THE Wallaroos will have two first-timers in the side when they open their World Cup campaign against hosts Ireland early Thursday morning.
Coach Paul Verrell has named his match-day 23, which includes Australian Sevens star Mahalia Murphy named on the wing and Western Australia’s Trilleen Pomare set to steer the side from flyhalf.
It’s a slightly new-look side to the one that contested the Four Nations in New Zealand last month with long-serving flyhalf/fullback and former captain Ash Hewson to provide cover for the backs from the bench on Thursday.
Captain Shannon Parry (far left) with Sharni Williams, Mahalia Murphy, Ash Hewson and Mollie Gray. All will feature in Australia’s opening World Cup match against Ireland on Thursday.Source:News Corp Australia
Samantha Treherne has been named to start in the No. 15 alongside Nareta Marsters and Murphy in the back three.
Sevens star Shannon Parry will captain the team from breakaway with fellow sevens gold medallist Sharni Williams and hooker Cheyenne Campbell taking on vice-captain duties.
Verrell said the changes from the Four Nations only added more experience to his team.
“We’ve made nine changes from the side that ran out against Canada in our final match of the Four Nations tour in New Zealand, and we added a fair amount of experience into the side with the return of our Sevens players and Mollie [Gray at breakaway],” he said.
Chloe Butler during the Four Nations tournament in June. Pic: Martin Hunter/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
“There has been a lot of exposure of the women’s game locally in the lead up to the tournament, and after a week of preparation in Ireland, the team are hungry to get out on the field.
“Our lead up to the 2017 tournament has been the best yet, with state based training and the Four Nations tournament providing us with a great platform to build from.”
Australia play Ireland at 4am (AEST) Thursday and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports.
Wallaroos team v Ireland
1. Liz Patu — Queensland, Wests
2. Cheyenne Campbell — Queensland, Redlands
3. Hilisha Samoa — Queensland, Brothers
4. Chloe Butler — South Australia, Parramatta
5. Millie Boyle — ACT, Canberra Royals
6. Mollie Gray — Australian Defence Force (ADRFU), NSW, Maitland
7. Shannon Parry — Australian Sevens, Queensland, Redlands
8. Grace Hamilton — Sydney, Sydney University
9. Katrina Barker — NSW Country, Newcastle University
10. Trilleen Pomare* — Western Australia, Wanneroo
11. Mahalia Murphy* — Australian Sevens, NSW, Campbell Town
12. Sharni Williams — Australian Sevens, ACT, Canberra Royals
13. Kayla Sauvao — Sydney, Parramatta
14. Nareta Marsters — Queensland, Sunnybank
15. Samantha Treherne — Queensland, Sunnybank
Reserves
16. Emily Robinson — Sydney, Warringah
17. Violeta Tupuola — ACT, Canberra Royals
18. Hana Ngaha — Queensland, Sunnybank
19. Rebecca Clough — Western Australia, Cottesloe
20. Alisha Hewett — Australian Defence Force (ADRFU), Queensland, GPS
21. Fenella Hake — Queensland, Redlands
22. Sarah Riordan — Australian Defence Force (ADRFU), Victoria
23. Ashleigh Hewson — Sydney, Sydney University
*denotes debutant.
Originally published as Wallaroos ring in changes for Cup opener
Sport | news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site
