Live Score and Match Thread: Wallaroos vs Scotland (and earlier games)

Reminder: Wallaroos, Aussie Sevens, Aussie Sevens, Wallabies – all four games are being broadcast on Channel 9 and Stan.

A Festival of the Boot at Accor Stadium

No pressure, Wallaroos, but at 12pm (AEDT) Saturday in Sydney you kick off, as ABC’s Roy Slaven and HG Nelson would say, a Festival of the Boot at Accor Stadium. It would be really, really good if you could start the afternoon with a win. Then both Aussie Sevens teams play, the men up against some Fijian flair, and the women up against the Kiwi darkness. To round it off, the Wallabies gird their loins for another crack at the ABs at 3.45pm (AEDT).

So who has coach Tim Walsh selected for Saturday’s clash with Scotland?

Stewart returns to the backline

In reality, the first question, pre team announcement, was: would Maya Stewart return from injury and start? Answer: yes. But that was made easier as Caitlyn Halse is out with concussion symptoms. The next question: a six/two or five/three bench? Answer: five/three. Then, with Tia Hinds unavailable, who takes her spot on the bench, Piper Simons or Ella Ryan? Answer: Simons. This is a bit of a surprise, as Ryan can play half, 10 and 15, and kicks goals.

Anything else exciting in the backline? Not really. With a six/two bench split, the bench outside back was going to be either Cecilia Smith or Ava Wereta. The ever-reliable Smith has the gig. With Halse out, hopefully kicking is not a big factor in the game. Fingers crossed the weather is conducive to some running rugby. The Wallaroos backline has firepower but has not really clicked yet. It would be great if we could see Stewart, Desiree Miller and Amelia Whitaker in some space and scoring a couple of tries.

Forwards: nothing left field

With the forwards selection this week there is nothing left field. Before the team announcement the questions would have been: Is Allana Sikimeti healthy for selection? Will Eva Karpani be recalled? What will be the starting backrow mix? Will the bench again be loaded with backrowers and not include a specialist lock?

The answers. Tick: Sikimeti is back, coming off the bench. Tick: Karpani has been recalled and comes off the bench. Both bring some serious physicality off the bench that will be needed, especially if Saturday is damp. Tick: same starting backrow. Tick: the bench is loaded with backrowers.

The starting backrow of Piper Duck, Pia Tapsell and captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona appears to be Walsh’s preference. It is the third consecutive match these three have started. However, this week Tapsell and Palu Sekona have swapped positions.

The six/two bench strategy

Coach Walsh has again gone with a six/two bench. Interestingly, each time he has gone with the six/two split he has loaded it with three backrowers and no specialist lock. Walsh appears to want to raise the tempo in the second half, finish the game with speed and be strong at the breakdown. This match he has again gone with Jemma Bemrose, Emily Chancellor and Lily Bone. As an aside, I am becoming a big fan of the country youngster Bone. She is very robust and is a bit of a lock/backrow hybrid.

No place for Tuinakauvadra

Interestingly, backrower Tabua Tuinakauvadra has not made the 23. She is usually an automatic selection and last year was the Wallaroos Player of the Year. To be fair, she has missed a few games with injury this year. Add to this that Australian rugby, men and women, always seems to have depth in the back row.

The opposition: Scotland

The opposition. Scotland is pretty much the same team, except at halfback Leia Brebner-Holden and Katie Buchanan on the wing are both starting. In the Scottish local press the Scots are raring to have another crack at the Wallaroos. Just like the last game, this Scottish team is not lacking experience, with 826 caps, and is led by inspirational captain Rachel Malcolm. In comparison, the Wallaroos caps total is 534, which is actually pretty impressive. It might even be a PB for the Wallaroos.

It should be a good game. Hopefully the weather is OK and some people will get there early to watch it. While a quadruple header is theoretically a great initiative, it’s a long day.

Wallaroos team for Test against Scotland

1. Brianna Hoy – 17 caps
2. Brittany Merlo – 7 caps
3. Faliki Pohiva – 14 caps
4. Kaitlan Leaney – 43 caps
5. Michaela Leonard – 50 caps
6. Siokapesi Palu Sekona – 31 caps
7. Piper Duck – 30 caps
8. Pia Tapsell – 4 caps
9. Samantha Wood – 19 caps
10. Waiaria Ellis – 10 caps
11. Amelia Whitaker – 3 caps
12. Faitala Moleka – 34 caps
13. Georgina Friedrichs – 45 caps
14. Maya Stewart – 27 caps
15. Desiree Miller – 31 caps

Reserves

16. Tania Naden – 33 caps
17. Allana Sikimeti – 6 caps
18. Eva Karpani – 48 caps
19. Jemma Bemrose – 2 caps
20. Emily Chancellor – 40 caps
21. Lily Bone – 6 caps
22. Piper Simons – 2 caps
23. Cecilia Smith – 32 caps

Scotland team for Test against Wallaroos

1. Anne Young
2. Lana Skeldon
3. Elliann Clarke
4. Holland Bogan
5. Sarah Bonar
6. Rachel Malcolm (captain)
7. Rachel McLachlan
8. Evie Gallagher
9. Leia Brebner-Holden
10. Helen Nelson
11. Katie Buchanan
12. Meryl Smith
13. Evie Wills
14. Rhona Lloyd
15. Hannah Ramsay

Reserves

16. Aicha Sutcliffe
17. Leah Bartlett
18. Molly Poolman
19. Hollie Cunningham
20. Eva Donaldson
21. Ceitidh Ainsworth
22. Shona Campbell
23. Chloe Rollie

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