Wallaroos looking to prove themselves against Black Ferns

Fri, May 24, 2024, 7:20 AM
AAP
by AAP
The Wallaroos are up for the challenge against the Black Ferns. Photo: Getty Images
The Wallaroos are up for the challenge against the Black Ferns. Photo: Getty Images

The Wallaroos have had a disappointing opening to the season but are confident they can prove themselves in Saturday's Pacific Four series finale against rivals New Zealand. 

Australia's women's rugby team has lost each of their games against the US and Canada and have never won a match against the Black Ferns, who they will play in Auckland on Saturday.

Catch every game of Super Rugby Pacific LIVE, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.

However, the Wallaroos have made significant inroads over the past couple of seasons.

They lead them at half-time in 2022 for the first time in history as part of the inaugural Pac Four series.

In the World Cup later that year, they stunned the Kiwis on home soil in the opener to take a 17-0 lead after 30 minutes.

"We've had a really good prep week reviewing and building on our structures and solidifying some of the learnings we've had over this campaign," captain Michaela Leonard said.

"Everyone's ready to come out tomorrow night, do something we're proud of, and put on the kind of rugby we've been wanting to play for the last few weeks.

"We knew this wasn't gonna be a fix overnight and that things take time but we're coming out with a really good attitude."

"We're really excited for that and it's a good chance for us to have one more attempt at getting into WXV1."

The additions of Leilani Nathan, Cecilia Smith and Atasi Lafai would inject the team with stronger physicality, Leonard said.

"We expect that (the Black Ferns) are gonna come out firing and they're gonna have a point to prove after last week," she said.

"We're trying not to put too much focus on them this week though, it's all about us and what we can improve on.

"We've got nothing to lose. It's an opportunity for us to come out there and play the way that we know we can."

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