The Wallaroos are hoping England will really feel the stress of being host nation and match favourites once they meet their pool rivals in subsequent 12 months’s Ladies’s Rugby World Cup.
The Australians have 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 change into the dominant aspect within the recreation, whereas the USA defeated Australia 32-25 in Melbourne in Could throughout 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, probably towards Australia in what could be a blockbuster opener.
Recent from successful the WXV2 trophy in Cape City final weekend, Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp mentioned her crew would embrace the problem.
“If we find yourself with England within the opening recreation, that is enormous, is not it?” mentioned 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 a number of stress on them, and that is a giant alternative for us.
“Australia aren’t a crew that England have performed so much in order that comes with challenges for them additionally.
“All of the stress, particularly when you play them in that opening recreation, goes to be on them. Large expectation on a crew that hasn’t misplaced going into this house World Cup.
“And I believe 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 ultimate 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, trying a resurgent pressure below Yapp’s steerage.
“It’s going to be a tricky pool, it may pose us questions,” mentioned England ahead Marlie Packer, following the draw made on Thursday (Friday AEDT).
“Australia have come on leaps and bounds and Jo Yapp clearly has a number 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 have been the top-ranked outfit among the many “band three” groups Australia may 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 aspect 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 just lately within the shock of the WXV1 match.
AAP
