Australia will get an opportunity to work its method into subsequent yr’s Ladies’s Rugby World Cup, avoiding a blockbuster opening conflict with raging favourites England.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp, a former England captain who performed at three World Cups, has additionally sidestepped an early showdown together with her start nation, presently on a 20-match profitable streak.
As an alternative the Wallaroos will begin their event with a conflict in opposition to the bottom ranked crew of their pool, world quantity 15 Samoa, on Saturday August 23 in Manchester.
With the schedule for the month-long event launched by World Rugby on Tuesday, top-ranked England will open in opposition to the USA in Sunderland.
The Wallaroos then meet the USA in York (August 31) and England (September 7) in Brighton and Hove, needing two wins from their three video games to advance to the quarterfinals with solely the highest two groups transferring on.
Ranked fifth after their WXV2 event win earlier this month in South Africa, Australia has by no means crushed England and was eradicated by the Crimson Roses within the quarterfinals of the final World Cup in 2022.
Guided by former All Blacks coach John Mitchell, England’s sole defeat in its final 51 matches was probably the most painful of all — the slender World Cup remaining loss to New Zealand in Auckland.
The Wallaroos misplaced 32-25 to world quantity 9 United States, coached by long-time Australia assistant Sione Fukofuka, in Melbourne in Could in the course of the Pacific 4 sequence.
They’ve met Samoa solely as soon as of their Check historical past for an 87-0 win throughout a World Cup qualifier in 2009, however final month the Samoans beat an Australia A aspect 20-17 with a last-minute penalty.
Yapp was completely happy for a first-up assembly with the island nation.
“No match goes to be simple on this World Cup no matter who we drew within the pool stage,” Yapp stated.
“We’re proud of the schedule and the chance to play Samoa within the opening spherical.
“Samoa will likely be a troublesome opponent early and assist us set a normal for the remainder of the event.”
AAP
