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Wallaroos admit major shortfall ahead of Black Ferns rematch

Shannon Parry. (Photo by Andy Jackson/Getty Images)

The Wallaroos will benefit from a gruelling block of high-intensity fitness work when they look to create history against the Black Ferns.

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Australia’s national women’s rugby union side are looking to break through for their first ever win over New Zealand when they take the field in Christchurch on Saturday night.

The ledger reads an unfortunate 20-0 in New Zealand’s favour, but captain Shannon Parry says they’re drawing strength from their last hit-out.

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Two months ago, in the driving rain at Tauranga for the Pacific Four series, Australia led 10-5 at half-time before succumbing 23-10.

“Against the Kiwis, we were in it until the 50th minute,” Parry told AAP, putting the fade-out down to fitness.

“But the engine, the battery was getting a little bit empty.

“The fitness base wasn’t where we needed it to be. So we’ve worked really hard on that in the eight weeks since that competition.”

Since then, the Wallaroos have submitted themselves to the gruelling yo-yo test, which Parry says “some players have nightmares about when they hear it’s coming up”.

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“But that was the point of the Pacific Four series,” she said.

“It’s been really good to see the improvements across the whole group … we’re definitely in a lot better shape now than where we were eight, 10 weeks ago.”

On top of the improved fitness, Australia will also boast two new faces in Christchurch.

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Bree-Anna Cheatham has recovered from hip surgery earlier this year and will run out in a gold shirt for the first time after winning selection as loosehead prop.

Super W Brumbies No.8 Grace Kemp, who Parry called a “young whippersnapper” will also make a starting debut.

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Australia, the world No.8s, placed last in the Pacific Four series, lost a tight contest with the USA 16-14 in Auckland before finishing with a 22-10 loss to Canada in Whangarei.

That tournament, and the fortnight’s upcoming hit-outs against the Black Ferns in Christchurch and Adelaide for the O’Reilly Cup, form the Wallaroos lead-up work for October’s World Cup.

“As a collective, to see where we are out again some of the world’s best teams, it’s so pleasing for our preparation,” Parry said.

– Ben McKay

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J
JW 12 minutes ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

It's as relevant as long as you want to make it relevant.


I think you need to take a step back and look at why it's there. That rule was put in place simply to ensure players knew where they stood when it comes to selection, it is a 'were not going to go to all the difficulty of including you if you leave' understanding, 'were not going to give one AB special treatment over any other'. It has only morphed into a concept of using it as a means to keep the game alive in NZ as an afterthought.


You also don't seem to understand who he is talking to. He's not saying players aren't able to be an international level without loyalty or sacrifice, he's addressing the public and telling them, 'look, you just have to accept you need to make a sacrifice to be an All Black, don't feel entitled in wanting to see Mo'unga playing before he returns to New Zealand' etc. As you suggest, we would not have the same view if the game here was in as perilous a position as South Africa's was.


Closing borders is historically a silly economic idea, why should it be any different in national level sports?

The current stance is actually the opposite of that. They are increasing the value of their domestic product in order to gain the most economic advantage globally.


If you want to actually analyze the concept, think about what SA is having to do and ask yourself whether it's worth it. For example, Mo'unga would only have a few weeks off a year if it was to both play in the NH and for the AB's, so that isn't obviously going to happen. He would most likely need to abstain from the Rugby Championship (being between the start and end of each of his club season) or parts of it, so the All Blacks wouldn't want to select him for the International window before that, as they want to give their 10 who will be playing in the RC time to hit peak performance, along with this team. I quite like the idea of having 3 to 5 'World' spots outside the team for players to come in for and they can be a part of the team helping the youngsters etc, it is still mainly a holiday for them but they can play in the case of an emergency etc.


Isn't it such a beautiful sport because of aspects like these Keith? Otherwise, wouldn't it be exactly like football as you suggest?

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