With out the burden of favouritism, Australia can get pleasure from a free hit in opposition to girls’s Rugby World Cup hosts New Zealand on Saturday evening.
Key factors:
- Australia will tackle New Zealand within the girls’s Rugby World Cup on Saturday evening
- The sport is anticipated to be a sellout at Eden Park, breaking the report for girls’s rugby attendance
- The Wallaroos have performed New Zealand 22 instances in girls’s rugby and are but to beat them
There is not any expectation for the Wallaroos in opposition to the Black Ferns as a result of there isn’t any kind line that means they might win.
Australia has by no means overwhelmed New Zealand in 22 Assessments of making an attempt.
Jay Tregonning’s aspect has misplaced its final six Assessments in opposition to all-comers — together with three in opposition to the Black Ferns — and has only one win in three COVID-hit years, in opposition to world No.21s Fiji again in Might.
The Black Ferns have been in ruthless kind at Eden Park final week, belting Japan 95-12 in a tune-up for the event.
Compounding the duty for Australia, New Zealand’s dwelling of rugby is poised to smash a world report for girls’s rugby attendance for the match, with the overwhelming majority of 40,000 anticipated to be clad in black.
It is arduous to think about a more durable job in world rugby.
Tregonning, ever the optimist, is wanting on the intense aspect.
“We have this superior alternative for a bunch of Wallaroos to expertise this venue at a big capability,” he stated.
“Some have skilled going through the Black Ferns there however nothing just like the expertise that awaits them.
“I am actually excited for the gamers to make use of that vitality however from our viewpoint, we do not really feel like there’s any stress in any respect.”
Of the three trans-Tasman Assessments this yr, Australia can at the very least look again on a first-half lead at Tauranga in June, a primary of their historical past.
The final hit-out was a 22-14 loss in Adelaide final month, highlighted by two tries to debut winger Bienne Terita, who will earn her second cap on Saturday evening.
Olympic gold medallist Sharni Williams has additionally swapped sevens for the event and has been named within the run-on XV, together with Sera Naiqama for her first Wallaroos begin, certainly one of a whopping 14 Waratahs within the Wallaroos’ 23.
Whereas Australia is little probability to triumph on Saturday evening, the crew can nonetheless harbour hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
The world No.7s face Tenth-ranked Scotland on October 15 and ninth-ranked Wales on October 22 within the group part.
Of the 12 groups within the event, eight progress to the quarter-finals that means two wins would assure development, and only one win would have them within the hunt.
Australia completed sixth within the final event, performed in Eire in 2017.
The sport in opposition to New Zealand begins at 5:15pm AEDT.
AAP
