If the Wallaroos need any motivation to take down England, they don’t have to look far in Brighton.
It’s been almost exactly ten years since Brighton & Hove Stadium hosted one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history as Japan took down two-time champions South Africa.
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When you walk around the ground, there are mementos of the result, with the score and result emblazoned on the wall in the north end.
The result was so seismic that it led to a movie being made about the game in 2019.
While a Wallaroos result would not be on the same scale, it’s easy to see the similarities.
Foreign coaches coached both Australia and Japan with innate knowledge of the other team - Jones spent time as a technical advisor for the Springboks in their 2007 title-winning campaign, and Yapp coached throughout the English system.
Both enjoy a fast-paced style of Rugby that will suit the football pitch against a forward-dominance powerhouse with flair and pace on the edges.
On top of this, both have an eye to the future, hosting the World Cup in the following cycle.
Wallaroos lock Kaitlan Leaney admits the result can serve as motivation for the team as they fight for their World Cup campaign.
“We have talked about that Japan and South Africa game and we’re not going to shy away from that because it's a cool stadium and it would be pretty cool to repeat history,” she said.
“I think if you get too caught up in chasing the outcome, then you'll lose the game a little. So, it's important for us as a team to kind of go out there and stick to our processes.”
“I think it's really cool to see that a game like that has been held here. It's definitely something I personally have looked at and I think looking at that is really cool to see what can be accomplished,” back-rower Piper Duck added.
But the task to take down the Red Roses can’t be understated.
Winger Jess Breach is a perfect representation of just how dominant they have been.
Breach, who debuted in 2017, is set to bring up her 50th cap for England on the weekend.
She has never lost.
That's more wins than the Wallaroos have managed in their 31-year history.
The Wallaroos don’t need a win to qualify for the knockout stages, with their place secured if they can manage the points difference with the USA, who play against Samoa earlier in the day.
But the message is clear.
“We're not worried about the points difference. We're coming here to win and that's our mindset,” assistant coach Sam Neads said.
