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Wallaroos 'craving' World Cup atmosphere ahead of Black Ferns opener

Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Wallaroos will begin their women’s rugby World Cup campaign against hosts New Zealand at a packed Eden Park, but it’s England who’ll start title favourites.

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The Wallaroos have put the pressure back on the hosts as they prepare for a women’s rugby World Cup opener in front of 40,000 fans.

Australia will play defending champions New Zealand on Saturday at a packed Eden Park in Auckland.

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Sevens star Sharni Williams will make her 15-a-side return at inside centre for Jay Tregonning’s No.5 ranked team, while fellow 7s talent Bienne Terita has been retained on the wing after scoring a double on debut.

Sera Naiqama will make her first start in the backrow, with prop Bridie O’Gorman starting ahead of Eva Karpani in the only other change to their last Test line-up.

Ivania Wong will be a threat on the wing while Australia’s most-capped player Liz Patu will wear the No.1.

“Most of the pressure is on our hosts,” Tregonning said.

“The reality is that if you are playing international rugby at the highest level, this is the atmosphere and the pressure that you should be craving.

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“What could be better than opening a rugby World Cup in front of a record-breaking crowd against the host nation?

“We want to use that energy to really inspire us, and feed our performance.”

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New Zealand co-captain Ruahei Demant is pinching herself.

“I will probably feel emotions I have never felt before,” she said.

“You kind of dream of opportunities like this … but you never think it would happen.

“To be one of the lucky ones, the right time in our careers; the stars are aligned.

“I can’t describe it because I don’t even know what it is going to be like.”

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The hosts have dominated women’s rugby for nearly 20 years but won’t start as favourites, with England’s Red Roses unbeaten in 23 games after taking top spot in 2020.

No.4 ranked France is also a leading contender, hardened by competition in Europe’s Six Nations tournament and boasting wins in the last four matches against New Zealand.

The World Cup comes at a pivotal time for women’s rugby, after concerted efforts to increase the investment of money and resources by World Rugby and national rugby unions.

The top two teams from each group of four – Australia will also play Wales and Scotland – progress to the quarter-finals before the Eden Park decider on November 12.

WALLAROOS: Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, Bienne Terita, Georgina Friedrichs, Sharni Williams, Ivania Wong, Arabella McKenzie, Iliseva Batibasaga, Grace Hamilton, Shannon Parry (c), Emily Chancellor, Atasi Lafai, Sera Naiqama, Bridie O’Gorman, Adiana Talakai, Liz Patu. Bench: Ashley Marsters, Emily Robinson, Eva Karpani, Michaela Leonard, Grace Kemp, Layne Morgan, Trilleen Pomare, Lori Cramer.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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