The road to the 2025 Women's World Cup is underway, as the Wallaroos head into camp in June ahead of their July Tests, which will serve as their final prep for the event.
Tests against the Blacks Ferns and Wales loom, and with the World Cup set to be bigger than ever, the competition for spots in the national side has never been stronger.
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Rugby.com.au presents 'Road to England': A position-by-position breakdown of the key contenders and bolters ahead of the squad selection later in the year.
Today we move onto the second row, with likely four to five spots available given the make-ups of previous World Cup squads.
One of the emerging stars to come out of a growing Brumbies contingent, Fernandez has hit the ground running in 2025, enjoying a strong Super Rugby season and impressing in her debut against Fiji.
While it is still early into her international career and she will have to do more to usurp the incumbents, she has risen up the ranks firmly this year.
Based on her form at WXV2 and the 2025 Pacific Four Series, Kaitlan Leaney is almost certain to be one of the starting Wallaroos at the World Cup - her second in gold.
After coming back from Harlequins, the Waratah has been one of the big achievers under Yapp, not just for her improving set piece, but her physicality in general play - an area the current coach wants to improve.
With 27 caps to her name at such a young age, the young lock is emerging as a valuable leader for the set piece.
Alongside Leaney in terms of having a stranglehold on the starting second row positions, it is hard to go past the third-highest capped Wallaroo of all time.
A former Wallaroo captain herself, Michaela Leonard has thrived over at the Force - and has helped transform the lineout into a genuinely competitive outfit, even managing three steals against Canada last week.
As the second most experienced forward in the side (behind Ash Marsters), Leonard has a firm grasp on the number five jersey as she heads into her second World Cup.
Former Melbourne Rebel Tiarah Minns is still early her career, having overcome several injuries to make her debut last year.
However, despite only intermittent time in gold so far, Minns has looked promising as a lineout manager at the Reds, and enjoyed a strong outing earlier this year in Fiji.
Minns needs more time to be a starting regular, but looks well in the hunt to be on the plane to England as a finisher and valuable back up.
She might have slipped down the pecking order somewhat in recent years - but Sera Naiqama could serve as a handy wildcard if Jo Yapp wants to add more experience to her lock stocks.
After playing in Super Rugby Aupiki briefly, Sera Naiqama moved to the Western Force in 2025, starting in every match alongside Michaela Leonard and Ash Marsters.
She might not have played since 2023, but given her form and close proximity to some of the best Wallaroos, Naiqama could be an inspired surprise inclusion.
Speaking of omissions, Annabelle Codey might also not have played since 2023, but the five-capped 28-year-old is still on the radar of the Wallaroos as a more experienced back up.
Playing in the Australia XV side last year that lost to Samoa, Codey has also looked at home since signing for the Waratahs in 2024 - winning two titles and playing regularly alongside Kaitlan Leaney.
Deni Ross has impressed during the Super Rugby Women's season for Queensland, being a major factor in the side getting back to the final in 2025.
Also making the Australia XV side against Samoa last year, Ross will continue to push her case for a Wallaroo call up at club level in Brisbane.
Arguably the biggest loss for the Wallaroos in terms of injured forwards, Atasi Lafai would likely be on the plane to England if not for a knee injury that has ruled her out of the 2025 season.
Lafai will be hoping to hit the ground running in 2026, with a new national coach and an opportunity to push for squad selection at a home World Cup.
