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 night time.
Key factors:
- Australia will tackle New Zealand within the girls’s Rugby World Cup on Saturday night time
- The sport is predicted to be a sellout at Eden Park, breaking the document for ladies’s rugby attendance
- The Wallaroos have performed New Zealand 22 occasions in girls’s rugby and are but to beat them
There is no expectation for the Wallaroos in opposition to the Black Ferns as a result of there is no kind line that implies they could win.
Australia has by no means crushed New Zealand in 22 Assessments of attempting.
Jay Tregonning’s facet 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 had 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 residence of rugby is poised to smash a world document for ladies’s rugby attendance for the match, with the overwhelming majority of 40,000 anticipated to be clad in black.
It is onerous to think about a harder activity in world rugby.
Tregonning, ever the optimist, is wanting on the brilliant facet.
“We have got this superior alternative for a gaggle of Wallaroos to expertise this venue at a big capability,” he mentioned.
“Some have skilled dealing with 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 standpoint, we do not really feel like there’s any strain in any respect.”
Of the three trans-Tasman Assessments this yr, Australia can not less than 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 night time.
Olympic gold medallist Sharni Williams has additionally swapped sevens for the match 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 night time, the staff 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 match, 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 match, performed in Eire in 2017.
The sport in opposition to New Zealand begins at 5:15pm AEDT.
AAP
