The Wallaroos are hoping England will really feel the stress of being host nation and match favourites after they meet their pool rivals in subsequent 12 months’s Ladies’s Rugby World Cup.
The Australians had been plunged right into a difficult group, going through world No.1 England, who’re on a 20-match successful streak, world No.9 USA, and Samoa.
The Wallaroos have by no means crushed England’s Purple Roses, who’ve turn into the dominant facet within the sport, whereas the US defeated Australia 32-25 in Melbourne in Could through the Pacific 4 collection.
Solely the highest two groups from every group will advance to the quarterfinals.
The schedule of matches for the month-long match shall be introduced subsequent Tuesday, however the first match shall be at Sunderland subsequent August with the hosts kicking off the match, presumably towards Australia in what can be a blockbuster opener.
Recent from successful the WXV2 trophy in Cape City final weekend, Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp stated her crew would embrace the problem.
“If we find yourself with England within the opening sport, that is large, is not it?” stated Yapp, a former England captain herself who performed for them at three World Cups.
“Opening a World Cup and a possibility to play the house nation, the primary crew, there’s going to be quite a lot of stress on them, and that is a giant alternative for us.
“Australia aren’t a crew that England have performed loads in order that comes with challenges for them additionally.
“All of the stress, particularly should you play them in that opening sport, goes to be on them. Enormous expectation on a crew that hasn’t misplaced going into this house World Cup.
“And I feel no matter pool we ended up in was going to be difficult.”
After beating Canada within the final spherical to safe the WXV1 title on the weekend, England’s rating has risen to a record-high factors rating.
Guided by former All Blacks coach John Mitchell, their sole defeat of their final 51 matches was essentially the most painful of all — the slender 2022 World Cup remaining loss to New Zealand in Auckland.
In that competitors, England crushed the Wallaroos 41-5 within the quarters.
Australia climbed to fifth in Monday’s rankings on the again of their terrific win over Scotland in South Africa on Saturday, wanting a resurgent drive below Yapp’s steerage.
“It will be a troublesome pool, it should pose us questions,” stated England ahead Marlie Packer, following the draw made on Thursday (Friday AEDT).
“Australia have come on leaps and bounds and Jo Yapp clearly has quite a lot of English historical past, which type of provides to the magic of the fixture.”
The Wallaroos rejoice after their WXV2 triumph in Cape City.
America’s Ladies’s Eagles are coached by Sione Fukofuka, who spent three years as assistant coach with Rugby Australia and the Wallaroos.
They had been the top-ranked outfit among the many “band three” groups Australia might have drawn, whereas the Wallaroos have solely met Samoa as soon as earlier than, hammering them 87-0 in 2009 in Apia.
In September, the Samoans beat an Australia A facet 20-17 with a last-minute penalty.
Holders and six-times champs New Zealand have been pitched in a pool alongside Japan, Spain and Eire, who beat the Black Ferns 29-27 not too long ago within the shock of the WXV1 match.
AAP
