Source : ABC NEWS
The Wallaroos cannot be blamed if they are relishing the Sunshine Coast’s pleasant climate more than most.
Their visit to Queensland comes after they encountered tornado warnings and torrential rain during their two-Test tour of the United States as part of the Pacific Four Series.
Wild weather caused an almost 70-minute delay to the start time of the Wallaroos’ 24-0 defeat Canada at a water-logged in Sacramento.
Six days later, when they lost 33-12 to the US in Kansas City, the Australians did not walk off the pitch until well after midnight, with play delayed for two-and-a-half hours due to storms.
At one stage during their stop in Missouri, the players were instructed to move to hallways or stairwells and away from any windows at their hotel as a potential tornado threatened to wreak havoc.
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Since arriving back in Australia early Monday morning, the contrast in weather conditions has not gone unnoticed by the Wallaroos.
“It’s been great to have nice, clear weather and no tornado warnings,” a smiling interim Wallaroos coach Sam Needs said this week.
As much as they are enjoying the Sunshine Coast, the Wallaroos are not in Queensland for a holiday.
They play trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in a historic Test at Sunshine Coast Stadium in Kawana Waters on Saturday.
It will be the first time the two teams have met on Anzac Day.
The Wallaroos are more than aware of the daunting task they face, having never beaten the Black Ferns in 29 Tests.
“We’ve named a big pack, we know New Zealand is going to bring a lot of physicality,” Needs said.
“They’re going to be strong on both sides of the ball in the collision, and we need to make sure we can match that and try and get over the top of them in that area.”
Black Ferns in menacing form
The Black Ferns were also in the US contesting the Pacific Four Series.
The six-time world champions posted a 48-15 win over the hosts in Sacramento and defeated Canada 36-14 in Kansas City.
Comparing the Black Ferns and Wallaroos programs is unfair, as the New Zealanders progressively moved to full-time professionalism during the past decade.
Rugby Australia (RA) is yet to reach that point with the Wallaroos, although — earlier this week — CEO Phil Waugh reiterated a full-time Wallaroos program is one of his organisation’s ambitions.
A step forward is RA’s guarantee that the Wallaroos will play at least 10 Tests a season in the four-year cycle leading up to the 2029 Women’s rugby World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia.
The Black Ferns — pictured in their alternate jersey — were undefeated in the US. (Getty images: Ezra Shaw)
Closing the gap in international experience is vital for the Wallaroos, which Needs acknowledged when highlighting the Black Ferns are a Test-hardened unit.
“They’ve (Black Ferns) got a lot of experience there,” Needs said.
“They’ve got a lot of experience in big games as well.”
Needs made several changes to his starting XV to play the Black Ferns in the wake of the loss to the US last Saturday AEST.
Lock Michaela Leonard will play her 46th Test, which will see her become the most-capped player in Wallaroos history.
Lily Bone replaces Emily Chancellor at openside flanker to make her starting debut, while Faitala Moleka has shifted from fullback to fly half.
Waiaria Ellis moves to fullback after being included on the bench against the US.
Wallaroos squad to play Black Ferns: (1-15) Brianna Hoy, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Michaela Leonard, Tiarah Minns, Kaitlan Leaney, Lily Bone, Siokapesi Palu Sekona (c), Samantha Wood, Faitala Moleka, Desiree Miller, Sidney Taylor, Georgina Friedrichs, Maya Stewart, Waiaria Ellis
Reserves: Brittany Merlo, Martha Fua, Bridie O’Gorman, Ashley Fernandez, Piper Duck, Piper Simons, Ava Wereta, Nicole Ledington
