The Wallaroos did well to qualify for the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals with a tough win against Wales on Saturday. Don’t underestimate what a tough pool this has been alongside New Zealand, Wales and Scotland.
The Welsh and Scots have clearly benefited from the tough Six Nations competition this year, particularly around the set-piece and maul. The Wallaroos’ attack was clunky in Whangarei, but their sheer amount of grit means they have a puncher’s chance in the knockout stages.
Finals match-ups won’t be finalised until Sunday afternoon but Australia could either face powerhouse England or Canada in the quarter-finals.
Grace Kemp and the Wallaroos celebrate victory over Wales.Credit:Getty
2. Memo Rugby Australia: Think big for 2029
The story of this Rugby World Cup continues to be the crowds. There were more than 16,500 in Whangarei on Saturday, largely to watch the Black Ferns. That was comfortably more than the NPC final between Canterbury and Wellington on Saturday.
And for those who don’t know New Zealand, Whangarei is not an urban centre.
With that in mind, Rugby Australia should genuinely start thinking big for 2029. The women’s Rugby World Cup has to date been a bit of a tagged-on afterthought to the men’s event in 2027, but RA must view that tournament as just as important as the other events in the golden decade.
A big crowd watches the Wallaroos play Wales in Whangerai.Credit:Getty
Filling Allianz Stadium for the Wallaroos’ opening match should be the minimum in terms of ambition.
3. Dave Rennie is not the only one under pressure.
The Wallabies-Scotland Test in Edinburgh might be outside the Test window, but it became infinitely more interesting after Scotland coach Gregor Townsend excluded No 10 Finn Russell from his squad this week.
That decision has raised the stakes significantly for the Test, and from the outside looks like the sort of decision that could blow up in his face – notwithstanding Russell’s previous disciplinary slip-ups.
Finn Russell on the break against Australia in 2017.Credit:PA
The Wallabies will certainly find it easier to defend Scotland without Russell but if there is one player they have to watch it’s Edinburgh winger Darcy Graham. In the Cheslin Kolbe mode of winger, Graham is one of the best players to watch in Europe
4. Give Ben Donaldson the Italy test – at least.
As doubts persist about how committed the Wallabies are to Noah Lolesio, the ‘middle’ test of the Wallabies’ tour against Italy looks like a great chance to hand Ben Donaldson a start in the No 10 jersey.
The Italians are on the improve – ask Wales about that – so the Test in Florence will ask plenty of whoever wears the No 10 jersey. It would be a huge opportunity for the young Waratah who has a significant advantage over Lolesio – he can also play fullback.
Versatility is going to be a massive consideration when it comes to Rugby World Cup squads next year due to World Rugby’s updated concussion protocols. If a player is concussed, a 12-day stand-down follows.
5. Scrutiny grows on Kiwis’ selections.
The composition of the All Blacks XV feeder side continues to raise eyebrows across the ditch. Frustrated Manu Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua has come out firing over the selection of Moana Pasifika midfielder Levi Aumua, arguing it diminishes the very purpose of the Pasifika Super Rugby franchise.
And on Saturday evening, the Wellington pack’s dominance of Canterbury in the NPC final put the spotlight on the high number of young Canterbury forwards selected in the All Blacks XV squad.
There are four Canterbury/Crusaders forwards who could consider themselves lucky to make the All Blacks XV squad, a selection that appeared to be heavily influenced by All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan, who joined from the Crusaders.
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