The Wallaroos, under the leadership of coach Jo Yapp, are preparing to face the world champion Black Ferns this Saturday in Wellington. To the Australian side, this will be a crucial opportunity for them to fine-tune their game. Most importantly, of course, it gets them ready for the World Cup in England, which kicks off in earnest in late August. The squad welcomes an exciting change with 17-year-old Waiaria Ellis set to make her Test debut on the left wing. This move emphasizes the organization’s dedication to developing their own players.
Yapp has only just finished playing for England as captain, only recently returning from Australia. She’s focused on ensuring the women’s rugby program takes top billing. Australia will host the next Rugby World Cup in 2029. She underscored the immediate need to make sizable investments and prioritize women’s rugby all around the nation. Since her appointment in December 2022, Yapp has witnessed sustained progress under the new leadership. This advancement is a reflection on the growing investment, excitement, and energy that’s being fueled by Rugby Australia.
Aiming for Improvement
The Wallaroos have always found it difficult playing against the Black Ferns. Since 1994, they’ve never been able to pull off a win in 28 meetings. Despite these challenges, Yapp is excited by the progress of her team. Looking back on how they prepared, she stated, “We tried to make sure we closed that gap. New Zealand has had that head start with their professional program, but the way we’ve prepped has definitely made us feel more ready for this challenge.”
Yapp has sung the praises of other key players who are back in the lineup, such as back-rower Piper Duck. Duck has been considerably unlucky with injuries over the last two seasons. Consequently, she hasn’t played for Australia since being made Test skipper in 2023. Yapp had high praise for Duck’s toughness. He added, “Piper’s had some unfortunate injury luck—but when she plays, she’s one of the best players on the field. It’s just awesome that she’s regained her form to make a run for the World Cup.”
Developing Young Talent
Along with Duck’s return, Yapp is excited to welcome Waiaria Ellis into the mix. The 24-year-old has been brimming with promise and potential ever since he made the step up to the senior squad. Yapp remarked on another player’s journey back into form: “Annabelle Codey has always been a player that’s been on our radar, and I think to her own admission she didn’t perform particularly well last year. But she’s gone away and worked really hard to make those changes and … she’s really stepped up.
Yapp is looking forward to really seeing some big improvements out on the field this game. “The gap is obviously still there and we’re just making sure that every time we play them, we’re improving on our performance against them so we’re excited to see how the girls step up on Saturday,” she stated.
