Tregonning looking for response as Wallaroos fight for quarter-final spot

Thu, Oct 13, 2022, 5:30 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning and captain Shannon Parry spoke after their opening match of the Rugby World Cup.

“Whatever it takes”

That's the mindset the Wallaroos are embracing as they prepare for Saturday's must-win clash with Scotland in Whangarei.

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For the Wallaroos to advance to the quarter-finals, they must beat the tenth-ranked side and Wales to secure their spot.

A win against either may see them sneak in as one of two third-place finishes but ultimately lines up a tough task against either New Zealand or the winner of France/England.

The side showed his quality in the first half against the Black Ferns, with Tregonning and the side eager to see that replicated for the full 80 on the weekend.

“We want to try and start the same way as we did against the Black Ferns,” Tregonning said.

“There’s a few changes we’ve made in this team that strengthen our ball-carrying capabilities in the forwards and we’re definitely looking to replicate it.”

“If you watch that first 40 minutes, we were very composed and we had that under our belt. Obviously, the yellow cards didn’t help but it’s been good...We just need to play an 80-minute game," back-rower Piper Duck added.

Tregonning was relishing a fresh style of play and opposition to scout as they prepare to finish the group stages against two Northern Hemisphere opponents.

The Wallaroos have been starved of opportunities against the set-piece-heavy style of play they thrive on, having faced the Black Ferns in four of the last six Tests.

It will also mark the first time they play a team lower than them on the World Rankings since their shock defeat to Japan in May.

“It’s going to be an exciting difference,” he admits.

“We’ve played against the Black Ferns four times this year, formidable opponents so it’s good to get out against someone else.

“We’ve seen some similarities in the Scottish play to the Black Ferns. We don’t have to change too much defensively, we know we want to be in a stage where we’re in the game with a fighting chance at the end and we have confidence in our abilities to put them away.

“Set-piece and mauling has been a big focus with a Northern Hemisphere but that’s been the same leading into the past Tests.”

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