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Wallaroos out to do the impossible against World Cup favourites Red Roses

Grace Hamilton. (Photo by Fiona Goodall - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The Wallaroos feel back-to-back wins over Northern Hemisphere rivals Scotland and Wales has been the perfect preparation to tackle Rugby World Cup heavyweights England.

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The Australian women take on the world number one side on Sunday in Auckland in a quarter-final showdown, looking to end a 28-game winning streak that dates back to July 2019.

In England’s last pool match, a 75-0 romp against South Africa, they scored 12 of their 13 tries through the forwards so taking on other forward-powered teams has the Wallaroos primed according to to lock Kaitlan Leaney.

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“It’s been good having Scotland and Wales in the prep for our England game because they’re similar in the way they play, where they focus on set-piece,” the 22-year-old Waratahs lock said.

“We’ve been working really hard on defending that so I think each week we’re getting better and showing that we can shut that down.

“It’s exciting that we’re building each week and every game we’re getting better and we can see in review that we’re leaving so many opportunities out on the field so hopefully we can go out there and show them what the Aussies are made of.”

Assistant coach Sione Fukofaka said the part-time Wallaroos felt excited by the opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best, who have full-time rugby contracts.

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They have continued to take steps with their gritty 13-7 win over Wales the first time the Wallaroos had banked successive wins since 2019.

He urged the underdogs to play without fear as they did in the opening World Cup game, when they raced to a 17-0 lead over hosts New Zealand in front of a huge Eden Park crowd before being reeled in.

“It’s a massive privilege to come up against a team of that quality,” Fukofaka said on Tuesday.

“We don’t get to play England very often so embracing that opportunity is a massive part of this week.

“We talked about this against New Zealand at Eden Park – the pressure is all on the other team with the record coming in so we can play with a bit of freedom and hopefully start the game in a similar fashion.”

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They have studied France’s pool performance against England, with the Red Roses forced to scramble to a 13-7 victory.

Fukofaka said the Australians needed to improve their conversion rate from inside 22 and continue to nail their set piece, but believes the signs are good.

“We’ve always felt if we can keep our standards high and play to our strengths, that we give ourselves an opportunity and the more games we play against quality opposition, clearly we are improving,” he said.

“Having the opportunity to play England who have the 28-game win streak in a quarter-final is a massive occasion and you saw in the opening game the girls relish those opportunities.”

– Melissa Woods

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H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

You forget that this was the 3rd Test between the AB's and the English this year. They were prepared and they knew how to keep NZ quiet. The Boks is not NZ.


The Boks is a whole other level. You overestimate England and underestimate the Boks. Clearly you haven't really looked at the teams. Besides the Irish games earlier this year, the Boks have mainly used experimental sides, even against the AB's.


Now they have chosen their best team available. They have targeted this game. The Boks mean business. Man for man, this Bok team is better. In strategy and player abilities there is no comparison and they are outmatched.


There isn't just monster strength, but unreal speed. In broken play there is currently no better team as well as defensively, not to even talk about the attacking threat, both from front and the back.


I'd say read between the lines, see what everyone is seeing, but clearly you are wearing blinders and is also putting too much emphasis on an AB's team the Boks beat twice this year, the same AB's that beaten England 3 times this year.


When Rassie gets serious, the players become machines. There is no stopping them. That bench is loaded with players that is fast, strong and have exceptional skills. This is a team not many teams will face before the 2027 WC, because the Boks doesn't use their best between WC's in one game. All experimental.


You will be proven wrong on Saturday and then you will wonder how you could have been so wrong. This Bok team means serious business. They came to conquer and not just by a close score. They want to demolish and they will. This England team at most is a 60 min team. Against the Boks that just won't cut it

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H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

Not bizarre, but needed. Everyone usually lifts their game against the Boks. Now instead of facing reality, they prefer to live in the past and look hopefully toward the score of the WC semi, hoping they can recreate that result and by some miracle snatch a victory.


It's better than the alternative knowing what is going to happen. Especially looking at the experimental squads the Boks put up against the Wallabies in the RC, not using their best team. That same Wallabies beat them last week.


Now the Boks isn't using an experimental squad. They put out as close to the strongest team the Boks have available at the moment. That must scare the pants off of them. If an experimental squad can destroy the Wallabies, what would the strongest team be able to do to the English?


Instead of sinking into dispear, they prefer to hope that their players can match the Boks. Even though they know what is coming. The English are scared and they won't show it.


Now imagine how Wales must feel knowing they are up next weekend? They don't even have the dubious record of at least close losses like the English. It's a complete nightmare for these 2 countries and rightly so.


The Boks usually take the pedal of the medal post WC's, but not this Bok team. They are better than the WC winning Boks of both '19 and '23. They are stronger up front. They are faster at the back. They can hit front and back. In broken play they are the most dangerous team. They have the best defence and attack also scoring the most tries.


In a way I feel sorry for both the English and Wales. Only those with blinders on expects a close game. Looking at both teams man to man, strategy to strategy, play to play, they are so outmatched it would be a joke if it wasn't so serious. We need the NH to be strong and we need the gap to become closer in rugby so the game stay exciting because runaway scores sometimes is fun, but it doesn't bring as much joy as a close game won.

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