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‘We’ve learnt a lot’: Wallaroos out to bounce back after tough start to year

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 25: Head coach Joanne Yapp of Australia talks to her team after losing the 2024 Pacific Four Series Round 4 & 2024 O'Reilly Cup 1st Test match between New Zealand Black Ferns and Australia Wallaroos at North Harbour Stadium on May 25, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Captain Michaela Leonard is confident the Wallaroos have made some “big improvements” in key areas as they look to bounce back from a winless run in World Rugby’s Pacific Four Series when they take on Fijiana on Saturday.

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You could see it on the faces of the Australian players about 20 minutes after their first Laurie O’Reilly Test of the Year. As young fans called out for selfies, autographs and even a sock or two, the Wallaroos continued to process the disappointment of their 67-19 loss.

New Zealand had put on an attacking clinic as they returned to winning ways themselves at North Harbour Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore. It was Australia’s third loss in as many Tests and they’d have to wait more than a month to bounce back.

Video Spacer

Sarah Hirini on retiring legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe

New Zealand Sevens star Sarah Hirini gets emotional when asked by Finn Morton about Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who will retire after the Olympics.

Video Spacer

Sarah Hirini on retiring legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe

New Zealand Sevens star Sarah Hirini gets emotional when asked by Finn Morton about Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who will retire after the Olympics.

After going away and training in smaller, state-based groups, the women in gold have been back in camp chipping away as they seek to improve on their previous efforts. Coach Jo Yapp seemed positive about the preparation on Thursday, as did skipper Leonard on Friday.

At the time of writing, the Wallaroos are about 24 hours out from their third Test of the year on home soil. They’ll take on a Fiji outfit, who have attacking threats across the park, at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium as part of a double header with the Wallabies.

“Big review process after those games through Pac Four. What we highlighted is there was a lot of opportunity that we left out there and when we got our systems right and executed how we wanted to, things came away positively for us,” Leonard told reporters at Allianz Stadium.

“Looking back on those games, some little areas around our breakdown, set-piece execution and collision dominance have been big focuses for us over the last two weeks.

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“Some big improvements in those areas and hopefully everyone else will see that this weekend.

“Look, definitely wasn’t the result we wanted but it’s not something we’ve tried to dwell on,” she added.

“We’ve had a lot of big changes throughout the last couple of months in our program and we knew a lot of what we’re trying to do and we’re trying to achieve is going to be a growth process and it’s going to take time.

“We’ve reviewed on those games through Pac Four, we’ve learnt a lot, and we’ve all got our heads and our minds in the right places looking at how we can move forward now.”

Yapp has named a talented squad ahead of the clash with Fiji, including the experienced halves combination of halfback Layne Morgan and flyhalf Arabella McKenzie. Cecilia Smith and Georgina Friedrichs in the midfield are also ones to watch.

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The coach has also named four uncapped players in the matchday 23, including ACT Brumbies winger Biola Dawa who will start in the No. 14 jumper. Allana Sikimeti, Lydia Kavoa and Natalie Wright are also in line to debut off the bench.

It’s an exciting time for the Wallaroos as they continue to seek improvement, which includes building squad depth. With WXV2 and next year’s Rugby World Cup just around the corner, it would be massive for the group to get a win this weekend.

“I think it’d be huge for us to come away with the win this weekend. Double header on home soil, nothing really gets better,” Leonard explained.

“Hopefully a big crowd out there and (it’s) an opportunity for us, and hopefully the men as well, to put out some good footy, get Rugby Australia and everyone here behind us and set us up for a big backend of the year as well.”

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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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