Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning is hoping for a more explosive attacking performance as they prepare for the Black Ferns in Christchurch on August 20.
Tregonning is treating the two-game O'Reilly Cup as a key 'performance improver' ahead of the World Cup, with the goal of making the knockout stage firmly on the radar.
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“The players have come back in better shape than the Pac Four, obviously the hard work they have done in their individual states is testament to themselves," he told reporters.
“We’ve still got a long way to go. We’d love to be in a position to beat the Black Ferns but our main goal is still the quarter-finals of the World Cup so we’re still treating this as a performance improver as well.
“…There are some players here that will play a bit more of an expansive style of game on Saturday.”
Tregonning admits leaving out Grace Hamilton was one of the toughest decisions he's had to make, however, the form of Grace Kemp and Piper Duck were too hard to ignore.
“It was hard not to go with Gracey Kemp with the way she’s been going both in those seven weeks away and the Pac Four,” he admits.
“She’s really putting her hand up and fully deserves the start.
“It was a really hard call, Grace (Hamilton) has been a massive part of the team. She’s obviously performing well but we think there has been some things Grace Kemp has done over the past few days as well as that time away that warrants the start.
“It’s obviously the toughest call I’ve had to make in my short tenure as Wallaroos coach but Grace (Hamilton) has responded well at training, her attitude and ethic have been outstanding. She’s still a massive part of this squad.”
The Wallaroos are hoping the return of Ivania Wong and Mahalia Murphy to the starting side can help revitalise their attack, which found itself heavily reliant on the rolling maul.
“It’s been a weapon and our frustration at the end there, a couple of missed chances with our set-pieces as was some of our attacking shape,” Tregonning explained.
“We’ve had numerous conversations that our attack is only as good as our set piece and our breakdown work. A big focus has been the skills under fatigue, both from a set-piece and attack point of view.
“…Hopefully we can see some attacking flair over the weekend.”
