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11-cap backrower to captain Wallaroos in historic Japan series
By Online Editors
New South Wales backrower Grace Hamilton has been named captain for the Wallaroos ahead of their historic two Test Series against Japan next month.
Originally from Orange in country New South Wales, Hamilton already has 11 Test after making her debut against New Zealand in 2016.
Wallaroos coach Dwayne Nestor has trimmed the squad to 29 players, with just 22 days until the first Test in Newcastle at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday 13 July.
The squad is dominated by players that competed in the Super W Final, including nine players from the champion winning NSW Waratahs Women's squad and 12 players from runners-up Queensland Women’s.
11 uncapped players are in line to make their debuts this July, including the exciting Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Sera Naiqama and South Australian, Eva Karpani who represented NSW Waratahs Women in the 2019 season of Buildcorp Super W.
Australia has four Tests in 2019 including a two Test Series against New Zealand at Optus Stadium in Perth and Eden Park in Auckland in August.
Wallaroos Head Coach, Dwayne Nestor said: “I’d like to congratulate every player on being selected in the squad for what is going to be a massive series against Japan this July.
“There were some really difficult selections to be made, but that is a testament to the work ethic of the extended squad and the real depth we are growing following on from the second season of Buildcorp Super W.
“Grace (Hamilton) is going to make a fantastic Captain in 2019, she’s passionate about this team, passionate about Rugby, has a strong drive to win and to set high standards.
“Humble and hardworking she embodies what we want this to team to be about and I know she will be supported by a strong leadership team.
“The hard work is only just beginning, as we have a massive opportunity this year with the Tests scheduled and I know the squad is looking forward to getting into camp in Newcastle on July 6.”
The Wallaroos meet Japan in Newcastle on Saturday 13 July and at North Sydney Oval on Friday 19 July.
Wallaroos squad:
Forwards
Millie Boyle, Royals (Canberra), Queensland Women's XV
Emily Chancellor, Sydney University, NSW Waratahs Women
Rebecca Clough, Cottesloe, Rugby WA Women
Grace Hamilton, Sydney University, NSW Waratahs Women
Alisha Hewett, GPS/ADFRU, Queensland Women's XV
Evelyn Horomia, Western Sydney, NSW Waratahs Women
Asoiva (Eva) Karpani*, Randwick, NSW Waratahs Women
Michaela Leonard*, Vikings, Brumbies Women
Kiri Lingman, Sunnybank, Queensland Women's XV
Ashley Marsters, Box Hill, Melbourne Rebels Women
Shannon Mato*, Sunnybank, Queensland Women's XV
Averyl Mitchell*, Souths, Queensland Women's XV
Sera Naiqama*, Sydney University, NSW Waratahs Women
Liz Patu, Wests, Queensland Women's XV
Emily Robinson, Warringah, NSW Waratahs Women
Christina Sekona*, Sunnybank, Queensland Women's XV
Backs
Mhicca Carter, Cottesloe, Rugby WA Women
Georgia Cormick*, Powerhouse, Melbourne Rebels Women
Lori Cramer*, University of Queensland, Queensland Women's XV
Ariana Hira-Herangi*, Kalamunda, Rugby WA Women
Chloe Leaupepe, Warringah, NSW Waratahs Women
Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea*, Sunnybank, Queensland Women's XV
Cobie-Jane Morgan, Sunnybank, Queensland Women's XV
Arabella McKenzie*, Randwick, NSW Waratahs Women
Mahalia Murphy, Campbelltown, NSW Waratahs Women
Asako Ono*, University of Queensland, Queensland Women's XV
Trilleen Pomare, Kalamunda, Rugby WA Women
Sarah Riordan, Wests/ADFRU, Queensland Women's XV
Samantha Treherne, Sunnybank, Queensland Women's XV
*Denotes Uncapped
Buildcorp Wallaroos 2019 Fixtures
Saturday 13 July
Australia v Japan, Newcastle Sportsground Number 2, Newcastle
Friday 19 July
Australia v Japan, North Sydney Oval, Sydney
- Rugby Australia
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Well lets hope so. England have developed a very strong kicking game and I'm all for them going to it on a regular basis to get into the right areas of the field but they need to find the right balance. They've been far too predictable and far too low risk. Tindall recently summed up my thoughts on this... “rugby is a pressure game, it's about building phases”. Against Scotland they almost never went over 2 phases, it was super weird. None of the top 4 sides are playing in this manner, I don't see where the precedent is for this staccato style of play. We've got an exceptional group of loose forwards developing, let's make use of that quick ball! Hopefully the Welsh game is a turning point and the coaches will trust the players to take a few more risks. It's not that I have anything against kicking in test matches, it's absolutely essential that we kick well but we do that already, it's the rest of the attack which has been missing. This relentless kicking isn't the way the best sides win test matches these days. Kick well, kick lots but we need to be setup to take advantage of quick ball and defensive misalignments around the halfway line and we need to build pressure by going multiphase in the 22 instead of grubber kicking it or crossfielding with such high regularity.
Go to commentsAgreed, seen far too many false dawns as an England fan and here are still far too many question marks over Borthwick and his coaching team. The Scotland and Ireland performances were still poor, even if we managed to stay on the right side of the scoreboard on one of them. France game we were fortunate but we at least played well
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