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Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp reacts to ‘really exciting’ announcement

Jo Yapp head coach of the Wallaroos speaks to players after their defeat during the International Test Match between Australia Wallaroos and New Zealand Black Ferns at Ballymore Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has opened up about last Thursday’s “really exciting” announcement, with Rugby Australia confirming that nine HSBC SVNS Series stars have linked up with Super Rugby Women’s clubs in a bid to play for the national team in 2025.

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World Rugby’s reigning Sevens Player of the Year Maddison Levi headlines a star-studded Queensland Reds-bound group that also includes sister Teagan, three-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick, sevens captain Isabella Nasser, and Olympian Khali Henwood.

Sariah Paki is the only sevens representative who has committed to the NSW Waratahs, while the trio of Demi Hayes, Tia Hinds and Bienne Terita are all off to the ACT Brumbies. These nine athletes have all set their sights on playing at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

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It’s understood they’ll all be able to play a couple of matches for their respective SR Women’s clubs in March during a four-week break between SVNS Series stops in Vancouver and Hong Kong China. To play for Australia in 15s, they won’t have many opportunities to impress coach Yapp.

But, before a ball is kicked or a pass is thrown, coach Yapp seems incredibly enthusiastic and positive about this significant announcement. With the support of sevens coach Tim Walsh as well, it’s now up to the players to make their mark.

“From a depth point of view it’s really exciting, and it’s great because the girls seem really excited about being involved as well, which is what you want,” Yapp recently told Nathan Williamson at rugby.com.au.

“It started before the Olympics… just that expression of interest in the first instance and then obviously wanted to respect their time when they came back and then picked up conversations face to face since then.

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“We’re just trying to get a good process because it’s important that we do get a good process and they feel that they’re being supported, but equally we’re respecting the players we’ve got and we’re creating playing opportunities for them to play and that’s through Super Rugby W.”

These nine are established within the nation’s sevens side, with some standing out as genuine world-class talents, but 15s is a new challenge. The Levi sisters, Paki and some others are yet to play a game of 15s at any level, but they’ll look to knock off Wallaroos for spots in the squad.

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Australia are coming off a history-making end to their first international season under coach Yapp, where they won the first major trophy in team history at WXV 2. Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller were among the standouts as the Aussies knocked off Wales, South Africa and Scotland.

The Wallaroos had lost all three of their matches in World Rugby’s Pacific Four Series before falling to New Zealand, Ireland and the Welsh. But for this team to then finish the year as they did, and look supremely confident as they made history, is in itself a positive sign.

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“I think it’s definitely huge in that list of names there’s Olympians, there’s incredible athletes, there’s a whole lot of rugby knowledge and experience,” captain Michaela Leonard told RugbyPass.

“It’s super huge for us as a Wallaroos group that one, players and athletes of that calibre are interested in challenging themselves to be part of the 15s game and putting their hand up to be part of what’s been a pretty special group this year and looking into a World Cup year next year is pretty special.

“It’s incredibly exciting for us too to be able to build the depth of our group, have a harder selection pool, a harder selection pool to select players from.

“That much opportunity to welcome some pretty phenomenal rugby athletes into our environment and take over the best team that we can into the World Cup next year.”


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J
JW 15 minutes ago
It's time for the All Blacks to break up Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane

Really? He's back from injury this week so we'll get to see I suppose. I suspect you could be right re Ioane as well. Though I go even further to say he's lost those instincts (as well as speed with his bigger size) as well. The best (and most interesting with this discussion) example was against England were maybe Jordie gave him a bad pass (go figure) but which actually helped him get wide of the blitz, and he Tele'a on the outside but only Furbank coming up on the outside infront of him, but a plethora of the England blitz strategy cover running across the field. With Feyi-Waboso turning after and catching him, cover coming, all he had to do was put the foot on the gas and run at Furbanks inside shoulder and pass the ball to Tele'a for the try. Instead, he takes two steps, senses his chasers, and passes a weak effort out to Tele'a who just immediately just decides to cut back in behind Rieko.


I've started an investigation into Jordies role and use this week. I started by watching his RWC Final effort again (actually I watched it to count Frizell's defensive impact) and in that game his first contributions were one of the first receiver flick backs, then a no look pop, that quick chip for Ardie, a solid crash ball, and carry to the line and pop for Rieko to break through, and then into the second half he had another good crash ball (stopped watching at 58' when SF went off). I know it won't be the same under Razor because the first receiver flick backs have solely been a duty of a few specific forwards, but as I've already shown, its not likely he constant crashed it up under Razor I don't think.

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J
JW 54 minutes ago
It's time for the All Blacks to break up Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane

Neither can Jordie. Rieko (and Jordie ala what he did in his Leinster debut) can distribute OK (Rieko won't be as used to the patterns but has the ability to adapt imo), even skillfully, and more importantly, much better than he can handle the ball (either at center or on the wing were he can't even carry/switch the ball in either arm) as a center. So with him being better defensively and on the crash, it makes more sense to have him the 2nd5, and a player that can actually pass a ball technical well on either side, to put his winger away. This point is a very important one, because probably the only other position required to have this skill, is the first five. A center has the unique responsibility of being required to pass with extreme width, and timing, to a player who is often standing the furthest away that he can, and moving the fastest of anyone in the team. He needs to be able to lob it, or bullet it, in front of or over anyone trying to intercept. He needs to be able to put it were he wants the winger to run, he's not just the general defencively, but on attack as well. It's what the wingers have missed all season, nearly every time theyve caught the ball theyve had to stop in some manner to do so. Jordie is not much better that anyone else (in current setup) in that respect, just look at the 40min cameo, the one wide ball he tried wasn't on target and the winger couldn't do what he'd want with it.


Proctor does look like someone who has this ability, it's one of ALBs better abilities, and is what this team has been missing most. I hope others can show it next year, I think Aumua is actually fairly skilled in this ability, more so than Ennor or McLeod anyway, I really like Sullivan when he gets the chance (would be a good signing for Chiefs as he'd get the wing spot and good opportunity at center) in midfield. I've got a lot of time for Lam's performances in midfield as well, thought he played well at center in the eoyt but not sure he has this skill and I'd probably prefer him as the 12 if I was a Blues fan. Despite Tele'a being a solid center in the Bunch mold I think he has some deft passing skills too, could be worth a watch.

78 Go to comments
f
fl 4 hours ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

"the top 4 to have not qualified via another means from last years challenge cup and from the champions cup"

the challenge cup semi finalists last year were Sharks, Gloucester, Benetton, and Clermont, so that's why those teams were included.

the champions cup semi finalists were Toulouse, Leinster, Northampton, and Harlequins, but the first three of those teams would have already qualified through their leagues, so don't take the Champions cup qualification spots. Exeter, Bordeaux, la Rochelle, and Bulls all made the quarters, but of those only Exeter had failed to qualify via their league, so that leaves 2 spots still up for grabs. Leicester, Racing 92, Stormers, and Lyon all made the round of 16 and had failed to qualify via their leagues, so are in contention for the final 2 qualification spots. I'd argue Stormers and Lyon should get it as their performance in the Champions cup group stage (and hence their seeding in the knockouts) was superior.


"First off, I would start at the bottom, and I'd probably make the two divisions identical."

what does this mean?


"What happened last year is irrelevant, any model or distribution needs to be taken with the future in mind, and that is going to likely mean weaker English teams (when the comp expands again)"

What a bizarre thing to say. You have to let teams qualify on merit, not based on how you assume they will do next season. English teams do well in the champions cup.


"First I think qualificatin has to be incentive based, so none of the worst teams qualify"

Completely agree.


"Then theres a myriad of cool wildcard tricks to balance things out further"

every wildcard idea you go on to suggest is terrible. If you for one moment thought any of them are good then you should probably get a lobotomy.

8 Go to comments
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