Australia squad for New Zealand

Mollie Gray is one of the experienced players in the squad. Photo: ARU Media

The tour will include the first southern hemisphere “double header” when the Walleroos meet the Black Ferns before the third Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park.

These will be Australia’s first tests since the World Cup in 2014 so it is not surprise to find that half of the squad thirteen players is uncapped. The tour is therefore an essential part of Australia’s preparations for the World Cup – indeed these are currently the only “warm-up” games they have schedules before the tournament next August (New Zealand, on the other hand, will be visiting Europe this autumn for a series against England, Ireland and Canada).

Australia have never beaten New Zealand at fifteens, but Head Coach Paul Verrell has chosen seven players with Australia’s Olympic and World Series Sevens winning squad – players who are used to beating their greatest rivals.

He said: “I just think they’re (New Zealand) used to that level, we’ve played them 14 times and haven’t beaten them. “They’re pretty strong right across the park, they’re physical and they’ve got pace and a lot of experience. “I think some of the girls a little bit more physically ready now. The major things is a lot of them haven’t played New Zealand. There's no bad memories. With the mix of old and we’re pretty excited about that

“We’re building up a strong squad for the World Cup next year, and this tour will allow us to introduce many talented players to international rugby. There are some players with some strong Sevens experience in this squad and have had the experience of a professional culture our Sevens department has created.

“We have balanced this with a strong forward pack following on from the Buildcorp National Women’s XVs Championship which had the highest standard I had seen to date. Playing New Zealand will be an enormous challenge, however we are looking forward to the opportunity particularly with the historic Test at Eden Park.”

One of those new faces is Chloe Laupepe, who impressed off the bench for Sydney in the Women’s Nationals and propelled herself from the fringes right into contention during a week-long camp on the Gold Coast.

“We picked her for the cmap off her nationals form and she has performed fairly well ever since,” Verrell said. “She’s a fullback and can also back up at five-eighth and can play inside centre so she brings a lot of diversity.”

The help of the a major sponsor – Buildcorp – will also be a boost to the team, who will assemble at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Sydney on October 15th for a training camp before their first match against Auckland on the 18th of October.

2016 "Buildcorp Wallaroos" Fixtures:

Tuesday 18 October: Auckland Storm v Australians, Bell Park, Pakuranga

Saturday 22 October: New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park

Wednesday 26 October: New Zealand v Australia, North Harbour Stadium

Squad:

Katrina Barker*, scrumhalf/centre, Warringah; Iliseva Batibasaga, scrumhalf, Sydney University; Louise Burrows, hooker/prop, Canberra Royals; Chloe Butler, lock, Parramatta; Cheyenne Campbell, centre, Redlands; Rebecca Clough, lock, Cottesloe; Mollie Gray, backrow, Sydney University; Alisha Hewett, lock, GPS; Ashleigh Hewson, Flyhalf/fullback, Sydney University; Ariana Kaiwai*, flanker, Blacktown; Ivy Kaleta*, hooker, Sunnybank; Victoria Latu*, backrow, Parramatta; Chloe Leaupepe*, flyhalf/fullback, Oatley; Nareta Marsters*,centre/wing, Sunnybank; Cobie-Jane Morgan, scrumhalf/centre/wing, Warringah; Hana Ngaha*,prop, Sunnybank; Alanna Patison*, prop/hooker, Newcastle University; Liz Patu, prop/backrow, Wests ; Madeline Putz, wing, Palmyra; Sarah Riordan*, fullback/centre, Merewether Carlton; Emily Robinson*, front row, Warringah; Oneata Schwalger, prop, Melbourne; Kirby Sefo*, lock/flanker, Sunnybank; Hanna Sio, centre, Parramatta; Shontelle Stowers*, utility back, Warringah; Venisia Taufa*, flanker/backrow, Palmyra

*Uncapped