Mererangi Paul (7)
15. Renee Holmes (16)
16. Luka Connor (22)
17. Marcelle Parkes (5)
18. Aldora Itunu (25)
19. Charmaine Smith (31)
20. Layla Sae (5)
21. Maia Joseph (2)
22. Ruahei Demant (co-captain) (35)
23. Grace Steinmetz (2)
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